The former yellow-and-red midfielder laments, “There’s no respect, just like with De Rossi. When a new player arrives in Rome, having someone like Francesco explain to him what it means to wear that jersey can provide an extra boost and ignite passion.”   Sunday evening witnesses AS Roma and Inter Milan take to the pitch at the Olympic Stadium, a highly-anticipated ‘big match’ in the eighth round of the championship that forces both teams to seek an impressive result due to their less-than-perfect start to the season. Reflecting on the challenge and his past experience with The Yellow and Reds is the former midfield maestro of both teams, Olivier Dacourt, in an exclusive interview conducted by…

This Sunday, it’s Roma vs. Inter. How do you see it? “Inter is incredibly strong. I’ve followed them both in the league and in the Champions, they are dominant. But don’t think I’ve jumped onto the bandwagon just today, no, it has been this way for at least two years. Inzaghi is doing an extraordinary job. As for Roma…there’s a bit of turmoil, but never count out the yellows and reds. They can surprise you at any given moment. The Nerazzurri are stronger, but Roma is special. “It never ceases to amaze you. Who decides it? I say Thuram, my ‘Godson'”. She played midfield alongside De Rossi. Were you following the matter of his dismissal? “Daniele is a dear friend, a genuine person. One who tells you things straight to your face. I heard from him two days ago, but we didn’t talk about football. “I believe it would have been necessary to have a bit more patience and above all, a bit more respect, for a man and a flag like him.”

In terms of flags, what do you think about the fact that someone like Totti is not part of the club? Would you ever have expected that?

“It’s astonishing. Do you understand what I mean when I say that respect is required? Francesco in Rome is a monument; he is a living history. And then, I’m sure he would be useful, perhaps even if he is assisted by someone who handles the sports aspect. But when a new footballer arrives in Rome, the fact that someone like Totti could explain to him what it means to wear that jersey, would trigger something inside them, it would provide a different kind of encouragement. I would love to see him one day as an ambassador of the club.” What memories come to her mind? It’s been four intense years in the capital. “Oh, such memories. Oh, the laughter that ensued. If I were to choose the most glorious personal moment, it was undeniably the goal against Juventus in the 4-0 game, the match featuring Totti’s memorable gesture towards Tudor. “Moving on to the dynamics of the locker room, I simply cannot forget to mention the antics of Cassano. He’s another boy who appears significantly different from who he truly is.” How about we tell a couple of stories? “One that comes to mind is this. Del Neri arrives, introduces himself, and tells us he will not tolerate any behavior that deviates from the norm. No music, no swearing. Those who step out of line are off the team. He seemed like a sergeant of steel. And for us, having already gone through three coaches, we needed an attitude like that. In his very first training session, Cassano took a hit and started swearing in Bari dialect. So, jokingly, we began telling him that the coach would not include him for Sunday’s game… He gritted his teeth and left right in the middle of the training session. He did it all by himself. He was a madman. “But he is a good person, a true friend. And in the locker room, it was endless jesting, the shenanigans that he and Totti would up to were countless.”