It was the news we were all expecting to filter through sooner or later, this season, but that doesn't make it any easier to hear when it's made official.
Francesco Totti is to retire from football at the end of the season.
The news was originally broken in Italy, courtesy of Roma's Sporting Director Monchi, three weeks ago.
The Giallorossi Director said during a presentation this afternoon on 3rd May, "In terms of Totti, I already knew that there was an agreement with the club that this would be his final year as a player, then he'd start as a director.
"Francesco is Roma, I want to be as close to him as possible. I'd love to learn even one per cent of the huge amount that he knows."
Totti's last match in a Roma shirt will come against Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico, this Sunday. That means we've got just four days left of Francesco Totti as a professional footballer. Let's make the most of them while he's still lacing up his boots.
Totti, who Diego Maradona admitted is the greatest player he's ever seen, during a recent interview, made the announcement about his future via his official Twitter account, this afternoon:
Totti's statement does hint at a 'new challenge' which could be interpreted as a hint towards a move to a new club, but the most likely scenario is that the Roma captain moves into a director role, with a six year deal on the table for him to do so.
'Il Gladiatore' has spent 25 years with the 'Giallorossi' first team, making his debut as a 16-year-old and remaining with the club for his entire career, becoming the club's most beloved player and captain.
In 2001 Totti became only the third man to captain Roma to a Serie A title and five years later, was part of the Italian national team that conquered the world at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Of course, more trophies and accolades could have come Totti's way had he taken up offers from Real Madrid or AC Milan who were both desperate to lure him away from the Italian capital.
The 40-year-old decided that he could never abandon his people in Rome though and, instead of lifting Champions Leagues and league titles with other clubs, whether they be in Italy or abroad, he became a God at the Stadio Olimpico. A big, gorgeous, golazo scoring, Lazio hating God.
Known by some as Il Bimbo d'Oro or 'The Golden Boy' Totti has made 785 appearances for Roma, scoring 307 goals in the process, making him the second highest Serie A goal scorer in history, behind Silvio Piola, with 248 of his efforts coming in the Italian top flight.
What a player, what a man. He will be greatly missed not only in Rome, but across the world.
Featured Image Credit: Phil GallowayTopics: Football, AS Roma, Italy, Francesco Totti
