Former forward of Rome's "Roma" and the Italian national team Francesco Totti, who plans to visit Moscow in April, explained his trip to the Russian Federation, noting that he is not a politician or a diplomat, but an athlete who promotes his values around the world, adding that he would visit Kyiv without any problems. Totti said this in a comment to ANSA, reports UNN.
Details
My business trip to Moscow has been causing endless controversy for several days. But I am not a politician or a diplomat, I am an athlete who promotes my values around the world. I have always done this: first as a football player, and now in a new capacity. For many years I have traveled to all the countries where I was invited to talk about sports, and I would go to Kyiv without any problems for the same purpose,
However, according to him, if he received a request from a competent authority not to participate in the Moscow event, he would "not hesitate for a minute and take a step back."
Everything else, I consider hypocrisy and speculation on the part of those who want to become famous in my name
Context
In mid-March, it became known that on April 8, former Italian "Roma" legend Francesco Totti plans to attend the "Rating of Bookmakers" ceremony - an award that is awarded in Russia for joint achievements in sports and bookmaking. The ceremony is to be held in Moscow.
Last year, the guests of the ceremony were Italian Alessandro Del Piero, Portuguese Luis Figo and Congolese Emmanuel Adebayor, who in July 2022 confessed his love for Putin.
I love Putin as a person. Obviously, he is a person with character. If he says "no", then no. If "yes", then yes. What I like most about him is the high level of discipline. When he says something, he always does it later
Also last year, the guest of the ceremony was Brazilian Cafu, who played together in "Milan" with Ukrainian forward Andriy Shevchenko.
After huge billboards appeared in the Russian capital announcing the arrival of the retired captain of "Roma", Italian critics called on Totti to reconsider his plans, warning that this trip would provide support to the Kremlin at a critical moment for Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
Francesco, Rome loves you for your heart and generosity: do not let them associate with those who despise human rights and democracy
Journalist Marco Sataciolli in his social network X called Totti a "puppet".
Perhaps I am more ashamed to see the "eighth Tsar of Rome", the only true Rome, reduced to a propagandist minstrel, like any other puppet. An accomplice of the dictatorship, who, of course, does not suspect that he is desperately looking for feedback, also useful to show the Russian citizens themselves that the country retains its attractiveness and manages to attract even great sports champions. Champions who need little to forget how in Ukraine this country also destroyed 500 sports facilities, including 77 stadiums, 102 sports schools and 174 sports halls, depriving hundreds of thousands of people even the right to sports
Totti's press secretary said that the Moscow gala evening will be "only a sports event", but the football player will "make all the necessary assessments" before the trip.
Nona Mikhelidze, a senior fellow at the Rome Institute of International Affairs, said that his planned appearance in Moscow reflects a broader Italian "misunderstanding" of the war in Ukraine.
The fact that Totti is going there speaks of a lack of empathy in Italy for the human suffering in Ukraine
Addition
Francesco Totti is a former striker of Rome's "Roma", for which Ukrainian forward Artem Dovbyk plays, and the Italian national team, with which he won the 2006 World Cup and "silver" at Euro 2000. Throughout his career, he played in the Roman team - from 1992 to 2017, for which he received the nickname "Emperor of Rome" from fans.
In May 2022, Totti played for the "United Icons" team in a match that was dedicated to supporting Ukrainian refugees.
After it became known that Totti plans to visit Moscow, he was also approached by a journalist from the newspaper Striscia la Notizia asking him to explain his visit to Russia, but he ignored him.
The journalist wanted to present the football player with the Golden Paper award, which in Italy is awarded for the most curious and absurd acts to politicians, athletes and show business stars. But Totti refused to accept it.