Francesco Totti has set his sights this season on the Ballon d'Or - and a revenge thrashing of Manchester United in the Champions League...Roma stalwart Francesco Totti is aiming to round off his impressive collection of silverware with a solo prize: the Ballon d'Or.
This prestigious prize amounts to a European Footballer of the Year award as given by journalists who vote for players based on a starting list of 50 players assembled by France Football.
The player himself isn't concerned with the intricacies: just ensuring that, for a change, he's on the list.
When asked by the Gazzetta dello Sport about the Pallone d'Oro, as it's called in Italy, he said, "I think Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy are the favourites.
"To be honest, I don't fully understand the selection criteria. But I've now gained silverware, and I am playing consistently. If I can get a good start in the Champions League, I may be considered..."
But he knows that teamwork is just as important - and has tipped Roma for a Scudetto charge.
He said, "There is no point in denying it: we are one of the four sides in with a chance at the title. We have a great squad, but let's not be hasty: in Rome, it's easy to swing from excitement to depression."
The player refused to swipe at Inter coach Roberto Mancini, following his insistence that Roma's 'sexy football' had brought them nothing but a 22 point deficit behind the nerazzurri last season, instead responding in calm fashion.
"That's true," he said, "but [Mancini] had a squad of 40 to choose from. We had the same first team, plus youth players."
However, after restraining himself on Mancini, he launched an attack on Juventus; or, more specifically, former director Luciano Moggi.
Totti added that the Roma squad now had the depth required to compete with Inter before saying, "Luciano Moggi isn't around anymore, and now we can suddenly get important players. Perhaps it's just a coincidence.
"After Lazio, the team I love to beat most is Juventus. But they've put together a good, ambitious squad this year."
But Roma don't just face competition at home. They also have the Champions League to contend with: and Manchester United.
The Red Devils soared to a magnificent 7-1 win over the giallorossi in last year's knockout stages to send Roma crashing out. Totti now hopes to repeat the feat - albeit from the other side.
"This time I want to win - but by seven goals to nil. The English tabloids may call it a journey into hell, but they can say what they like; they only want to sell more papers," he muttered.
Totti recently retired from international football, along with defender Alessandro Nesta. While Nesta recently reacted angrily to claims that he could be coaxed out of retirement, Totti's own reaction was somewhat more enigmatic.
When asked if he'd respond to a striking emergency to play, he said, "It would be a beautiful experience... I say, no." Not quite an emphatic no, but a no nonetheless.
Totti scored the final goal on Sunday as Roma ran out 3-0 winners over Siena.
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