Totti: I had a chance to return to Serie A and was feeling great | OneFootball

Italy and Roma legend reiterated that he was close to coming out of retirement and returning to Serie A in January, while also hinting at the club that allegedly tried to sign him.

The 48-year-old made headlines last October when he shockingly told reporters that he would need just ‘two months’ of training to regain form and be ready to play again in the Italian top flight.

GENOA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Francesco Totti, former captain of Roma, reacts prior to kick-off in the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and AS Roma at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 28, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Although the comeback never materialised, the former striker revealed that he held concrete talks with a Serie A club but admitted it would have been ‘messy’ for him to accept the offer.

Totti admits he was close to returning to Serie A: ‘There was a chance’

“There was a chance [of returning to playing football],” Totti told Viva El Futbol.

“It [the team] was in Italy, in Serie A.

“I was really feeling great, I swear.

“I trained every day, two hours a day. I was in top shape, in terms of stamina and in every other aspect.

“It didn’t go through because I would have had to change too many things—it would have been messy. I would have had to move to a different city.

“I was supposed to live near Cassano, can you imagine?”

Many speculated that Totti was hinting at an offer from Genoa, as his former teammate Antonio Cassano currently resides in the Ligurian city.

Had the former Giallorossi captain returned to Serie A, he would have become the oldest player ever to feature in the competition.

The current record belongs to former Lazio goalkeeper Marco Ballotta, who played at 44 years, one month, and eight days. Gianluigi Buffon sits second, having made his last Serie A appearance for Juventus in May 2021 at 43 years, three months, and 14 days.