Francesco Totti will finish his career at Roma after signing a new one-year contract
Italian legend had been linked with Leicester and New York Cosmos, but will bring time with boyhood club to 25 years
Francesco Totti will end his career at boyhood club Roma after signing a new one-year contract.
The Italian has been at the club since making his debut in 1992 — and next season will see him complete a sensational 25 years with his hometown side.
Totti had been linked with a move to Leicester and US side, New York Cosmos.
However, he has put pen-to-paper on a new deal with Rome, and admits it’s a dream come true.
Speaking to Roma TV, he said: “It’s an enormous satisfaction — I always wanted to have another year with these shirt and these colours.
“It was my dream and I think I earned it.”
Totti looked set to end his association with the club he has spent career at following several public spats with manager, Luciano Spalletti.
And, at the age of 39, it seemed his on pitch influence was waning.
However, his incredible end of season form — which included two goals in the last three minutes to turn a 2-1 deficit into a victory against Torino — captured the imagination of football fans all over the world and saw him offered a late reprieve.
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Totti’s 2015-16 campaign ended so well, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon even called for him to be included in the Italy squad for this summer’s European Championships.
Roma finished the season in second place, behind the Turin giants and rivals, Napoli, ensuring themselves Champions League football for next season.
Asked whether he expected to finish 2015-16 in such good form, he replied: “Not that well.
“What happened goes against all logic. It’s something nobody could have expected.
“Me in particular.
“Luckily, it happened and I was able to contribute to the team.
“To finish the season in third place is the most important thing — for me and for the club.”
Totti made his debut for Roma as a 16-year-old in 1993 and, in 1998 he became the club’s youngest-ever official captain, at the age of 22.
Totti claimed the 2007 European Golden Shoe for a sensational season, where he netted 26 goals.
He has made a staggering 601 appearances in Serie A — though he will now be able to catch Paolo Maldini’s record of 647, unless he extends his stay even further.
While Totti’s 248 league goals are second only to Silvio Piola on 274.
He won his only Scudetto in 2001 but was named Serie A Player of the Year a record five times.
His only other club honours were back-to-back Coppa Italia trophies in 2007 and 2008.
However, he was crowned world champion with Italy in 2006.
Totti made a name for himself as serial runner-up — finished second Serie A on EIGHT occasions, and was losing Coppa Italia finalist five times.
He was also part of the Italy team which lost in the Euro 2000 final.