Francesco Totti's yearlong sabbatical from Italy's national team has turned into permanent retirement.
The 30-year-old AS Roma playmaker announced on Friday he will not return for Italy because his body can't support playing for both club and country anymore.
"To continue playing at this level I have to give something up, unfortunately," Totti said during a news conference at Roma's training center. "I can't play 50 to 60 games a year anymore."
PHOTO: AFP
Totti broke his left leg and strained ligaments in his ankle while playing for Roma in February last year. He played all of last season with a metal rod and about 10 support screws inside his left ankle.
He also had back trouble last season.
"I've made this decision for various physical reasons and not technical," Totti said. "I'm very sorry but it's the best thing for me because my health is most important."
Italy team manager Luigi Riva recalled how Totti hurried back from surgery to make the World Cup squad.
"We should just thank him for what he's done for Italy, the sacrifice he made to be present at the World Cup," Riva said. "After the injury we were all worried, because all he needed was a slight twist to create another serious injury. Francesco leaves with his head held high."
Totti hasn't played for the Azzurri since the World Cup final against France last year. He said after the World Cup that he needed to take a break from the national team to let his ankle heal.
Totti denied reports that he had offered to return on a part-time basis, a proposal Italian media said had been rejected by the Italian soccer federation.
"I've never asked to play part time," Totti said. "Roma and my health are my priorities."
Totti formed a special bond with Marcello Lippi when the former Italy coach visited him in his hospital room after surgery. Lippi told Totti he would keep his position open on the World Cup roster.
"That's not something you forget," Totti said. "I had a special relationship with Lippi. He's someone you can trust."
Lippi resigned after the World Cup and Totti has never played for current Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.
"I can't judge Donadoni because we've never been together for two days," Totti said. "But we have a good relationship on the telephone."
Totti said he informed Donadoni of his decision several days ago.
Asked if he might consider replicating how Zinedine Zidane retired from France's team and then returned to help the team qualify for the World Cup, Totti left it open.
"If I lose my head one day and they still want me you never know," he said. "But right now this is my decision."
Badminton world No. 3 Anders Antonsen clinched his first Indonesia Open title yesterday after beating Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, while South Korea’s An Se-young won her second championship in Jakarta. The 28-year-old Dane sank world No. 7 Chou at the Indonesian capital’s Istora Senayan arena, winning 22-20, 21-14 in a 60-minute match to secure the prestigious Super 1000 event. Antonsen came out on top in a tightly contested first game before cruising to victory in the second. In a more closely fought women’s singles final, South Korean ace and world No. 1 An fought back from one game down to beat China’s
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
Italy crashed to a 3-0 loss away to Norway, as the four-time FIFA World Cup champions made a disastrous start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, while Belgium had to settle for a draw in North Macedonia. Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland all scored in the first half in pouring rain in Oslo as Norway made it a night to forget for Italy, who missed out on the past two World Cups. “I have no explanation. Our supporters don’t deserve this kind of match. We need to do some soul-searching. It’s unacceptable,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
RSS