Cristian Totti, the eldest son of Italian and AS Roma football legend Francesco Totti, has decided to retire at the age of 19.
The decision reflects the harshness of top-flight football, where fame alone is not enough without the courage to live in the shadow of a legend. "Enough, I quit football," Cristian told La Nuova.
From the moment he was born, Cristian was under immense pressure as the son of Francesco Totti, who scored 307 goals in 786 games and captained AS Roma for 25 years. Cristian grew up in the spotlight and was constantly compared. His every move was scrutinized by the media and social media, from his appearance to his form.
Cristian grew up with football, in the shadow of his father.
Cristian trained at Roma's U18 youth academy but only played for 15 minutes, then played for the youth teams of Frosinone, Rayo Vallecano (Spain) and played in Serie D for Avezzano and Olbia. However, the pressure from expectations and insults became a difficult burden to overcome.
The label "Totti's son" makes Cristian unable to overcome the pressure
Under the guidance of coach Marco Amelia, former AC Milan and Italy goalkeeper, Cristian only played 156 minutes in 6 matches for Olbia before his contract was terminated in December 2024.
Coach Amelia regrets: "I chose Cristian because he is a creative midfielder, reads the game well and is willing to compete. He can completely develop in Serie C or Serie B. But the label "Totti's son" has made people see him differently."
Despite deciding to hang up his boots early, Cristian has not left football behind.
He is currently involved in scouting at Totti Soccer School, the football academy founded by his father, to continue to contribute to discovering and training young talents, keeping his passion for football in a different way.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/cau-thu-duoc-bong-da-y-chu-y-bat-ngo-giai-nghe-o-tuoi-19-196250729181403597.htm
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