Totti and Me: Alessandro Florenzi on his captain

I was born and grew up in Roma. Like all the kids in the youth sector at the club, on Sunday I would go to the Stadio Olimpico to watch my heroes in the first team. My first memories of Francesco come from this period: Back then I’d see him in the flesh playing a few metres away from me; he was incredible, a player from a different world.

As I grew older and progressed as a player, eventually I started playing for the Primavera. Occasionally I would be asked to come up and train with the first team squad. It was difficult not to get emotional at the prospect of playing with Totti. Superstars are capable of intimidating you with just once glance, but Francesco was always brilliant at putting you at ease. He is amazing at that side of things, even back then he’d throw a joke your way and it would make you feel like he is your best mate.

My debut in Serie A involves Francesco as well. It was on the 22 May 2011, at the end of the season before I went on loan to Crotone for a year. Coach Montella added me to the first-team squad for the last game of the championship, against Sampdoria. At the end of the game the boss called me to come on, and Francesco was the one I replaced. He was the symbol of the team and I was replacing him, for my very first game in Serie A. That moment will stay in my mind forever: as it will for my father, my mother, and all my relatives.

They saw me realise my dream in the best possible way.

I came back to Trigoria after a year at Crotone and the bond with the captain got better and better. Since we’re both from Rome, along with Daniele De Rossi, a really special relationship developed. I hold him in such high regard and this has only grown over time.

I remember our friendship really began on a plane heading to the United States for pre-season. It was my first pre-season tour, my first trip across the Atlantic, and things were dragging. And so, to pass the time, we started playing cards. That was when we started chatting and you could feel a bond developing. He’s a master at making you feel at home - and manages to make you feel comfortable straight away, with a joke or merely one of his looks. When you break into the first team at Roma he really was a great team-mate to have.

My second big moment for Roma also has his imprint on it: My first goal for the club came thanks to his assist. It was on the 2 September 2012, and we were playing at the San Siro against Inter Milan. So, I’m lucky enough to be able to say that Francesco was key to the two biggest things a kid playing football dreams of: playing in the top flight and scoring in a competitive fixture.

"That moment will stay in my mind forever: as it will for my father, my mother, and all my relatives. They saw me realise my dream in the best possible way."

- Alessandro Florenzi

Over the years he’s remained the most relaxed person you’ll ever meet. Away from the pitch he’s actually quiet a shy and reserved character, which perhaps you wouldn’t expect. He prefers to spend a lot of time with his family and I guess being who is in Rome has made him be a little more like that: just because it’s really not easy for him to go out in public where he inevitably becomes the main attraction. I think it will be always like this for him.

For me it was so easy to go from being a team-mate to a friend with him - but that’s truly all thanks to him, especially at the start when I felt incredibly embarrassed around him.

There isn't enough time, enough words, to talk about Francesco Totti: because you have to bring up his history, his skills and his goals. I can only say he’s a unique footballer, one of a kind. Perhaps his best attribute is that he’s got eyes in the back of his head, which is very rare to find in the world of football. He sees things before everyone else and his intelligence is unmatched in this sport.

As I’ve said, off the pitch his approachability and openness to me, the team and the city has been so special.

When you talk about Roma, you talk about Francesco. You don’t have to spend two hours in this city to realise that: if you think about the capital, the first name that immediately comes to mind is Totti.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have crossed paths with him, both professionally and in my personal life.