Seydou Keita has played down the captaincy controversy involving AS Roma teammate Francesco Totti.

The controversy was stirred up when video of Totti coming off the bench during Sunday's 1-0 win at Genoa went viral.

Substitute Totti was seen telling Keita in no uncertain terms to keep hold of the armband rather than hand it to the newcomer.

"My gesture towards Totti was normal and his insistence on not taking the armband was a sign of reciprocal respect," wrote Keita on Twitter.

"In Italy people have enjoyed the two gestures instead of making polemics and seeing problems where there are none. Easy."