Francesco Totti claims Paulo Dybala would have been more open to joining Roma rather than Inter, but ‘I know how things went and it wasn’t all up to him,’ while he ‘gave advice’ to Nicolò Zaniolo.
The legend spoke to Sky Sport Italia this afternoon and although he is not officially working for Roma, he still vouched for them when recommending the club to free agent Dybala.
It seems as if the appeal fell on deaf ears, because La Joya is about to sign a four-year contract at Inter instead.
“I know how things went and I am still in contact with him now, but I think it’s over,” said Totti.
“It wasn’t all up to Dybala. If it did depend only on him, we would’ve had a good chance.”
Romelu Lukaku also seems to be pushing for a return to Inter, so that would be an atomic attacking line-up.
“Dybala’s creativity and the physical strength of Lukaku would be a top pairing. All coaches would love to have those two together.”
Meanwhile, the future of the current Roma squad is up for grabs too, as Zaniolo has been linked with a summer sale to Juventus or Milan.
“I already spoke to Nicolò some time ago and gave him some advice, but I’m not sure if it sank in. If he does remain at Roma, he needs to understand the importance of this jersey so he can honour the fans who went above and beyond this season.
“The choice is then up to him and the club, if they want to sell. I know what I’d want to do with Zaniolo.”
If anyone could inherit the Number 10 jersey at Roma, it’s probably Lorenzo Pellegrini, who wore it for Italy in the Nations League.
“He could be Roma’s new 10, but knowing him, I don’t think he’ll want to take it,” added Totti, the last man to wear that jersey.