Paulo Di Canio blasts Francesco Totti's poor leadership
Former Lazio player Paulo Di Canio has criticized Francesco Totti, captain of AS Roma, for his behavior during his team's game against Inter Milan on Saturday.
After 70 minutes, Totti was substituted for Mirko Vucinic, who went on to score the only goal of the game in stoppage time.
Totti, who was playing on his 34th birthday, did not shake the hand of his replacement and went straight to the dressing room while the game continued. As his teammates were celebrating their first competitive victory of the season (after full time), their
captain was leaving the stadium.
"I find it incredible what [Totti] did when he was substituted. It was an absolute disgrace," Di Canio told
Mediaset Premium after the game. "All of us are angry in similar cases, but I would have never been allowed to leave the field in that way. It's disrespectful to your team-mates who remain on the field. The job of captain is to stay close to the team."
Di Canio, who captained Lazio for two seasons after his return to the club in 2004, attacked Totti's 'selfish' behavior and cited other controversial incidents during Totti's career as examples of his lacking leadership.
History of controversies for Totti
In May, the 34-year-old kicked Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli during the Coppa Italia final, and in 2004, Totti was caught on camera as he spat on Danish international Christian Poulsen during Italy's encounter with Denmark at the European championships.
"When you kick or spit in the face of an opponent, this is not the way to behave as a leader. The expression of Vucinic when he cheered his goal was also against Totti, he seemed to say I am committed," said Di Canio, who believes Totti's ego is obstructing
his club's ambitions.
"He was a great player, but now it's different, real leaders know how to sacrifice for the team."
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