Spalletti tired of Totti hype: 'I would never have come to coach Roma'
Luciano Spalletti says if he had known of the constant questioning he'd face on Francesco Totti's first-team involvement, he wouldn't have taken over Roma for a second time.
One-club man Totti is set to retire from playing at the end of the season after making his debut in 1993 and going on to star for the Giallorossi in various roles across the frontline. The benched Roma icon was denied a farewell at the legendary San Siro on Sunday, however, when Spalletti opted to introduce defender Bruno Peres on 84 minutes when his side was beating AC Milan 3-1.
Related: Roma legend Francesco Totti playing final season for club
"I must manage Totti the footballer," Spalletti said, according to BBC Sport.
When pressed further on Totti being denied an appearance off the bench, he added: "If I could go back in time, I would never have come to coach Roma."
Although Totti won't get another opportunity to play professionally at Milan's old venue, he has matches against Juventus and Genoa at Roma's Stadio Olimpico either side of a trip to Chievo Verona to round off his last Serie A season.
To further rankle a travelling support which was chanting Totti's name, in the absence of the 40-year-old, Daniele De Rossi converted a late penalty which would've surely been handed to the veteran frontman if he'd been on the pitch.
Travelling Roma fans sing Totti’s name. Milan fans applaud. Won’t be coming on though. Spalletti has used all 3 subs.
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) May 7, 2017
"When I bring him on for the last five minutes you say I'm making a fool of him and I lack respect. Let's take the time to agree on what I should do," a visibly angered Spalletti, who first handled Roma between 2005 and 2009 before returning in 2016, continued in the post-match conference.
"When I took over, I said that it's not for me to manage Totti's legacy.
"Next time, we'll form a cooperative. We'll have a collective vote and the ones who get the most votes will play."
Spalletti's frustration with Totti's farewell in the Italian capital will further supplement reports that he's stepping down from the Roma helm this summer. Sassuolo coach Eusebio Di Francesco has been linked with Spalletti's post.