Carew: Totti my ‘strongest’ teammate, I was offered acting career at Aston Villa | OneFootball

Former Roma striker John Carew says Francesco Totti is the ‘strongest’ player he’s ever played with and reveals he started considering an acting career at Aston Villa: ‘At first, I didn’t believe it.’

Ex-Norway international Carew spoke about his career as a footballer and as an actor in his latest interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

A former striker for Roma, Valencia, Besiktas and Aston Villa, among others, Carew retired in 2012 and has now become an actor.

“I work with Panorama, a Scandinavian agency that represents actors. I’ve appeared in about a dozen films, ranging from horror and gangster movies to comedies,” he said.

“One of the best remains Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, shot in London with Angelina Jolie, which was nominated for an Oscar. I also landed on Netflix with the series Home for Christmas, the third season was released in December.”

When did he start considering an acting career?

“It was in 2009. I was playing for Aston Villa and I was 30 years old,” he revealed.

“Some of my friends in London worked in the film industry and one day they told me: ‘John, you have an interesting look to be an actor.’ At first, I didn’t believe it Then I came around and started taking classes. Acting allowed me to create a channel to reach emotions.

“I’d love to act in a beautiful Italian love story. And I’d also like to play the villain in one of the next James Bond movies.”

Carew: Totti the ‘strongest player I’ve ever played with’

Carew spent six months on loan at Roma, playing under legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello.

“Totti is the strongest player I’ve ever played with. Cassano was crazy in the locker room, always pulling pranks on everyone,” Carew said.

“He [Cassano] didn’t understand a word of my English. I was very close to Delvecchio, a big fan of American music, he listened to Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.

“Capello pushed for my loan move from Valencia, where I had won a La Liga title and played in a Champions League Final.”

Three years later, after playing for Besiktas and Lyon, Carew joined Aston Villa and did so mostly thanks to the most notable Villa fan, Prince William.

“We met in Norway during a dinner with the royal family. I remember we talked only about football and, shortly after, he invited me to England to watch an Aston Villa match, his team,” the former striker revealed.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 20: John Carew of West Ham shoots at goal as Seb Hines of Middlesbrough tries to block during the npower Championship match between West Ham United and Middlesbrough at Boleyn Ground on March 20, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

“He convinced me to move there in 2007: for three consecutive seasons, I sored double digits in the Premier League. He admired me. In 2019, we watched together at Wembley the play-off Final against Derby County, which secured promotion to the Premier League.”

Several media reported that once Carew broke John Arne Riise’s nose during a clash with the Norway national team.

“Many people wrote that, but it’s false,” concluded the ex-striker.

“During a national team training session we had a big of a clash. There were insults and a few shoves, at most a slight slap. That was it. Just things that happen on the pitch. I wasn’t called up for the match against Portugal. Riis and I later apologised to each other.”