Time is showing no signs of halting the seemingly eternal Francesco Totti, who, despite his critics, is experiencing something of a classical revival at A.S. Roma under French manager Rudi Garcia.
Surely one of the definitive definitions of a ‘one club man’; a turbulent three seasons of managerial changes, substandard results and financial upheaval also saw Francesco Totti’s worth to A.S. Roma questioned.
A string of listless performances saw the Italian facing similar criticism to another club idol and one club man whose career is similarly in its twilight days, with several pundits and Liverpool supporters questioning whether the Merseyside club now perform better without Steven Gerrard in the starting XI.
Time may have dulled Francesco Totti’s physical prowess, however, akin to Alessandro Del Piero, time hath not dulled Francesco Totti’s technique and renowned ability to devastate opposition defences, with the Italian still able to find punishing pockets of space from which to play devastating pinpoint passes.
Totti’s resurgence has coincided with his redeployment in the false 9 position, fashioned years early by former manager Luciano Spalletti.
However, it would be an overstatement to say Totti’s redeployment as a false 9 has been the sole reason for his rebirth.
A.S. Roma’s appointment of Rudi Garcia has proven so far to be a masterstroke at reinvigorating the club.
The former Lille manager has brought some harmony to the dressing room and a semblance of defensive solidity absent during Zdenek Zeman’s reign, without entirely abandoning A.S. Roma’s attacking principles.
The additions of Gervinho, Kevin Strootman and Adam Ljajic have arguably key to A.S. Roma and Totti’s improvement under manager Rudi Garcia.
Gervinho’s reunion with Rudi Garcia, after an estimated seven million Euro transfer from Arsenal, is proving particularly fruitful for both A.S. Roma and the Ivorian.
Paired with the pace, trickery and directness of A.S. Roma’s nominal wingers, Totti’s world class ability to prod and probe opposition defences forms a deadly partnership, leaving Cagliari, Lazio and an all-conquering Juventus as the only clubs to have kept a cleansheet against A.S. Roma in a competitive football fixture.
Such has been Totti’s resurgence he has effectively earned himself one final contract at his beloved A.S. Roma, to both the pleasure and understandable jealousy of former one club man Alessandro Del Piero.
Should A.S. Roma continue their upwards trajectory in Serie A there could yet be more silverware and UEFA Champions League stories to be told.
How A.S. Roma will cope with the eventual absence of club idol Totti remains to be seen. However, not even A.S. Roma’s own eternal idol is immortal and the day will arrive where Totti tearfully hangs up his boots for good.
In manager Rudi Garcia, the future of A.S. Roma will hopefully be bright, should the Frenchman survive to herald in the post-Totti era.
Until that day arrives however, Francesco Totti is proving his talents are as eternal as the city of Rome herself.
Age cannot apparently weary him, for he is Roma’s ‘Eternity Man’.
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