Baldissoni: Didn’t want Totti to go…
Roma Vice-President Mauro Baldissoni insists ‘we never wanted Francesco Totti to leave’ but that ‘no-one can make decisions by themselves.’
Totti held an explosive Press conference on Monday to explain the reasons for his departure from Roma, accusing his now ex-employers of ‘stabbing him in the back’ among other things.
“The club have never been in a hurry to impose things on Totti,” Baldissoni told Sky Sport Italia.
“His first season was harder, he had to get an idea of the role and we waited for him patiently.
“In February of his second season, the club offered him the role of technical director and he had to give an answer. We’re sorry.
“It’s not true that the American owners want to ‘de-Romanise’ Roma. In these eight years Totti has been given two player contracts and one as a director.
“De Rossi renewed with us and then we made a technical decision on him. We brought back Florenzi and Pellegrini and we’ve involved club legends in other initiatives.
“We want to give priority to those who have given so much for this shirt. We never wanted Totti to leave.
“On Totti possibly returning under new owners, the President Pallotta has made it clear on several occasions that Roma aren’t for sale, and it’s good that the markets know this.
“Francesco’s Press conference yesterday leaves us with so much sorrow and bitterness because when it’s not possible for Roma to keep a great asset of theirs, it’s clearly a defeat for all of us.
“The Americans have invested relentlessly and constantly in the last few years, positioning themselves, according to a recent statistic, ninth among the clubs who have spent the most on signings. And we’ll do that again.
“We’ll keep striving to make the team more and more competitive and finally win some trophies.”
However, the 49-year-old suggested the No 10 was being unreasonable with his demands of power.
“The choice of Ranieri was accepted by the club,” he added.
“The club also wanted to go and convince Conte. I don’t work in the technical area and I don’t know if any other considerations were made.
“Our work remains collaborative and no-one can make decisions by themselves.”
