Totti Jr. Retires at 19: Crushed by Father's Legacy

The son of Roma and Italy legend Francesco Totti has retired from football due to the burden of living up to his legendary father's reputation. Cristian, 19, has ended his playing career after departing fourth-tier club Olbia last season. Having begun at Roma, he was initially expected to mirror his father's illustrious path.

The 48-year-old dedicated his entire playing career to the Stadio Olimpico, clocking up 786 matches and cementing his status as a club legend. He also earned 58 international caps for Italy and featured in their triumphant 2006 World Cup campaign under Marcello Lippi, reports the Express .

Totti Jr. was photographed with his dad following his final Serie A outing in May 2017 . Nevertheless, Cristian never secured a first-team appearance for I Giallorossi and transferred to Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano before returning to Italy. He would play for Serie D side Avezzano before heading to Olbia last August, where he didn't last long, and had been without a club since.

Despite retiring from playing, the teenager will continue within football. He will work alongside his elder brother Riccardo as part of the 'Totti Soccer School', situated in Ostia Lido.

Cristian will be tasked with spotting emerging talent and collaborating with the academy's general manager, Claudio D'Ulisse. His previous manager at Olbia, Marco Amelia , had earlier maintained he possessed the capability to succeed professionally.

"I wanted him because he was a player with great skills," said Amelia, who was a team-mate of the youngster's father during Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph.

"A midfielder capable of creating plays, reading between the defensive lines, creating, but also good at winning the ball back when he wasn't in possession.

"In my opinion, he would have had a very good playing career in Serie C and Serie B. Being Totti's son influenced his assessments. There was too much pressure."

Totti isn't the first young star to have faced such pressure. Former Manchester United winger Jordi Cruyff's career was plagued by constant comparisons to his father, while ex-Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel emulated his father by winning the Premier League , for example.

The 19-year-old's retirement comes eight years after his father emotionally bid farewell to the game and left football behind, stating: "We're here; the moment has arrived. Unfortunately, the moment has arrived that I hoped would never come.

"Over the last few days, so much has been said about me, such wonderful things. You were behind me, pushing me on during difficult moments, and that's why I want to say thank you to everyone.

"I cried on my own, like crazy! You can't just forget 25 years like this. I thank everyone, even if this is not easy for me. I spoke to my wife about what these years have been like.

"I thank my mother and father, my brother, family and friends. Thank you to my wife and three children. I wanted to start from this, because I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get to the end of it."

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