Roma icon Totti criticises Spalletti, refuses to accept bench role

Long-time Roma captain Francesco Totti admits he cannot remain with the club if he continues to wallow on the bench, a role he is unwilling to accept under manager Luciano Spalletti.

Totti, whose contract with the club expires in June, missed 17 matches with a hip injury this season. He has since recovered and wants more respect from both Spalletti and president James Pallotta.

"I still feel like a footballer and I want to play. The injury is behind me now, and if I don't play it is purely because of a tactical decision," Totti told TG1 on Rai. "I cannot stay like this. It hurts to be on the bench. I understand that at my age I play less, but to finish my career like this is bad for me as a man and for what I've given to Roma."

Spalletti did confirm that Totti is "ready to play from the start" against Palermo on Sunday, but the interview reveals the frustrations of an iconic figure left on the fringes of the only club he has known.

Totti also doesn't appear to enjoy a good relationship with Spalletti, who replaced Rudi Garcia as manager in January.

"With him, it's only good morning and goodnight," said the 39-year-old. "I was hoping that the things read in the papers would be said to my face, although I have respect for him as a tactician and I think he has what it takes to coach Roma."

Fiercely loyal to his hometown side, Totti famously rejected moves to several top European outfits, including Real Madrid and AC Milan, over the years.

He led Roma to the Scudetto during the 2000-01 campaign and collected Coppa Italia titles in 2007 and 2008.

But he has only managed two Serie A starts in what has been one of the least productive seasons of his career.

"I will wait for my contract to expire in June, then I will assess the situation," Totti said. "I expect honesty and to be told the reality of how things are."