Francesco Totti announced his departure from Roma on a farewell Press conference. The former captain and current director explains his exit, he thinks leaving Roma is like dying
Francesco Totti: “Everyone knows they made me stop playing. I had a six-year contract already as a director. I started quietly, realising it’s a completely different sphere to being on the field. Many promises were made and they were never kept.”
"I can only thank the people of Rome for the way they always treated me. There was always reciprocal respect, on the field and off. I can only urge them to continue cheering on this team, because Roma must always be supported and honoured." Totti said on his press conference.
“In my eyes, Roma is the most important club in the world. It saddens me to see them in this current condition. It irritates me. Roma fans are unlike any others, the love they have for the club is endless.
“I will always support Roma. It’s an arriverderci, not a goodbye. It’s impossible to see Totti outside of Roma. As a Romanista, what really irritates me is that I can’t see it happen.
“I will now take other paths. At the moment another club owner wants to trust in me, I’ll always be ready.”
“If I were to return to Roma, we’d need a new owner. First and foremost. If the new owners believed in me, then that would be great.
“What I can say is that I will never hurt Roma. This is far worse than retiring as a player. Leaving Roma is like dying. I feel like it’d be better if I died.
“So many have told me over the years that I am too much of a weight on this club. That I get in the way.”