One-club heroes are almost the stuff of football mythology nowadays, such is their rarity.
It takes a special type of player to stick with the one crest for the duration of their career. Although they miss out on the excitement of starting afresh in a new destination, they usually build an unbreakable bond with the fans, particularly if they bring passion, dedication and inspiration to the terraces and the pitch.
Francesco Totti is one such star. Since 1992, the inimitable midfielder has been at the heart of everything AS Roma has done and achieved. Now the captain supreme of I Giallorossi he has played a major role in each of the five pieces of silverware the club have plundered since the turn of the millennium.
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However, while it would be romantic to see the 39-year-old wind down his playing career with the club before galloping off into the Italian sunset, there have been rumblings of an end-of-career transfer for one last hurrah abroad.
Leicester City
No prizes for guessing which team has been the most surprising this season, as Leicester City have ripped everyone’s pre-season predictions to shreds with one of the most memorable performances by an underdog in recent memory.
Sitting atop the Premier League table, the Foxes have outsmarted everyone around them and are on the cusp of a massive title win.
Imagine what they could achieve if they had a veteran of the ability and inimitable experience of Totti to add to their already impressive ranks?
The Guardian have reported that Claudio Ranieri is keen to bring El Bimbo D’Oro (the Golden Baby) to the King Power stadium, but it’s not clear whether they will be successful in their efforts. It really would be a massive coup for the club and with Leicester challenging for silverware and all but guaranteed Champions League football, they have the credentials and will soon have the extra cash to make it a reality.
He might not have the legs, but he still has the innate brilliance to conjure magic. After all, Ranieri’s men are experts at making the impossible possible so let’s not dismiss this move just yet.
New York Cosmos
They might reside in the NASL, but that hasn’t stopped the New York Cosmos attracting some of the game’s biggest names in the past.
Why only recently, Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez Blanco was on their books. Indeed, the now retired Spaniard won the league championship with the club shortly before calling quits on his time in the professional game. Many news outlets, not least Sky Italia (h/t Sky Sports), are reporting that Totti could look to follow Raul’s footsteps by playing out his swansong with the American club.
The Roma legend has been a bit-part player throughout the 2016/17 campaign with only seven Serie A appearances to his name, and he has rarely made much secret of his unhappiness at how little he has been called upon. Only a few weeks ago, the ex-Italy international sounded out his frustrations in a rather public way – and who can blame him?
It hurts to be on the bench. I understand at my age that I play less, but ending my career like this is bad for me as a man and what I've given to Roma. I demand more respect for all I've done here.
Since then, he has not been given much time on the pitch, and that’s putting it bluntly.
Many fans are unhappy with how the club legend has been treated and with the damage already done, though parting would be such sweet sorrow, it would be difficult to begrudge him an exit to somewhere that would actually give him regular minutes. Cosmos fans, you might just get your man.
Miami Beckham United
David Beckham’s MLS project hasn’t exactly made perfect progress in recent months, but things look like they might finally be on the right track to coming together for the former Manchester United star’s franchise.
Not too long ago, the unimaginatively-called Miami Beckham United acquired the land needed to build their stadium so the seeds are certainly being sewn for the start of their journey – but can they kick into action before Totti hangs up his boots?
Roma president James Pallotta admitted that Roma’s ‘Eternal Captain’ was interested in a move Stateside, but as the club is unlikely to form until the 2018/19 season at the earliest, the ageing star is unlikely to get his chance to team up with them until then. Nevertheless, he still looks fresh and capable of shining at the top level, as his latest two winning strikes against Torino underline.
The precedents for golden oldies might not be as numerous as Totti’s goals in the famous wine red shirt (incidentally he has racked up over 300 at the club and has previously stated his wish to reach the 400-mark) but seeing him play into his 40s isn’t as crazy a thought as one might initially think when names like Teddy Sheringham, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini spring to mind.
Al Ahli
According to Eurosport, Italian daily Il Tempo have reported that there has been some considerable interest from a number of clubs based in the United Arab Emirates, with both Al Jazira and Al Alhi the two main frontrunners to secure his signature.
The latter currently find themselves top of the UAE Pro-League, on course to claim the title so they might just have the edge over their competitors in that sense but if they really want to snag such a big name they’ll have to really sell the move to Totti and head coach Cosmin Olaroiu would be central to that.
No disrespect to the Fursan but Totti will probably require a sizeable wage packet if he’s to turn down more glamorous (and more competitive) offers elsewhere. In many ways, it would be quite an obscure destination for such an icon of the game to wind up despite the fact they reached the AFC Champions League final in 2012, but it all depends on what he wants his next move to entail.
After toiling with one club for so long, he might just be tempted to entertain such a remarkable change of scenery – as well as the money that could well accompany it.
Whether the club has deep enough pockets to entice him away for a season at least remains to be seen, but this transfer rumour certainly shows how widely respected the 39-year-old maestro truly is.
Guangzhou Evergrande
The Chinese Super League have been snapping up some of the game’s biggest stars in recent months, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to see one of these clubs make a swoop for Totti. For starters, he can still deliver on the pitch and let’s not forget the name alone would sell shirts by the truckload, so the financial benefits are clear to see.
The reigning CSL champions can already boast the talents of Jackson Martinez and Paulinho amongst their ranks and with more and more big names being linked with moves to their title rivals on a regular basis, the motivation is there to pursue one of the greatest midfielders of the past 20 years.
Equipped with a fiery attitude, a steely will to compete and win as well as one of the finest sets of vision around (even still), his repertoire of skills belies his age immensely. Much like any potential move to the UAE, swapping the Italian Serie A for China’s top flight would not be a decision to take lightly.
Nevertheless, where there are blank cheques aplenty, there is always the chance that anything can happen and anyone can be tempted anywhere. We won’t hold our breath for this one to develop, but stranger things have happened.
