Totti: “Real Madrid has always been my second club”
Roma legend Franceso Totti expressed his admiration for Real Madrid during a visit to Valdebebas. He attended Saturday’s game against Celta at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Former Italian player Francesco Totti has confessed that Real Madrid is his second team after Roma. The 46-year-old, whose playing days came to an end in May 2017, wished Madrid the best of luck in their upcoming Champions League semi-final against Manchester City - a tie that he described as,“The final, in the semi-final”.
Totti came close to playing for Real Madrid during his career, but ended up remaining with Roma and only played at the Santiago Bernabéu as a visitor whenever the two clubs crossed paths in Europe. Madrid fans recognized his greatness by giving him a standing ovation when the Italian club visited in March 2016. “It was a feeling that I’m going to carry with me for the rest of my life,” recalled Totti, during his brief visit to Madrid’s training complex. “It is a unique emotion to be applauded by a stadium like the Bernabéu. It was exciting. The Bernabéu is a stadium that instills passion and makes you want to play. Visiting as an opponent was stimulating,” he told the club’s media department.
Totti experienced the Bernabéu five times as a player but only got to watch his first game from the stands this weekend. He was present to see Ancelotti’s team beat Celta 2-0 “from the stands” which he described as “a wonderful feeling”. He explained, “I had always been a rival on the field. Real Madrid is a very important club”.
Manchester City stand in the way of a place in the Champions League final with Real Madrid aiming to defend the title. Totti sees very little between the two teams going into the tie. “It’s a final, but in the semi-final. They are two great teams and two great clubs. Anything can happen. I will be cheering Real Madrid on and I hope they make it to the final,” he said.
Totti also admitted that he is grateful for the good relationship he has with Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and showed his admiration for Croatian midfielder Luka Modric. “Ancelotti and I have a wonderful relationship. He is a true, pure person who transmits positivity. He gave me the opportunity to come here and see Real Madrid City for myself and here I am. After Roma, Real Madrid is my second team and the club I have always followed and admired”, he stated. “I have a special relationship with Modric. We admire each other. I had the pleasure of meeting him personally and he is an extraordinary player and person. He is a true and sincere person,” he ended.