Francesco Totti Leaves Roma

[Eco]

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Report: Totti to leave Roma

 

Francesco Totti could be about to leave Roma as he will reportedly turn down the role of technical director.

According to Calciomercato.com, the position would have seen Totti work alongside new sporting director Gianluca Petrachi and exert more influence behind the scenes.

However, the website warns James Pallotta’s continued collaboration with Franco Baldini has forced the icon to reconsider his options.

Moreover, the 42-year-old was left out of a recent meeting between Pallotta, Baldini, CEO Guido Fienga and new boss Paulo Fonseca in London.

The website goes on to explain that Totti also has a strained relationship with Fienga and is unhappy with the club’s general ‘direction’.

‘Er Pupone’ retired from professional football in the summer of 2017 and immediately joined Roma’s board as a director.

 

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Francesco Totti leaves Roma after 30 years as he resigns as director

     Totti holds the record for most goals and appearances for Roma

Francesco Totti says leaving Roma after 30 years is "like dying" after he resigned from his role as a director at the Serie A club.

The World Cup winner, 42, spent his entire professional career at Roma and retired from playing in July 2017.

His relationship with president James Pallotta reportedly deteriorated, but last week the American said he offered Totti the role of technical director.

Roma finished sixth last season and missed out a Champions League place.

"I resign as a Roma executive," said the Italian former forward, speaking at a news conference that lasted well over an hour. "I was hoping that this day never came, instead this ugly and heavy day has arrived.

"I never had the chance to work on the technical area with Roma."

He added: "This is far worse than retiring as a player. Leaving Roma is like dying. I feel like it'd be better if I died."

Totti criticised the club's American ownership and the influence of former director and now club consultant Franco Baldini.

"This is a club to be loved and supported," he added. "There shouldn't be pro-Totti, pro-Pallotta or pro-Baldini factions. Just Roma fans.

"As I said, presidents pass, coaches pass, players pass, but the flags do not.

"They knew my intentions and what I wanted, to give so much to this club and team, but they never wanted me to, in all honesty. They excluded me from every decision."

Totti's exit follows former team-mate Daniele de Rossi, 35, who left the club at the end of last season after 18 years.

"The main focus of certain people has been to remove Romans from Roma," Totti claimed. "In the end, the truth came out, because they achieved what they wanted."

Totti joined Roma's youth academy in 1989, making his senior debut in 1993 as a 16-year-old. He went on to score 307 goals in 785 games, winning Serie A in 2001 and the Coppa Italia twice. He also won 58 caps for Italy.

He said the only way he would return to the club is under new ownership.

"If I was the president of Roma and had two icons like Totti and De Rossi, I'd put them in charge of everything," said Totti, who said he would still like to attend a Roma game next season with De Rossi, but that the pair would "need wigs, or we won't see much of the game".

He added: "Pallotta surrounded himself with the wrong people and he only listens to them. Everyone makes mistakes, but if you make the same mistakes for eight years, you have to ask yourself some questions. Something clearly is going wrong."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48663777

[CaaC (John)+]

Former Italy forward Francesco Totti is set to return to Roma as their new sporting director. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian)

[ScoRoss]

Would need to have a similar impact...

 

I think he was more interested in becoming an agent (or at least in the industry) rather than being involved with a club.

Like Maldini at Milan, very wary of offering a high position at the club based on what he was rather than what he can do in that role.