Japan’s Verdy make bold swoop for Italy legend Totti

Italian superstar Francesco Totti, who recently made a tearful farewell to Roma after 25 years at his boyhood club, is wanted by Japan’s Tokyo Verdy, officials told AFP on Wednesday.

The J-League second division side have made an audacious offer to the 40-year-old World Cup winner, although they face competition from Major League Soccer’s Miami FC among others for Totti’s signature.

“There has been interest from Totti’s side,” said Verdy spokesman Yuya Kurabayashi. “The club is looking at ways to raise the money needed to sign the player along with our sponsors.”

Verdy president Hideaki Hanyu has been quoted by Italian media as saying Totti had asked for a deal worth three million euros, but Verdy declined to confirm details of their offer.

“We are not as rich as (Vissel) Kobe or (Urawa) Reds so we can’t just go after any player on the market,” admitted Kurabayashi, adding that Miami — coached by Totti’s close friend Alessandro Nesta — could also out-muscle Verdy financially.

“It will be difficult but we are exploring options to get the deal done.”

Totti made 786 appearances and scored 307 goals for Roma in a glittering 25-year career, and won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

Despite interest in his services, retirement still remains an option for the striker, who made his debut for Roma as a 16-year-old in a 2-0 win over Brescia in 1993.

Totti won the Serie A title in 2001 and twice won the Coppa Italia and has also been linked to a role as a club executive at Roma.

Japanese first division side Vissel bucked a trend of high-profile players moving to China when they signed German World Cup winner Lukas Podolski earlier this year.

Kobe’s swoop for the former Arsenal striker also represented something of a coup for the J-League, which once attracted luminaries such as Zico and Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to acquire big-name players in recent years.

SOURCE: BESOCCER