James Pallotta confirms Roma have a Francesco Totti “problem” – “his head says one thing and his body another”.
The Giallorossi captain wants to continue playing into next season, but so-far the club is only offering him a role on the board.
That has caused tension between the player and the club, and the President admits it’s a problem for the Lupi.
James Pallotta confirms Roma have a Francesco Totti “problem” – “his head says one thing and his body another”.
The Giallorossi captain wants to continue playing into next season, but so-far the club is only offering him a role on the board.
That has caused tension between the player and the club, and the President admits it’s a problem for the Lupi.
“We have a big problem at Roma,” Pallotta explained to the Sports Analytics Conference at MIT Sloan School of Management.
“At Roma we have someone who is probably one of the greatest Italian players of all time in Francesco Totti.
“Francesco is 39-years-old and he still has great talent and quality, but I think it’s obvious to him and to other people that he can no longer play the same way as he did before.
“His body simply won’t allow it, his head says one thing and his body another. His contract expires this season and everyone wants another.
“The pressure in Rome for me to give him a new contract is unbelievable.
“I’ve had many conversations with him, and I’ve told him he can stay at Roma for the next 30 years, I said ‘think what you’ll do when you quit football’.
“I find it hard to understand, but it’s the Italian culture where a player of his calibre has been there for a long time, sold the highest number of shirts and is the face of Roma it's hard to see him in a different role.
“He will be [the face of Roma] for another 30 or 40 years, or forever in another role.”