The 19-year-old son of Roma legend Francesco Totti has retired from professional football, citing the immense pressure of living up to his father's reputation. Cristian Totti, who had been without a club since leaving fourth-tier side Olbia, has decided to end his playing career after failing to secure a first-team breakthrough.
Having started his youth career at Roma, Cristian was initially tipped to follow in his father's footsteps but never made a senior appearance for the club. He later moved to Spanish side Rayo Vallecano before returning to Italy to play for Serie D outfit Avezzano and then Olbia, where his stint was short-lived.
Despite stepping away from playing, Cristian will remain in football, working alongside his brother Riccardo at the Totti Soccer School in Ostia Lido. His role will involve scouting young talent and collaborating with academy general manager Claudio D'Ulisse.
His former manager at Olbia, Marco Amelia, who was a teammate of Francesco Totti during Italy's 2006 World Cup win, expressed belief in Cristian's ability but acknowledged the burden of his surname. 'Being Totti's son influenced his assessments. There was too much pressure,' Amelia said.
