The story of Francesco Totti and Guti’s love for Real Madrid

• If you ever doubt loyalty and love in football, just remember Francesco Totti and Guti
• These two stars just wanted to kick the ball for their boyhood clubs only irregardless of the situation
• Totti is a name that resonates with passion, loyalty and undying love for a football club

If you ever doubt loyalty and love in football, just remember these two legends, Francesco Totti and Guti. Whereas Totti spent his entire career at AS Roma, Guti opted for just 30 minutes at Real Madrid than play a whole match for another team.

These two stars just wanted to kick the ball for their boyhood clubs only irregardless of the situation. As a result they deserve to be celebrated in the ever-evolving landscape of modern football where player transfers have become a routine.

Francesco Totti Loyalty To Roma

Let’s start with Totti, a name that resonates with passion, loyalty and undying love for a football club. Born in Rome, Francesco Totti had just two options growing up: You are either red or blue. AS Roma or Lazio. But in his family, there was only one possible choice, Roma. The love for Roma was passed down to them by his grandparents and he grew up a big fan of The Yellow and Reds.

Francesco Totti. Photo/ India TV News.

Francesco Totti joined Roma as a youth player in 1989 after spells of youth football at Fortitudo, Trastevere and Lodigiani. He went through the ranks and made his senior appearance at the age of 16. Totti quickly developed to become a key player for Roma and the managers build their team around him.

The defining moment of Totti’s career came in 2001 when he led his team to triumph in Serie A. The scores were tied and the Championship was hanging in balance as they played Parma in the final match of the season.

With time running out, Totti did the unthinkable. While over 30 yards from the goalpost, he audaciously chipped the ball and somehow it went over the goalie and into the back of the net. The stadium erupted, Roma rejoiced. But for Totti this was more than a goal; it was a testament to the fact that dreams could be realized. He had won the Scudetto for his favourite club, his family’s favourite club, his neighbours favourite club and millions of people in Rome.

How best can you describe Francesco Totti? The Golden Boy’ who became ‘The Eighth King of Rome’.

Following his performance with Roma, Totti was a target for several top European clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United. But the Italian opted to stay with his boyhood club, rejecting all the offers that were presented to him throughout his career.

“They taught in school that family is the most important thing. Did you ever hear of someone leaving his poor parents to live with rich strangers?” Totti said years later about rejecting Real Madrid’s offer.

In the end, Francesco Totti spent his entire career at Roma, winning one Scudetto, two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana. But he did won numerous individuals award, evidence he was a player that deserved more titles. And he would have won them had it not been for his loyalty with Roma. Some say Roma will never have a player like Francesco Totti.

Guti’s Love For Real Madrid

While Francesco Totti loyalty to Roma is known by almost everyone in the football world, it’s not everyday you’ll hear about Guti and his love for Real Madrid. But that does not mean that his loyalty to the Los Blancos was forgotten immediately after his retirement – he is considered by some as a hero. In fact, there is a saying in Spain that goes “No one has ever loved Madrid like Guti”.

Let me tell you the story of Guti, the man who preferred to play 30 minutes at Real Madrid than 90 for any other team.

Born in Madrid, Jose Martin Gutierrez Hernandez fell in love with football at a young age, just like many other boys in the city. He was only ten years old when he first donned the Real Madrid jersey in 1986. Fast forward eight years later, he made his first-team debut for Madrid in a 4-1 massive win over Sevilla.

Guti showed signs of becoming one of the best in the early years of his career and soon rose through the ranks to become a regular at Real Madrid. Branded a genius, the Spain international could play any position on the pitch with ease, especially as an attacker. Sometimes on the flanks, sometimes in front of goal and other days as a playmaker. As a result, he had no fixed role in the team.

Guti. Photo/ Planet Football.

When Luis Figo arrived in 2000 from Barcelona, Guti had no chance of playing on the right wing and he had to play other positions to fit in the team. The same applied when Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane joined the Los Blancos, Guti had to simply switch positions to let the stars shine at their favourite positions.

Even though he didn’t find this difficult to do, his game was affected by the switching of positions. I mean, this season you’re training as a striker, the following season you’re training with midfielders then also you’re working on your pace and skills to play on the flanks. In the end, very minimal opportunity to prove your expertise in one position as the other players in the team.

But Guti could have put an end to all this by simply leaving. In fact, he had offers to play for other clubs but turned them all down. To him, 30 minutes at Real Madrid was far much better than playing 90 minutes at another club.

When he finally decided to leave, he was over 30 and had achieved everything he would have wished for with Real Madrid. From winning the Champions League to La Liga and the domestic cups.

Guti spent the last year of his senior career at Turkish club Besiktas and then transitioned into management.