Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti calls Francesco Totti “a genius” but explains why he can’t play every week.
The Giallorossi captain celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this year, but is still going strong after more than 750 appearances for his club.
“Totti was, is, and will be all about the team,” Spalletti told UEFA’s official website.
Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti calls Francesco Totti “a genius” but explains why he can’t play every week.
The Giallorossi captain celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this year, but is still going strong after more than 750 appearances for his club.
“Totti was, is, and will be all about the team,” Spalletti told UEFA’s official website.
“The solution that Roma looks for is Totti, it’s a shortcut. He showed last year and this that he can still help the team from a technical point of view, he has quality and creativity to look for a result.
“Totti is a genius, not just a talent.
“If you can support him with your collective strength, then a brilliant player can bring his quality and genius into play.
“Clearly, if the team doesn’t have the ball then it becomes more difficult. That’s why we only make those assessments, which are only right for a player of his age.
“Now he’s even more attached to the football seasons he has left. You can see that, because he trains in a better way than before.”
Spalletti also singled out Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman for praise.
“Strootman is an exceptional player, and a beautiful person in every sense. It’s enough to see the desire and emotional participation that he brings in training, which he does every day not just in matches.
“He’s truly one of the guys in the squad who can dictate the rhythm, which you always find on a Sunday: if you’re ready, you win.
“If you’re not ready then you don’t know what the result will be, but a player like Strootman is always ready because he works in the right way.
“He’s a very serious person, a champion who anyone would want in their team.
“Barcelona, Bayern Munich… throw him in and Strootman wouldn’t be out of place there, he’s a player who could play in those teams.
“So really that says it all.”