Roma manager Luciano Spalletti has labelled Francesco Totti as a genius, while he also went on to explain why the Roman legend cannot play in every game.

The club captain only recently celebrated his 40th birthday, an age where most players have either become managers or pundits. Yet, Totti has been still going strong even after more than 750 games under his belt.Spalletti says that Totti has been the representation of Roma and will probably be in the future. Despite his age, the manager says that the incredible technical ability of the player means that he can still make a major contribution on the pitch.

Contrary to the opinions of many, Spalletti thinks that Totti has been able to achieve an incredible amount in the game largely because of his genius and not talent. The incredible intelligence of the player can add to the collective strength of the team if he is used to operate, according to the Roma coach. The manager was also in praise of Kevin Strootman, who he regards as a player who can bring a lot of emotion even into training.

Roma will need these positive qualities in order to stay in touch with Juventus at the top of the table. Despite being only 13 games into the season, Roma have already fallen seven points behind Juventus.

“Totti was, is, and will be all about the team.The solution that Roma looks for is Totti, it’s a shortcut. He showed last year and this that he can still help the team from a technical point of view, he has quality and creativity to look for a result. Totti is a genius, not just a talent. If you can support him with your collective strength, then a brilliant player can bring his quality and genius into play,” said Spalletti.