Totti considers Azzuri return
The Roma talisman considers returning to the national team.
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| Francesco Totti: The Roman ponders a return [GALLO/GETTY] |
Francesco Totti is leaving the door open on returning to Italy’s team for next year’s European Championship.
The 31-year-old announced in July that he was permanently retiring from the national team after a yearlong sabbatical.
He said his body couldn’t support playing for both club and country anymore.
In the Italian version of GQ magazine, Totti said he wouldn’t want to bump anyone off the team if he did return.
“If for some injury or emergency there was a need…,” Totti was quoted as saying in the December issue of the magazine.
“Because it’s only fair that the 22 or 24 players who were able to clinch qualification go. If I were to go, I would take away someone’s place and it wouldn’t be fair,” he said.
Still, Totti recalled how David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane returned to their national teams.
“It wouldn’t be the first time. Personally, it would upset me, but…,” he said.
The Euros take place in Austria and Switzerland in June. Italy qualified earlier this month with a win in Scotland.
Totti broke his left leg and strained ligaments in his ankle while playing for AS Roma in February 2006.
He hurried to return from surgery and took part in Italy’s World Cup victory five months later, then was the top scorer in Europe with 26 goals for Roma last season.
Totti has seven goals through 12 rounds of the Serie A this season.
Since his surgery, Totti has played with a metal rod and about 10 support screws inside his left ankle.
He is currently out with a right foot injury.