APIA Leichhardt 'hopeful' to bring in Totti to face Adelaide United

APIA Leichhardt are hopeful they can bring in Italian great Francesco Totti for their FFA Cup Quarter Final against Adelaide United, according to a representative from AS Roma’s football academy in Sydney.

Anthony Ucchino, who represents ASR Football, a Sydney-based football academy affiliated with the Italian giants which has strong links to APIA, revealed an offer has been put forward to sign the FIFA World Cup 2006 winner ahead of the last eight tie against the Reds on Wednesday, September 26.

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AS Roma legend Giuseppe Giannini will be attending the match at Leichhardt Oval, says Ucchino, whose brother Adrian plays for APIA Leichhardt, and APIA are trying to entice the 41-year-old Totti out of retirement for a one-off special appearance.

The ‘Prince of Rome’ Totti will be in Sydney to host a series of football clinics from October 2nd-4th at the ASR academy, which was established in 2009, and Ucchino believes the timing is perfect for the five-time Serie A Footballer of the Year to pull on an APIA Leichhardt jersey.

“An offer has been put forward as we’ve got Giuseppe Giannini coming over for the game,” Ucchino explained, who is acting on behalf of APIA Leichhardt in the discussions.

“The club is trying to make something special happen, we’ve put in an offer and now we’re waiting to see if that offer will be taken up.

“The club is taking the initiative and we’re hopeful we can build something on the links we already have.”

This comes days after an Avondale FC spokesperson confirmed the Victorian NPL club have approached the management of Italian legend Andrea Pirlo with an offer to play for the side in their FFA Cup Quarter Final against Sydney FC.

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