Both World Cup winning Coach Marcello Lippi and legendary Italian defender Alessandro Nesta have praised Francesco Totti's selfie in the Rome derby.
The Roma Captain scored a brace in the 2-2 draw with Lazio and celebrated the second goal by taking a selfie with his mobile phone.
Numerous sources in Italy have commented on the gesture, including Lazio President Claudio Lotito, who called it 'inappropriate'.
Both World Cup winning Coach Marcello Lippi and legendary Italian defender Alessandro Nesta have praised Francesco Totti's selfie in the Rome derby.
The Roma Captain scored a brace in the 2-2 draw with Lazio and celebrated the second goal by taking a selfie with his mobile phone.
Numerous sources in Italy have commented on the gesture, including Lazio President Claudio Lotito, who called it 'inappropriate'.
Today, though, another two figureheads have come out in defence of the celebration.
“I thought it was fantastic,” said Lippi in an interview with Radio2, as reported by Il Corriere dello Sport. “Another touch of genius by a genius player.”
Lippi went on to discuss the mercato of the Giallorossi and his future as a Coach.
“[Roma director Walter] Sabatini is open to Asian names, he asked me information about these players more than once.
“Many of them could play in Italy and Europe. [Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex] Ferguson and [Arsenal manager Arsene] Wenger asked me about them too.
“I am not coming back to Italy, that's as sure as the world. I won't coach a club again. I had important offers but I said no.
“I will finish my experience coaching Guangzhou Evergrande, then I may return to working with a national team, to try the only tournament I never took part in, the Euros.”
Former Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta also emerged in favour of the selfie.
“It was fun and even abroad it was perceived as a caper,” said the 38-year-old in an interview with Sky Sport Italia.
“He didn't offend anyone. It's just too bad that he had to score against Lazio, but that's just me…”
Nesta also had some considerations about his other former team, Milan.
“[New Coach] Pippo [Inzaghi] is doing well, I doubt he thinks as a footballer any longer.
“The team has been alternating good and bad results for several years, I don't think that's a problem that depends on the Coach, it's just how things are going at the moment.”
Nesta announced today that he would like to coach a team in the future, but he said that the experience will not change him as a person.
“I'll live football in my own way, with professionalism but without being too gaudy. In the changing room I'll be there for everyone, like I used to be when I was a footballer.
“[Azzurri Coach Antonio] Conte says that you stop sleeping when you work as a Coach, but I'll be sleeping just fine.”