Having shared the Serie A stage side by side for over two decades, Francesco Totti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have left quite a legacy for the future generations to track back and learn from. With the latter nearing the end of his iconic career, Totti has offered a few words of advice to his former rival who has been marred regularly by injuries in recent months – in the same manner the Giallorossi legend also endured his final professional days.
In an exclusive interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (via MilanNews), Roma icon Totti has asked the big Swede to listen to his body for what it’s worth and warned him of the mental stressors involved.
“My situation was different from Zlatan’s. I hadn’t had many injuries, I felt I could give my contribution, but I was put aside. I was playing just five or ten minutes per game. The last season was heavy, especially mentally. When you don’t play consistently, especially at a certain age, the body doesn’t rest but gets rusty.
When you are accustomed to being introduced as a substitute, you lose rhythm. Your mind knows what to do, but your legs are not quick enough. You know you are better than the others, but the body can’t be in the game,” he said.
He then heaped praise on the ex-Manchester United and PSG striker’s ablities.
Totti said: “He has been one of the best strikers in the world, a spectacular footballer in every aspect: an absolute leader and an exemplary professional. It’s a personal choice (to continue playing) and I hope he continues until he wants, but only if his body allows him to be as decisive as he’s always been. If he spends more time on the sidelines than on the pitch, then it becomes heavy.”
Intervista esclusiva a #Totti: "Ibra ascolti il suo corpo. Un finale con gol e poi decida. Per il Milan resta importante" https://t.co/2iot36kUXz
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) April 14, 2022
Totti retired when he was 40 five years ago during a tense and controversial season at Stadio Olimpico under now Napoli tactician Luciano Spalletti. He hopes Ibrahimovic doesn’t have to go what he went through i.e., sitting out for games despite being in the best of health.
“I felt sorry for myself when I was sitting on the bench in my final season and I hope he fell the same. I know how it feels to watch games from the bench for an entire season and I was even feeling well physically. A year like that can become endless. I hope I will see him celebrate a goal again in the final games of the season and after that, he should listen to his body. It will tell him what to do,” he ended.
L’Ottavo Rei di Roma scored 307 goals in 786 appearances for the Giallorossi during a span of three decades that saw him being crowned as one of the greatest ever one-club players in history.