Totti: Roma fan cried ‘uncontrollably’ when we met, Dybala can’t be a centre-forward

Roma legend Francesco Totti reveals that a Gialorossi fan cried ‘uncontrollably’ when he met him in the street last month and argues that Paulo Dybala can’t play as a centre-forward: ‘We are two different types of players.’

Former Roma striker Totti released an interview with DAZN on the eve of a crucial Serie A match between the Giallorossi and Napoli.

Totti hasn’t watched a Roma game at the Stadio Olimpico for several years, but is planning to return soon.

“It’s been nearly three years, but I miss it, and I’ll return. I do it for the fans, I identify myself in them,” said the ex-striker via Forzaroma.info.

Totti is obviously still an idol in the capital, and the former Italy international revealed what happened when a fan recognised him in Rome last month.

“Barely a month ago, a person saw me when I stopped at the red light,” he said.

“I looked down, but he told me, ‘I’ve recognised you, captain’, so I waved at him and proceeded as the light turned green. When I stopped at the following traffic light, I saw him crying uncontrollably. He told me: ‘You can’t understand what you did and what you gave me in 25 years. You can’t imagine it. I love you more than my mother, more than anyone else. I’ve become a season ticket holder in the Tevere stands, because I hope to see you coming from the stairs. When the game starts, and you haven’t arrived, I go away.’ He didn’t even ask for a picture; he was just crying.”

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma are the current Serie A leaders, but Totti, a 2000-01 Scudetto winner, feels the team still has room for improvement.

“I still don’t see Gasperini’s Roma. I hope they can improve, but results count, so I’m happy with this,” he said.

Neither Artem Dovbyk nor Evan Ferguson have been entirely convincing this season, so Gasperini has been using Dybala as a false nine, but Totti feels the Argentine can’t play in an advanced role, something Totti had done in the final years of his career.

“No, he doesn’t have the skill set to do so. He no longer has the physicality,” said the former striker.

“He can play as an attacking midfielder, but not as a classic centre-forward. We are two different types of players, regardless of the technical aspect.”

Lastly, Totti said he does not miss wearing the No.10: “No, but it’s a different number from the others. It must be worn with strength and determination. It’s hard to imagine somebody else getting that number at Roma, but it’s fair that kids dream of wearing it. When the right moment comes, hopefully as soon as possible, I hope somebody will wear it again.”