Francesco Totti has disclosed just how close he was to joining Real Madrid earlier in his career and why he decided to stay in the Italian capital.
Having just celebrated his 40th birthday, the Roma captain and icon spoke of how he came 'very close' to moving to Spain but does not regret his decision to remain at his boyhood club, believing a combination of friends, family and love of the city persuaded him to stay.
"I was about to go there in 2003, even if it's not true that I was in Spain," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"But then my heart, my friends and the family helped me reflect on it, and fortunately I am still here to tell the tale.
"And then there were problems with the penultimate contract I signed, I really thought about changing club.
"I don't know how I have made it here, maybe it's because I don't have any vices, I'm still intact and I still have that desire, passion and determination to go on enjoying myself."
