Francesco Totti, who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy and is adored in his home city where he played his entire career with Roma, on Tuesday said that he had turned down roles with the rebuilding Azzurri and with his old club to become an adviser to Maxima, a new Roman basketball team.
Maxima are one of two clubs in Rome vying to take part in the planned NBA Europe project.
Rome is one of the 12 cities being targeted by the NBA for the European league's launch in 2027.
"He isn't just a figurehead ambassador or celebrity, he's a genuine part of our project," said Paul Matiasic, a California lawyer who bought the sporting licence of the Brescia club and used it to set up a new team in Rome.
"I'm not joking when I say he's our captain, because he understands Rome better than any of us," said Matiasic.
Totti said that he had held talks with the new president of the Italian football federation, Giovanni Malago, who had appointed Roberto Mancini as national coach, over a position there.
Italian media also reported that Totti had also held meetings with Ryan Friedkin, the son of Roma owner Dan Friedkin, for a role at his from club.
"I've had opportunities in the world of football, but I've never really been convinced. I also met the president Malago, we had a good chat, but Paul, was more convincing, and more direct too," said Totti at his official presentation.
"It's a bit strange to find myself here. I come from a different world, but when I met Paul -– whom I didn't know -– it took him just 10 minutes to convince me," said Totti, who played 785 games over 25 seasons for Roma, scoring 307 goals and leading them to the 2001 Scudetto.
"Why did I choose basketball over football? Because they made me feel valued and part of the project," said Totti, who will turn 50 on September 27, the date of Maxima Roma's first Serie A match.
Rome has not had a top-flight basketball team since 2020 but will have two this season.
Roma SPQR, using the licence of the former Cremona team and who are part-owned by Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, will join Maxima in Serie A.
Both Roman clubs have their sights set on an NBA franchise, although Matiasic carefully avoided addressing the subject on Tuesday.
Milan is also on the list of cities slated to host a franchise, as are Paris, Lyon, London, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester, Munich, Athens and Istanbul.
