Former Tottenham Hotspur technical director Franco Baldini is certainly causing a stir in Italy after Roma legend Francesco Totti walked out on the club.
Totti has an almost God-like status among the supporters of the Serie A side after spending his entire playing career at the club racking up 786 appearances and scoring 307 goals.
After hanging up his boots, Totti moved upstairs to become a director of the club but revealed to a press conference that his position has become untenable and aimed a dig at Franco Baldini and club president James Pallotta.
Baldini was responsible for recruiting the likes of Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen during his time at White Hart Lane but was also guilty of some flops in the form of Federico Fazio, Vlad Chiriches, Roberto Soldado and Paulinho (Sky Sports).
Such is Totti’s love for Roma, he claimed that the club is dying and feels like it would be better if he was dead.
Spurs have certainly been a better club since Baldini departed in August 2015.
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Totti was quoted by The Mirror as saying: “I resign as a Roma executive,”
“I was hoping that this day never came, instead this ugly and heavy day has arrived.
“This is far worse than retiring as a player. Leaving Roma is like dying. I feel like it’d be better if I died.”
He added: “This is a club to be loved and supported. There shouldn’t be pro-Totti, pro-Pallotta or pro-Baldini factions. Just Roma fans.
“As I said, presidents pass, coaches pass, players pass, but the flags do not.
“They knew my intentions and what I wanted, to give so much to this club and team, but they never wanted me to, in all honesty. They excluded me from every decision.”
“I wasn’t ever going to change Roma, but at least give a contribution. Many promises were made, very few of them real. As a fan, that disappoints me, because as a fan, I have dreams of seeing Roma compete at the top.
Even if we don’t win the Scudetto, we can compete and maybe win a trophy or two. Unfortunately, there are financial problems and they have to be respected.
“If we have to sell because this year we are running at a loss of €50-60m, we can’t sell youth players and get that amount of money. We have to sell important players. That’s how it works. This isn’t a surprise to anyone.
“Did someone stab me in the back at Trigoria? Yes. I will never name names, but there are people in there who don’t want me there. These people are hurting Roma, not doing what is best for the club.”
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