Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi (R) is congratulated by former captain Francesco Totti during his farewell to Roma after 18 years at his home-town club after the Italian Serie A football match between Roma and Parma on May 26, 2019 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Francesco Totti feels Daniele De Rossi ‘couldn’t say no’ to his beloved Roma and will ‘become an exceptional coach’ in future.
The 2006 World Cup winning forward ignored calls to boycott an event in Russia and flew to Moscow for the International RB Award.
While there, he sat down with Match TV to discuss his career after retirement.
“It is an honour and a pleasure to be back here,” said Totti.
His former teammate De Rossi had a brief spell as the coach of Roma, only to be sacked in September, much to everyone’s surprise.
“I think that he will become a great coach in future. Perhaps he just lacked the experience necessary, but how could he say no to Roma? He played there for 20 years,” continued Totti.
“De Rossi has extraordinary capabilities, he understands football and can become an exceptional coach.”
Totti on life after hanging up his boots
Roma have not won the Serie A title since the era of Fabio Capello in 2001, but the now retired coach is also admired in Russia for being their national team manager from 2012 to 2015.
“Capello is a winner and that is what matters.”
Totti hung up his boots in 2017 when the Giallorossi refused to offer him a new contract.
“Everything changed in my life in recent years. My final match in 2017 was incredible and I was happy that the day was dedicated to me, but at the same time very worried at this being the end of a big chapter of my life.
“After ending my playing career, I was a Roma director for two years, but now I am trying to live life with pleasure.
“When I played football, my personal life was practically non-existent and I thought it would all calm down after hanging up my boots, but in some ways, it actually got worse.”
