Italian actor and film director Carlo Verdone has paid tribute to AS Roma captain Francesco Totti.

Last week marked Totti's 20 years in Serie A.

"No one would have thought that Totti would have a career like this," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"But even from his debut you could see that he was destined to succeed.

"I have a great admiration for him. Look at the likes of Giggs, Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Baggio, Alessandro Del Piero - it is hard to believe that anyone can get to 40 years of age and keep playing, but Totti could.

"He is a boy who loves this city. He could have won more elsewhere, but he loves Rome."