Totti says Genoa and Como tried to lure him out of retirement at 48

The Roma icon writes in his biography that both Serie A clubs seriously pursued a comeback in 2024, but his heart kept him loyal to Roma.

Francesco Totti has revealed that Genoa and Como attempted to sign him in 2024, when the Roma legend was 48 years old and seven years into retirement. The disclosure comes in his biography, with the quotes relayed by Sky Sport.

Totti said Genoa's directors contacted him first with a direct question about whether he wanted to take on the experience. Alberto Gilardino, who coached Genoa and won the 2006 World Cup with Totti for Italy, was in charge at the time, while Cesc Fabregas was on the Como bench.

Totti said he trained hard while considering the offer and was drawn to Genoa's Marassi stadium, noting his final Roma appearance had come against Genoa. He also recalled occasional messages from Gilardino asking how things stood.

Ultimately, Totti turned both clubs down. He wrote that while his head told him he could accept, his heart said no, and he kept returning to one question: whether he could truly play for a team that was not Roma.

Totti retired in 2017 after spending his entire career with Roma, scoring 307 goals in 786 appearances and winning the 2000-01 Scudetto, two Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. With Italy, he won the 2006 World Cup and scored nine goals in 58 caps.