Roma legend Francesco Totti has used his new biography to name the two Serie A clubs, Genoa and Como, who approached him about a comeback seven years after he hung up his boots.
Francesco Totti has finally confirmed the identities of the two Serie A clubs who tried to lure him out of retirement, revealing in his biography that Genoa and Como both made contact in 2024 when he was 48 years old.
Speaking via Sky Sport, Totti wrote that he turned down both approaches, stating: “I said no to Genoa and Como when I was 48.” The Roma icon had previously hinted that Serie A sides had sounded him out about a return, but only now has he disclosed which clubs were involved.
At the time, Genoa were coached by Alberto Gilardino, a fellow member of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, while Cesc Fabregas was already in charge at Como. Totti pointed out the age gap between himself and the two coaches, noting that Gilardino was 42 and Fabregas 37, meaning he would have been six and eleven years their senior respectively.
“These aren’t urban legends; it’s the absolute truth. Incredible, but true. Crazy,” Totti wrote.
According to Totti, Genoa were the first to approach him, with club directors asking him directly whether he wanted to take on the challenge. He said he took time to consider the offer and even began training seriously before responding, admitting a fondness for Genoa’s Marassi stadium and its close, passionate atmosphere. He also noted the coincidence that his final appearance in a Roma shirt came against Genoa, adding that Gilardino would occasionally message him to check on his decision.
Despite the temptation, Totti explained that loyalty to Roma ultimately won out over any footballing logic. He said his head told him he could accept, but his heart said no, framing the dilemma as a recurring internal battle before always reaching the same conclusion by asking himself whether he could really play for a club other than Roma.
Totti, who retired in 2017 after spending his entire career with Roma, scored 307 goals in 786 appearances for the Giallorossi, winning the Scudetto in 2000-01 along with two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. He remains the club’s all-time leader in both goals and appearances in competitive matches.
He described any potential move away from Roma as a betrayal with no age limit, insisting that loyalty to the club was never the problem. Totti also won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, scoring nine goals in 58 caps for the Azzurri, and reached the European Championship final in 2000, having earlier lifted the European U21 title in 1996.
