Roma legend Paulo Roberto Falcao believes it’s time they won the Scudetto and “Francesco Totti deserved the Ballon d’Or.”
The Brazilian forward remains a fan of the Giallorossi after starring for the club from 1980 to 1985.
“When I first arrived in Rome, the welcome from 5,000 was so passionate that it felt like still being in Brazil,” Falcao told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
Roma legend Paulo Roberto Falcao believes it’s time they won the Scudetto and “Francesco Totti deserved the Ballon d’Or.”
The Brazilian forward remains a fan of the Giallorossi after starring for the club from 1980 to 1985.
“When I first arrived in Rome, the welcome from 5,000 was so passionate that it felt like still being in Brazil,” Falcao told the Corriere dello Sport newspaper.
“I have such great memories of winning the Scudetto here, as the entire city went mad. I only left because of contractual issues and a difficult rapport with President Dino Viola.
“Viola and the fans were always asking me to do the tricks that are expected of Brazilians. So in one game I decided to have fun. Over 90 minutes I pulled out the full repertoire: back-heels, dribbling everyone in sight and repeated dummies.
“There was great applause, but at the end I went to Viola and told him that was his lot. From now on we play to win.”
Falcao also insisted on “clarifying once and for all” his refusal to take a spot-kick in the 1983 European Cup Final penalty shoot-out with Liverpool.
“My knee was injured, the pain-killing injection had worn off and if we’d had any more substitutions I would’ve already been taken off during extra time. Besides, I always took the final kick and that night I wouldn’t even have got the chance to shoot.”
Roma have strengthened their squad this summer and Falcao expects more celebrations.
“This could be the right season for Roma to win the Scudetto, but keep an eye out on Inter and Juventus too. Edin Dzeko is very strong, the kind of figure Roma were missing.
“Totti is a legend and deserved to win the Ballon d’Or. In my view, if he had ever played in a Champions League Final with Roma, he would’ve received the award.”