Italy World Cup winner teases shock return to football at 48 – SEVEN YEARS after retiring

Francesco Totti has backed himself to make a shock return to playing elite professional football and claimed it could be on the cards in ‘two to three months’.

The Roma legend believes he could ‘easily’ dominate Serie A games and revealed clubs have been getting in contact with him, though he acknowledged it would be ‘crazy’ and ‘difficult’.

Totti, 48, hung up his boots in 2017 after 25 seasons with Roma, winning one Serie A title and becoming their leading goalscorer and appearance-maker. 

He also lifted the 2006 World Cup with Italy, playing in all of their games despite injury troubles heading into the tournament. 

A return would see him smash Zlatan Ibrahimovic‘s Serie A outfield player age record by seven years but he thinks it is possible.

Francesco Totti has claimed he could sensationally return to playing in ‘two to three months’ 

The Roma and Italy legend says clubs have contacted him and he could still ‘easily’ dominate as a number 10 in Serie A

He did acknowledge it would be ‘difficult’ but has kept on playing since 2017 and has self-belief

‘With the level of today’s Serie A I could easily have my say on the pitch,’ he said via La Gazzetta dello Sport.  

‘There were Serie A teams that called me. I admit that they made me think, a little crazy. It would be difficult, but in life you never say never. There are players who have played many years after the end of their career.

‘It also depends on where you play, with all due respect, but if I were to return to Serie A I would have to train really well.

‘I’d be ready in two to three months. I’m still playing at 48. Half an hour, twenty minutes. If I had to do something crazy, I’d do it in Italy, not abroad. 

‘Maybe Inter will call me… Let’s make a dressing room, I’ll bring the Chinese (a nod to Inter’s previous owners). When you turn the page you never know what awaits you.

‘Maybe that’s also why I’ve had that thing inside me. It’s true that there’s a beginning and an end to everything. A 10 in Italy? There isn’t one, I could come back.’

Gazzetta go to lengths to make clear that this is not just a joke from Totti, reporting that he spoke with a ‘serious tone’.

The oldest ever player to feature in Serie A is goalkeeper Marco Ballotta, who turned out for Lazio aged 44 years, one month, and eight days in 2008.

Totti won the World Cup and Serie A during a 25-year career at the top of the beautiful game 

Ibrahimovic holds the record for an outfield player, having played for AC Milan aged 41 years, five months and 15 days in 2023, even scoring a penalty. 

Considering he made his debut at the age of 16 years, six months, and one day, it also goes without saying that any return would mark the longest time between a debut and final game – at least 32 years. 

If he goes on to score, he could become the oldest man to suck his thumb in Italian football, given his iconic celebration. 

Perhaps Roma, sat 10th in Serie A with two wins in eight games, could do with him.