Roma legend Francesco Totti claims he wanted to punch Pavel Nedved due to his excessive moaning and diving
The 42-year-old has spoken about the former Juventus maestro in his autobiography 'Un Capitano'
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FRANCESCO TOTTI has lifted the lid on playing against former rival Pavel Nedved - insisting he wanted "to punch him".
The Roma legend has claimed he hated playing against the ex-Juventus star, where he also labelled the 2003 Ballon d'Or winner as a "shocking whiner".
Totti, spoke about Nedved in his autobiography 'Un Capitano', and recalled a group stage game they competed in at the 2006 World Cup.
The 42-year-old's side - who would go on and win the World Cup in Germany - got the better of Czech Republic as they edged out a hard-fought 2-0 victory.
But Totti - now club director at beloved Roma - has stressed how Nedved was a nuisance all game, but insisted you couldn't doubt his quality on the pitch.
He said: "That day Nedved was in irresistible form, and it pains me to say that, because I never could stand him on the pitch.
"He was a shocking whiner. You grazed him and he’d soar for 10 metres. It made you want to punch him and that says everything.
"Having said all that, damn he was good. He was so good and in that game even more so, as (Gianluigi) Buffon had to invent three or four top level saves to keep him at bay.
"After repeating that I hated him as a player, and I confess it’s a feeling I never disguised, I must give him credit for being really nice to me the first time we met outside the Champions League draw in Monte Carlo.
"Nedved came over to me – and at that moment I was making my debut in this role of director – and asked me how it felt to have finished my playing career."
