Every detail behind Totti’s potential return to Roma: Role, Ranieri and 100th anniversary

Claudio Ranieri has recently revealed that Francesco Totti could potentially return to his beloved Roma in the near future. Here is everything we know about the potential return of the legendary former Giallorossi skipper. 

Could Totti finally be set to return to Roma?

“I know the Friedkins are thinking about it. I hope Francesco can truly be useful to Roma as well, because he really is part of Roma,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia in a recent interview. 

Totti retired in 2017 after a 24-year career in Roma’s first team. He was immediately appointed as a technical collaborator after hanging up his boots, a role which was intended to keep Totti involved with the club on a day-to-day basis. 

However, it was never particularly clear what his daily duties entailed in his previous role, and eventually, after a breakdown in relations with the former Roma set-up, Totti decided to walk away from the club in 2019. 

“I resign, but sooner or later I will return. Definitely under a different ownership,” Totti said at the time of his resignation in 2019. 

Since 2020, Roma have been under the ownership of Dan Friedkin and are currently under the guidance of Claudio Ranieri, who is said to have an excellent relationship with Totti. 

Totti was recently spotted at the Stadio Olimpico for Roma’s 2-0 Europa League victory over VfB Stuttgart, his first appearance at the stadium in around two years, and as per Corriere dello Sport, this was under this invitation of Ryan Friedkin. 

Ranieri is very much the bridge between Totti and the current Roma ownership, though. 

Corriere dello Sport claims that talks over a potential return for Totti are ongoing. There is no rush though, and the relevant parties want to make sure that everybody is in agreement over what a return for Totti would look like. 

The Friedkins reportedly see Totti as a key, symbolic figure for the club in a potential representative or ambassadorial sort of role, while Totti himself is said to be keen on more of a hands-on operational position somewhere between the sporting director and first team. These are details that still need to be hashed out. 

As per Corriere dello Sport, Totti’s return could potentially coincide with the club’s centenary year in 2027. The club would also like to have Totti on board for a potential move into a new stadium. 

While there are still several details to be sorted out, on a personal level as well – Totti is set to finalise a complicated divorce from his wife in March – reports in Italy claim that a return to the Stadio Olimpico has never been closer than it is right now.