Daniele De Rossi is looking towards the future and could follow his father into coaching, but has two Roma games he’d love to change.
The midfielder was for decades known as ‘Capitan Futuro’ waiting in the wings for Francesco Totti to retire, but now that he finally has the armband, he’s already thinking about when he’ll have to hang it up.
“We’d best start getting used to the idea, because there’s not long to go,” De Rossi told Roma TV.
Daniele De Rossi is looking towards the future and could follow his father into coaching, but has two Roma games he’d love to change.
The midfielder was for decades known as ‘Capitan Futuro’ waiting in the wings for Francesco Totti to retire, but now that he finally has the armband, he’s already thinking about when he’ll have to hang it up.
“We’d best start getting used to the idea, because there’s not long to go,” De Rossi told Roma TV.
“Roma goes on, just as it did after Agostino Di Bartolomei, Bruno Conti, Giuseppe Giannini and after the worst disappointments. We kept going after Francesco, who was perhaps the most painful loss for the fans, so of course they can carry on without me.
“If my knee hurts for five days in a row, I think that I want to quit, I tell my wife that this summer we’ll take a three-month vacation. As soon as it feels better, I immediately think of the next game.
“I am consistent, though. I don’t want to be a burden or someone who takes energy away from the club. I already have some clear ideas on the next few years, but I keep it to myself, so I have the freedom to change my mind.”
The move to coaching seems inevitable, especially as De Rossi’s father has for many years been the Coach of the Roma Primavera squad.
“I have great passion for this sport and it’s the only role I see myself in for the future. I’ll have to understand if I want to put my family under that kind of stress based on results, moving around and being away for long periods.”
The ideal would be to remain at Roma, where he spent his entire lifetime and career.
“I was 11 years old the first time I stepped through the gates at Trigoria. I’ve made that journey so many times over the years, but that moment is one I’ll remember forever.
“I have always been a professional, but I work now with more self-awareness. A player can extend his own career and it’s no coincidence if the last few seasons have been better for me, as I’ve been more focused on the details.
“If a city is closely tied to a player, it’s because they can sense he chose to prove himself here. I am happy here, truly happy.”
De Rossi was asked about his biggest regrets and went back to the moment Roma fumbled the Scudetto under Claudio Ranieri with a 2-1 home defeat to Sampdoria in April 2010.
“If I could go back, I’d replay that Roma-Sampdoria and man-mark Giampaolo Pazzini. It’s the game that could’ve taken us to the triumph we would’ve deserved.
“I’d also replay Liverpool-Roma from last season’s Champions League semi-final, as we had started very well, but the final result was too heavy for the performance.”