Francesco Totti has backed AS Roma's Serie A title credentials, drawing a direct comparison between the current attacking duo and a legendary partnership from the club's past. The former Giallorossi captain made the comments in an interview with Sky Sport Italy during Fiorentina's centenary gala.
AS Roma currently sits top of the Serie A table with a perfect six points from two games, having scored eight goals and conceded none. This flawless start fuels fan optimism, and Totti gave voice to that belief. The next challenge is a significant test against fifth-placed Atalanta at the Olimpico on September 5.
What Totti said about Roma's current prospects
Francesco Totti stressed that the team has started the championship on the right foot. He highlighted the importance of a historic core of players, naming Kone, Cristante, Pellegrini and Mancini, who remain under coach Gasperini. The former number 10 believes having a manager who wants the players and players who want to stay builds trust and makes success easier. He described the past Roma group as fantastic, solid and united by a single objective, a model for the current squad.
Totti's discussion naturally turned to on-pitch performances, which can be tracked in our stats section. The clean sheet record after two matchdays is a particularly encouraging data point.
The Dybala-Malen and Totti-Batistuta comparison
Totti's most iconic remark concerned the two starting forwards. "Malen e Dybala come me e Bati? Sì, anche se Malen con i capelli lunghi non ce lo vedo, ma lo spero, sono straordinari," the former captain said. He commented on internet photos showing Malen with Batistuta's hair and Dybala with his own hairstyle, noting how such duos show strong value and can change fan perceptions.
While finding the idea of Malen with long hair strange, Totti acknowledged that Dybala resembles him and expressed hope the pair continues to perform well. This attack is a primary reason why Roma is the league's top scorer at this early stage.
What it takes to win the title
Totti admitted that, as a fan, he doesn't know for sure if Roma can challenge for the Scudetto, but he believes the team has started well. He clarified that title chances depend on the transfer market being closed and the real season beginning. His hope is that Roma can make a great run, competing with Napoli, Inter and Juventus for the championship.
The importance of stability is a recurring theme. Continuity within the group and the absence of major changes after the market closes are seen as positive elements for building a long campaign. The updated league table is always available on our standings page.
Totti's memories and Vlahović's future
During the evening, Totti also met and spoke with Dušan Vlahović, describing him as a great person and a great player. He noted that Vlahović is still active in Cyprus and could still play in Italy in the future. Totti called all such evenings beautiful, especially during a centenary celebration.
He recalled the strong connection between fans and their club shirts in both Florence and Rome, and remembered scoring his 200th and 201st goals against Fiorentina. The former captain also touched on Lionel Messi's retirement from international football, comparing it to his own Roma farewell, but stressing how the Argentine superstar remains physically strong and agile. When stars like Messi leave, it's always a pity, especially after a performance like his at the World Cup.
Roma now faces a decisive week with the match against Atalanta on September 5, which represents the first real test of the season at home. The details of this and other fixtures are on our fixtures calendar.
