Roma captain Francesco Totti has declared that he is ready to return to playing for Italy, after quitting following the triumph in Berlin in 2006.

Recently, Roma’s Coach Claudio Ranieri had hinted that Totti would be interested in representing la Nazionale if he was called up.

The talismanic captain of the capital club mentioned his injuries and the congested football fixtures as the reason behind his earlier decision to retire from international football. He is currently nursing an injury, but in recent weeks reports mentioned that he is open to a return to the Azzurri if coach Marcello Lippi opts to pick him. The forward told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he is open to playing in South Africa as long as he is fit and remains wanted by Lippi. ‘Er Pupone’ added that he owes this much to the ex-Juventus boss.

Totti has had a strong start to the season, and despite the Roman struggle, he has already notched six goals after seven rounds in the league.

The Italian national team has found it difficult to score goals prior to the last couple of games and there have been calls for Totti’s recall, following a string of less than convincing performances by the Azzurri.

Rami Soufi, Football Italiano