Francesco Totti in tears: “I’d pay a fortune to have him by my side again”

Francesco Totti opens up candidly and reveals his most vulnerable side during the presentation of “Oltre,” his new autobiography, co-written with Alessandro Alciato and presented at the Brancaccio Theater in Rome in front of over 1,500 people. From the end of his career to the passing of his father Enzo, touching on his relationship with his children and the bitterness over not being able to return to the Giallorossi club, the former captain reflects on some of the most difficult moments of his life.

One of the most poignant passages concerns May 28, 2017—the day of Totti’s final match in a Roma jersey. A farewell that, despite being inevitable, was never truly accepted by the former No. 10, who was convinced he hadn’t been able to freely choose how to end his career: “I’m dead, in a certain sense. It was a forced moment, a forced farewell. One I didn’t want and didn’t feel. I knew it had to happen sooner or later, because everything has a beginning and an end. But for me, it was painful in this case—different from how I’d imagined it. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening; I felt lost.”

The most moving moment of the evening came when Totti remembered his father Enzo, who passed away in October 2020 during the pandemic. He was a pivotal figure in my upbringing—not just in sports, but above all personally: “He was the center of everything. I was lucky to grow up with him; he taught me so much: manners, respect, how to behave around older people. He’s another person I feel is here, close by. He instilled values and positive traits in me. He made sure I never wanted for anything; he loved me, even if he didn’t say it. That’s why he was loved.”

Then the memory becomes even more painful. “When he passed away, I felt lost—it’s like May 28. These are the things that only I know how much I suffered and how much I still suffer; they’re moments that are hard to explain. Every child praises their dad or mom, but for me, he was the number one sheriff. He was a good man, a wonderful man. I’d pay a fortune just to have him close by and tell him I love him.” Words that interrupt the story: Totti is overcome with emotion and can’t hold back his tears, sharing with the audience one of the greatest sorrows of his life.