Incoming Roma sports chief Monchi has stepped back from previous claims that Francesco Totti will retire at the end of this season.

The departing Sevilla director dropped the bombshell in his first media conference at Roma.

But speaking with BeinSports, Monchi considered: "I think Francesco's future potential is so great that I hope we can have him around and use him because he is someone who knows Roma better than anyone else and I, as a newcomer, would have an excellent teacher.

"We are going to wait for him to decide, he has asked us to focus on the three games we have left and, as he has said, Roma is playing for a lot now and this is above me and everybody else."

On coach Luciano Spalletti, Monchi added: "My ideal coach would be Spalletti, because he's the one I want to continue.

"I've said it since I've been in. I'm really looking forward to working with Luciano now that I see him day in and day out."