Francesco Totti was close to joining Real Madrid in 2003 but he decided to stay with Roma.

"I was about to go there in 2003, even if it's not true that I was in Spain," Totti told Sky Sport Italia. "But then my heart, my friends and the family helped me reflect on it, and fortunately I am still here to tell the tale.

"And then when there were problems with the penultimate contract I signed, I really thought about changing club."

Totti is still playing productive football at the age of 40.