Francesco Totti is set to return to AS Roma. The club legend confirmed it himself to Italy Sky.
Francesco Totti looks set to return to AS Roma in a new off pitch role, with talks advancing after he confirmed he recently had dinner with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini.
The meeting has been widely interpreted in Italy as more than a simple courtesy, suggesting that Roma are trying to align the ideas of their technical leadership with the arrival of a figure who still carries enormous symbolic and sporting weight inside the club.
Totti is still in discussions with Dan Friedkin, the Roma owner, about the final details of what is being described as an upcoming appointment. The negotiations are not focused on whether he will come back, but on what his day to day responsibilities will be, how much influence he will have, and where he fits within the current decision making structure. In modern clubs, bringing a legend into the organisation can be a powerful move, but only if the role is defined clearly enough to avoid overlap with the coach, the sporting director, and the front office.
According to reports, the main sticking point has been the exact job description. In recent days, however, a compromise is said to have been found. The idea is that Totti would begin as an external adviser for the first months. That early phase would effectively function as a transition period, giving Roma time to integrate him into internal processes while keeping the role flexible and low risk. After that, he would move into a more permanent position inside the club, with a clearer mandate and a more stable place in the organisational chart.
Roma ownership reportedly see multiple benefits in bringing Totti back into an official capacity. From an institutional standpoint, he remains one of the most recognisable faces connected to Roma. His presence can strengthen the bond between the club and its supporters, especially at a time when fan sentiment often swings with results and boardroom decisions. Roma also have major projects where a globally known club icon can help, particularly around the centenary celebrations and the long term stadium plans. In those areas, Totti can operate as a high credibility ambassador, fronting initiatives, representing Roma at key events, and giving the club a familiar identity that resonates far beyond the pitch.
At the same time, the Friedkin group are also said to want Totti involved in a sporting capacity, not only in ceremonial duties. That could cover several possible functions, depending on how Roma decide to shape the role. In practice, this kind of position can include advising on recruitment priorities, giving input on player profiles that fit the team style, helping evaluate talent from a football point of view, and acting as a bridge between the squad, the coaching staff, and the board. His experience inside Roma and his understanding of the pressure and expectations around the club are often cited as unique assets, particularly for a team that has regularly navigated high intensity periods in Serie A and Europe.
This is why the dinner with Gasperini matters. When a club legend is given any sort of sporting influence, the relationship with the head coach is critical. Roma will want to avoid a situation where the coach feels undermined or where messages to the squad become mixed. A personal meeting early in the process helps build mutual trust and sets boundaries. It also allows both sides to clarify how Totti would contribute without interfering in match preparation, selection, or tactical decisions. If the club sees Totti as a long term figure in the sporting area, alignment with the coach becomes a prerequisite rather than a bonus.
Totti remains one of the defining figures of Roma in the modern era. He played 619 Serie A matches for the club and scored 250 league goals, a combination of longevity and production that places him among the most impactful one club players in European football history. He retired in 2017, ending a career that made him a symbol of loyalty, identity, and excellence for Roma supporters. For Italy, he earned 58 caps and was a central figure across multiple international cycles, further boosting his standing in the wider football landscape.
A return now would also carry emotional significance because his post playing relationship with Roma has not always been straightforward. Any separation between a club and its biggest icon tends to become magnified, especially in a football city where identity and tradition matter deeply. Reintroducing him in an official role would be seen by many fans as a step towards reconciliation and stability, and by the ownership as a way to strengthen legitimacy and unity around the club direction.
The reference to Totti watching a 2 to 2 draw away at Napoli, where Donyell Malen reportedly impressed, underlines that he still follows elite football closely and remains present in conversations about performance and talent. It also signals that his football eye and public profile are still relevant, which is part of why Roma see value in involving him beyond nostalgia.
If the agreement is finalised, the early months will be important. An external adviser phase typically means Roma will test how the role functions in real conditions: how Totti communicates with executives and staff, how his input is gathered and used, and how public expectations are managed. Given how high profile he is, even small moments will be interpreted strongly by media and supporters. Roma will likely aim for a controlled, well structured integration, with clear messaging to avoid speculation about power struggles or hidden agendas.
For now, the key point is that talks are active and appear to have progressed to a practical framework: initial external advisory work, followed by a more permanent internal role. With Totti confirming meetings and conversations publicly, and with reports suggesting the role has been broadly agreed, the expectation in Italy is that Roma could formalise the arrangement soon, opening a new chapter in the relationship between the club and its most iconic captain.
Updated: 12:06, 16 Feb 2026
