Roma was the real launchpad – Totti reflects on Salah’s rise to greatness

Roma legend Francesco Totti has revealed that he always believed Mohamed Salah was destined for greatness, insisting that the Egyptian forward stood out from his teammates during their time together at the Italian club.

Totti, who shared the dressing room with Salah at Roma, described the current Trabzonspor star as a special talent with ambitions that separated him from other players, adding that he had recognised his exceptional qualities long before he went on to establish himself among Europe’s elite forwards.

Salah initially joined Roma on loan from Chelsea in 2015 before the Italian side completed a permanent transfer for the Egyptian international following his impressive performances.

During his two-year spell with the Giallorossi, the forward quickly established himself as an important member of the team, producing impressive attacking displays and earning the admiration of the club’s supporters.

His performances in Italy eventually attracted interest from Liverpool, who secured his services in 2017 for a reported fee of €41 million.

The move to Anfield proved to be a defining moment in Salah’s career, as he went on to enjoy remarkable success with the Premier League giants, breaking records, winning major trophies and establishing himself as one of the most influential players in the club’s history.

However, Totti believes the foundations of Salah’s success were already evident during their time together in Rome, where his attitude, consistency and ability to contribute goals and assists made a lasting impression.

Speaking in an interview with Screen Sport, the former Italy international described Roma as the club where Salah truly began to announce himself on the European stage.

“Roma was the real launch of Mohamed Salah, where everyone loved him, and he was always ready to play when asked to do so. He scored many goals and assists and was always ready to play,” Totti said.

The former Roma captain further explained that Salah possessed a different mentality from most players, with his ambitions and desire to reach the highest level already apparent during their time together.

“Mohamed Salah was different from the rest of the players and I noticed that in him. He had other ambitions and I think it is natural for him to aspire to move to another team,” he added.

When asked whether he had anticipated the Egyptian’s remarkable rise in football, Totti responded in the affirmative, reaffirming his belief in the forward’s exceptional abilities.

“Yes, I predicted it. As I said, he is a different and truly wonderful player,” he concluded.

Totti’s comments offer another reflection on Salah’s development during his time in Italy, where his performances at Roma helped prepare him for the next chapter of his career at Liverpool.

The Egyptian has since built an outstanding reputation in European football, with his goalscoring exploits and consistency making him one of the most recognisable forwards of his generation.