Luciano Spalletti: “I loved Totti like a son.” | OneFootball

Italy manager and former Roma boss Luciano Spalletti went over his troubled relationship with legendary Giallorossi captain Francesco Totti.

Spalletti returned to talk about his relationship with Francesco Totti, and he did so during a speech at the IEG Expo at the Palacongressi in Rimini.

“Totti was one of the greatest talents I have ever coached. What he did in matches was part of what he brought out in training.”

“I know his quality as a footballer and his personality,” Spalletti continued. “I loved him like a son, like everyone else, but I couldn’t defend him from himself.”

“To make him perceive, him towards him, how he should be without being influenced by those around him. I argued with them, with those around him, not with him. He was a consequence of how they made him perceive him.”

“This thing had to be fixed directly. Meeting him again was a great pleasure for me and it will be an honor to go and do something together, who knows.”