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WATCH: Scenes of emotion, affection and celebration as Francesco Totti plays his final game for Roma

Published 17:57 29 May 2017 BST

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There wasn't a dry eye in the Stadio Olimpico as Roma bid farewell to club legend Francesco Totti on Sunday after 28 years at the club.

The 40-year-old Italian called it a day after playing his final match against Genoa on Sunday. For 28 of those 40 years, Totti has been at the Rome club.https://twitter.com/ASRomaEN/status/869200969439072256Totti joined the Roma youth squad in 1989, and made his debut soon after in 1993, as a fresh-faced 16-year-old. The Italian went on to make an inimitable 786 appearances in all competitions for his beloved club, scoring 307 goals in total. Almost 70,000 fans congregated at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to say goodbye to the club legend on Sunday in their final Serie A game of the season against Genoa, which they won to confirm second place in the Serie A, and a spot in next season's Champions League. https://twitter.com/Totti/status/868947464266678277 And at full-time, Totti as well as team-mates and supporters were in tears. Totti will always be a legend in the eyes of the Roma faithful. Totti could easily have won more in his career, had he decided to flee his boyhood club for greener pastures, but his loyalty and dedication to the club surely means more to him that any honours that he could've won with other clubs. He only lifted one Scudetto with Roma, but his eyes strayed. https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/868921877389090816 The club legend was given a guard of honour by his team-mates, before he performed a lap of the stadium in front of worshipping supporters and gave his final address in which he emotionally demonstrated his love for the club.

"It is impossible to sum up 28 years in a few sentences," said Totti

"At some point in life, you grow up – that’s what I’ve been told and that’s what time has decided. Damned time," with his wishes clear to return to 1989 and relive his Roma journey again.

Totti realises that life will never be the same, and his fear of the future was clear for all to see.

Football was a fantasy world for him.

"We have to grow up. As of tomorrow, you’ll be an adult. Take off those shorts and boots because starting today, you are a man. You can no longer enjoy the smell of the grass, the sun on your face as you bear down on the opposition’s goal, the adrenaline consuming you, the joy of celebrating. It’s really over now," he said in disbelief.

"I’m proud and happy to have given you 28 years of love.""I love you," said the Italian, and every single spectator of the 70,000 present at the Stadio Olimpico believed him."

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There wasn't a dry eye in the Stadio Olimpico as Roma bid farewell to club legend Francesco Totti on Sunday after 28 years at the club.

"It is impossible to sum up 28 years in a few sentences," said Totti

"At some point in life, you grow up – that’s what I’ve been told and that’s what time has decided. Damned time," with his wishes clear to return to 1989 and relive his Roma journey again.

Totti realises that life will never be the same, and his fear of the future was clear for all to see.

Football was a fantasy world for him.

"We have to grow up. As of tomorrow, you’ll be an adult. Take off those shorts and boots because starting today, you are a man. You can no longer enjoy the smell of the grass, the sun on your face as you bear down on the opposition’s goal, the adrenaline consuming you, the joy of celebrating. It’s really over now," he said in disbelief.

"I’m proud and happy to have given you 28 years of love.""I love you," said the Italian, and every single spectator of the 70,000 present at the Stadio Olimpico believed him."

WATCH: Scenes of emotion, affection and celebration as Francesco Totti plays his final game for Roma

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There wasn't a dry eye in the Stadio Olimpico as Roma bid farewell to club legend Francesco Totti on Sunday after 28 years at the club.

There wasn't a dry eye in the Stadio Olimpico as Roma bid farewell to club legend Francesco Totti on Sunday after 28 years at the club.

Home sport