Francesco Totti 'almost joined Real Madrid'

Roma legend Francesco Totti has revealed that he 'almost' joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2003.

The Italian, who turned 40 on Tuesday, came through the youth system at Roma before making his first-team debut in the 1992-93 season.

Totti has since made 763 appearances for his hometown club, scoring 306 times in the process, including two goals in five games at the start of the 2016-17 season.

The 58-time Italian international has claimed that he has had opportunities to depart Roma over the last 25 seasons, but has never truly wanted to switch clubs.

"I was about to go there in 2003, even if it's not true that I was in Spain," Totti told Sky Sport Italia. "But then my heart, my friends and the family helped me reflect on it, and fortunately I am still here to tell the tale.

"And then there were problems with the penultimate contract I signed, I really thought about changing club. I don't know how I have made it here, maybe it's because I don't have any vices, I'm still intact and I still have that desire, passion and determination to go on enjoying myself."

Totti will retire as a player at the end of the current season before becoming Roma's technical director on a six-year deal.