Tommasi on his new book, club legends, Romanita and more

Whatever might happen.

“Roma is a visceral passion.”

Damiano Tommasi loved Roma, and still does. Now he has written a book in which he describes Roma through 50 key figures who have made the club great. It's called Ti racconto i campioni della Roma ('Let me tell you about Roma's stars', 240 pages, published by Gribaudo/Feltrinelli and illustrated by Paolo Castaldi) and it's on sale in bookstores and online from 29 April.

There's an image which incapsulates Tommasi's relationship with Roma perfectly. It's a picture that immortalises his celebration after scoring against Fiorentina on 27 November 2005 – his first following his return from a devastating injury which almost ended his career.

“That photo reminds me of my relationship with Roma, a club I gave everything for and from which I received everything you can imagine by opening up your arms and turning your hands towards the sky.”

Why did a former Roma player write a book about Roma players?

"I was honoured to do so. In truth, there are more distinguished names who could have done it. It was really hard to choose 50 Roma faces.”

In 2005, a newspaper likened you to Giacomo Losi, calling you “Core de Roma”. The fans at the stadium sang “Eleven Tommasis”. And in 2015 you were inducted into the AS Roma Hall of Fame. Why do you think Roma fans have such strong feelings for you?

"As I write in the book, I was a bit embarrassed about being likened to Core de Roma [Losi] because of everything he meant to Roma and Italian footballers in general: he was one of the founders of the Italian Footballers' Association. Maybe fans appreciated the fact I was aware of my limitations and tried to overcome them.

"I have to think of that boy, Luca his name was, who even when I was being whistled at held up a banner which read 'Tommi, I'm with you'. My wanting to give 100% at all times is what fans expect to see from their idols. Of course, being part of one of the most successful Roma sides of all time helped too.”

Of all the former Roma players you mention in the book that you played with, who do you feel the strongest bond with?

"Eusebio Di Francesco. He's always been like an older brother to me. Then Marco Delvecchio. After my injury in Irdning, he really made me feel at home. I never told him that and this book is an opportunity to do so. The third is [Simone] Perotta. I didn't get to play with him so much but we struck up a great friendship afterwards at the Footballers' Association.”

Which of the players that you didn't play with do you admire the most?

"All of the team that won the second Scudetto, from [Franco] Tancredi to [Agostino] Di Bartolomei. And Giacomo Losi of course. I'd have loved to share a dressing room with him. When I met him, I got the impression he would have been my sort of captain.”

Giorgio Rossi wasn't a president, a coach or a player; he was a physiotherapist. And yet you included him in your list of Roma stars. How come?

"Giorgio's profile was one of the first I wrote. Giorgio embodied the Roma spirit. He was a pillar of the club. A faithful servant.”

You reveal that you read a book about Di Bartolomei the night before the match when Roma clinched the Scudetto. Ago used to say that there are football fans and then there are Roma fans. Do you agree with that?

"I do. When friends of mine say they're 'a die-hard Roma fan', I say they're 'a Roma fan', because it's only natural to have visceral feelings about Roma. You can't 'like' Roma, you can only love Roma. I think that's a virtue. Of course, if you don't go beyond that, it can become a limit too.

"I think these Romanista values are something the club must never lose. When a player joins Roma, they have the chance to be successful and win things, but first and foremost they must show they feel a sense of belonging. For example, when Bruno Conti retired, the stadium was full even though Roma had lost the UEFA Cup final to Inter the day before. No one else has a trophy like Bruno Conti in their cabinet.”

What do you love most about Rome?

"When I think of Rome, I think of the passing of the millennia. So what I love about Rome is the light. The light of its legend.”