Roma legend Francesco Totti has claimed that Serie A teams are still calling him to see if he would return to professional football, adding that he believes it would take two to three months of training before he does is fit to play again.

Totti, 48, retired from football in 2017 after spending his entire career with Roma, where he played 786 times and scored 307 goals Giallorossi.

“There were Serie A teams that called me. I admit they drove me a little, a little crazy,” Totti said. “It would be difficult, but in life you never say never.”

“There are players who played for many years after their careers ended. With all due respect it also depends on where you play, but if I were to return to Serie AI I would have to train really well.”

The 2006 World Cup winner said he would refuse to play for Rome's bitter rivals Lazio if they claimed his services.

“Lazio? I wouldn’t even consider it,” he said. “I would be ready in two to three months – I’m still playing at 48 years old. If I had to do something crazy I would do it in Italy, not abroad, but it is crazy.”

Totti, who won 58 caps for Italy, also said it was not a decision for him to retire.

“When you turn the page, you never know what to expect. It wasn’t my decision, but in that moment you have to experience it in a different way than in context,” he said.

“Maybe that’s why I had this thing inside me. It's true that everything has a beginning and an end. I didn’t want it and so the window stayed open.”

Roma have had a difficult start to the 2023-24 season, dismissing club stalwart Daniele De Rossi after failing to win any of their first four league games.

They sit 10th in the standings, with Ivan Jurić having won two of his four home games since taking over.