Francesco Totti
Italian World Cup-winning footballer.
Diego Maradona: "Totti is the world's number one.""He is a great player and he will keep on showing that. He represents Italian soccer and the Italian fans will have fun with him."
Paolo Rossi: "Francesco Totti has probably been the best player in the last decade. His skills, ability, physical strength and intelligence on the pitch made him a symbol for Roma and the whole of Italian football."
Stefano Colantuono: "Totti is someone who can always find the winning moment out of nowhere."
Stevan Jovetić: "Can I become a symbol of Fiorentina? I dream of becoming the Viola’s version of Francesco Totti."
Adriano Galliani: "In my opinion he is the most complete player in Italy, followed by De Rossi and Pirlo."
Rodrigo Taddei: "Totti is a champion, he is untouchable. He can play for many years to come at Roma. It is right to have a mix between younger players and those with experience."
Alessandro Del Piero: "Above all on the eve of a match like this one, when on the other side, wearing a captain band on his arm, there’s a player like Francesco Totti. If we put together our goals scored, it's over 500. If we sum up the years of career, wearing the same shirt – it comes up to 35. We won the World Cup together and those memories unite us forever" "We have a great relationship with plenty of admiration on both sides even if we don't call each other up. Francesco is great."
Giovanni Trapattoni: "Every player has some genius, but there's only one Van Gogh, and there is nobody like Totti." "Totti can transform a side. There are very few players who have that capability." "He reminds me of Eusébio, as quick mentally as he is physically." "If I was still playing football today, then I would have real problems marking Totti, a bit like I struggled to control Pelé in the past. He has those same characteristics."
Roberto Carlos: "Totti is a 'galactico', He is one of the best players in the world."
Vincenzo Montella: "Totti is the greatest exponent of the Roman world. He is a player who kids look up to. When the day arrives that he has to retire, it will be hard for Roma and the whole environment there because he is a club emblem."
Gianluca Comotto: "Except for Francesco Totti, I don’t see any club symbols or any standard bearers in this country. He made a choice to reject all other teams even if they offer more money."
Arsene Wenger: "Totti is a top, top class player. He is typical of the Roman game and I’m sure he will never move outside of Roma. He used to play in behind the strikers and then one day they had no central striker so they played him up front and won game after game. He suddenly became the topscorer in Italy as a central striker. That means this guy has absolutely everything. He has a fantastic protection of the ball, he has a quick turn and then he has a very good pass in the final third of the pitch. He can be deadly with every single pass. He will certainly be the most dangerous provider in the final third for them in this game. He is not the only player who can be dangerous but he can open the defence with any pass at any moment of the day if you give him the freedom."
Juninho Pernumbucano: "Totti is a great player, one of the last Number 10s remaining in football. The way to play football today has pushed out real Number 10s who make the show. I have a lot of admiration for him, I think he is the best Number 10."
Zdeněk Zeman: "Who are the best five Italian players? Totti, Totti, Totti, Totti, Totti." "Francesco is eclectic and can play wherever. He has carried Roma on his back for 15 years." "He is the only champion of Italian football." "Totti is the best player I ever worked with. He had talent and showed it off. He changed role, becoming a centre-forward and therefore more susceptible to getting fouled, so the two major injuries have taken their toll." "I'm even more convinced now that Totti is one of the greatest players of all time."
Luciano Spalletti: "I agree with Pelé, Totti is the best player in the world." "Totti is the history of Roma, the club, and I think that he is an intelligent man. Totti will stay and will close his career with Roma because he cares about the future of club and created a contract that sees him as the player the club will build it's image around. I do not see why he should leave Roma" "It would be easier to move the Colosseum out of Rome."
Walter Sabatini: "Totti will be at the centre of the club project. Roma will be modelled around him. Totti is timeless, he’s like the light over the rooftops of Rome. The light still goes on, spreads. He had been painted as tired and lame, but he goes on the pitch and weakens the opposition. He is the captain and will make an important contribution to building the future of this club"
Fernando Gago: "Totti is very important, on and off the pitch, for what he has won and for his charisma. He’s an example for everyone to follow, for the young players and for players like me who have arrived from abroad. The fact that he has played his football here for so long is proof of that. It’s always nice to watch him train."
Fabio Capello: "Only Gigi Riva could kick the ball like him in Italy. But only with his left foot. Totti can use both feet and can hit the ball in several ways. Such champions can shoot ten times per match and eight of them are aimed on target, while five are very dangerous and can turn into a goal. Totti's shooting qualities are unique and they will stay intact for life."
Nicolás Burdisso: "He is the equivalent to the Pope. People are devoted to him, but Francesco deserves it - he is a leader and is always able to express words of praise for his teammates."
Rosella Sensi: "Totti is the greatest player ever to wear Roma jersey." "Francesco and I grew up together and he is like a little brother to me, My father (Franco Sensi) used to say that he was the son he never had. No-one embodies the spirit of our team better than he does"