Francesco Totti slammed Juventus star Pavel Nedved in his autobiography as “a shocking whiner, he made you want to punch him.”
The Roma legend’s book, Un Capitano, is released today to mark his 42nd birthday and he doesn’t hold back on criticism of the likes of Luciano Spalletti.
He looked back on Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory against the Czech Republic, where he had to face off with Nedved.
Francesco Totti slammed Juventus star Pavel Nedved in his autobiography as “a shocking whiner, he made you want to punch him.”
The Roma legend’s book, Un Capitano, is released today to mark his 42nd birthday and he doesn’t hold back on criticism of the likes of Luciano Spalletti.
He looked back on Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory against the Czech Republic, where he had to face off with Nedved.
“That day Nedved was in irresistible form, and it pains me to say that, because I never could stand him on the pitch,” wrote Totti.
“He was a shocking whiner. You grazed him and he’d soar for 10 metres. It made you want to punch him and that says everything.
“Having said all that, damn he was good. He was so good and in that game even more so, as (Gigi) Buffon had to invent three or four top level saves to keep him at bay.
“After repeating that I hated him as a player, and I confess it’s a feeling I never disguised, I must give him credit for being really nice to me the first time we met outside the Champions League draw in Monte Carlo.
“Nedved came over to me – and at that moment I was making my debut in this role of director – and asked me how it felt to have finished my playing career.”