There wasn’t a dry eye in the Stadio Olimpico as Roma bid farewell to club legend Francesco Totti on Sunday after 28 years at the club.
The Italian went on to make an inimitable 786 appearances in all competitions for his beloved club, scoring 307 goals in total.
Almost 70,000 fans congregated at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to say goodbye to the club legend on Sunday in their final Serie A game of the season against Genoa, which they won to confirm second place in the Serie A, and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Grazie! pic.twitter.com/EHpwZDcvEo
— Francesco Totti (@Totti) May 28, 2017
And at full-time, Totti as well as team-mates and supporters were in tears. Totti will always be a legend in the eyes of the Roma faithful.
Totti could easily have won more in his career, had he decided to flee his boyhood club for greener pastures, but his loyalty and dedication to the club surely means more to him that any honours that he could’ve won with other clubs. He only lifted one Scudetto with Roma, but his eyes strayed.
Long live the King… 👑
🏃 786 Roma games
⚽️ 307 goals
🏆 Six trophiesFrancesco Totti: The King of Rome! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/1ka4VeQozd
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2017
The club legend was given a guard of honour by his team-mates, before he performed a lap of the stadium in front of worshipping supporters and gave his final address in which he emotionally demonstrated his love for the club.
“It is impossible to sum up 28 years in a few sentences,” said Totti
“At some point in life, you grow up – that’s what I’ve been told and that’s what time has decided. Damned time,” with his wishes clear to return to 1989 and relive his Roma journey again. Totti realises that life will never be the same, and his fear of the future was clear for all to see. Football was a fantasy world for him. “I’m proud and happy to have given you 28 years of love.””I love you,” said the Italian, and every single spectator of the 70,000 present at the Stadio Olimpico believed him.” The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10
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