Francesco Totti sees Gian Piero Gasperini as the figure giving Roma their clearest direction, with the former captain praising the coach’s work before the club’s Champions League meeting with Real Madrid at the Olimpico.
Totti places Gasperini at the centre of Roma’s progress
Speaking during the launch of the Panini Calciatori 2026/27 album, Totti was asked to identify Roma’s leading individual. He chose not to single out a player, arguing instead that the squad’s current strength lies in its collective work.
“There is not one particular top player,” said Totti, now a Lega Serie A ambassador. “The whole team is doing well, but if I have to name someone, I would choose Gasperini. He is building a strong, compact and united group, one that shows a desire to win.”
That sense of unity, in Totti’s view, gives Roma a legitimate chance against Real Madrid, even if he stressed the scale of the task. He described Madrid as different from the side of his own playing era, while insisting that they remain a team with character which must be respected.
The Olimpico, with an expected crowd of 70,000, can still alter the temperature of an important European night. Totti said the fixture would be demanding for both sides and noted that playing in Rome is never straightforward for visiting teams.
A return for Mourinho, and for Totti
- José Mourinho is due back at the Olimpico, a return Totti expects Roma supporters to mark warmly.
- Totti said Mourinho gave much to both the city and the club, pointing to the two successive European finals reached during his spell in charge.
- He said that contribution merited a tribute from across Rome, rather than only a routine reception from the stands.
- Totti also confirmed that he will be present after a two-year absence from the stadium, joking that he had finally managed to find tickets.
The occasion brought another recognition for the former Roma and Italy forward, who received a career Player of the Match award as well as oversized Panini images tracing his long career for club and country.
Asked whether the time was right for him to return to Roma in an official capacity, Totti made a careful distinction: “I will return to Rome, yes; to Roma, no.”
Roma’s Scudetto place and respect for the rivals
Totti believes Gasperini’s Roma can remain part of the title conversation. He sees Inter as having an extra level, but feels Roma have enough substance to trouble the leading contenders over the season.
He rejected the idea that Inter’s European form should be treated as a major concern after a defeat, arguing that one loss can happen in either domestic or continental competition. In Italy, he said, a single setback is too often magnified. His expectation is that Inter will be competitive until the closing stages in both Serie A and Europe.
There was also praise for Lazio’s early-season performance. Totti admitted that their position had surprised him, suggesting even Gennaro Gattuso may not have anticipated it, but said the table was reflecting the quality of their work.
“They are a strong side and they are up near the top,” he said. “Chapeau to them: they are doing well and they deserve to be where they are.”
Patience urged for Italy under Mancini
Totti also offered backing to Italy coach Roberto Mancini, saying his first impression had been positive after a difficult previous period for the national team.
“It could not have been worse than before,” Totti said. “We have to give him time. He is creating a competitive team. When you start again from zero, everything is harder, but Mancini is a great person and a great coach, and he has shown that.”
For Totti, the task is not solely Mancini’s. He called for a united effort around the national side, saying everyone must pull in the same direction if Italy are to emerge from their recent difficulties.
Panini memories and a childhood hero
The album launch also took Totti back to the football rituals of his childhood. He recalled growing up with Panini stickers, when a packet cost 200 lire and finishing an album quickly was far from simple.
He remembered spending long afternoons placing stickers in their pages, calling those hours unforgettable. With a smile, he said there had been one unnamed club whose stickers he used to place upside down.
His earliest football idol was Giuseppe Giannini, but Totti said the albums offered something wider than personal support: they introduced young fans to players throughout Serie A and Serie B, turning the sticker book into a map of Italian football.
