Francesco Totti reveals retirement is not an option as he prepares to play his final game for Roma
Italian legend Totti ends 25-year career with Roma on Sunday but says he cannot quit playing football
FRANCESCO TOTTI has revealed he will not be retiring from football after playing his final game for Roma this weekend.
Totti ends a 25-year career with the Serie A club on Sunday when he will pull on the shirt for the last time against Genoa.
Most had expected the legendary former Italian international to walk away from the game once he had quit his beloved club.
But Totti insists his final appearance for Roma will not be the end of his playing career - even at the age of 40.
The brilliant midfielder made an emotional post on his Facebook account to announce he was looking for a new challenge next season.
He wrote: “Roma-Genoa, Sunday the 28th 2017, the last time I will be wearing the Roma shirt.
“It is impossible to express everything that Roma means to me, how much these colours are important and will be important, always.”
“I am only feeling that my love for football is also impossible to end, it’s a passion.
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"It’s my passion and it is so deep that I can’t think of ending it, never.”
“From Monday I will be ready to start again, I’ll be ready for a new challenge.”
Totti was regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in world football at the peak of his career and was chased by a host of big clubs across Europe.
But he always snubbed the chance to make big money moves abroad in favour of remaining loyal to the club he supported as a child.