Francesco Totti has spoken publicly of the struggles he's faced after retiring from football and his controversial divorce.

The man is something of a God in Rome, revered by all citizens for the unwavering loyalty he showed his beloved club Roma throughout their 25-year association.

But upon retiring from the game in 2017, he ran into difficulties in his marriage with his then long-term wife Ilary Blasi.

Speaking in an interview with Corriere della Sera, per Marca, the Italian opened up about the rumours that had begun to reach him about his wife's infidelity.

"It's not true that I was the first to betray. I said I wasn't going to talk, and I didn't, but I've read too many hoaxes in the last few weeks. Some of them have even made my children suffer.

"The real crisis broke out between March and April last year. But I had been suffering for a long time.

"I went through a difficult period, first because I stopped playing and then came the death of my father because of COVID. I also suffered from COVID for 15 days.

"However, my wife, when I needed her the most, was not there.

"In September last year, rumours began to reach me: 'Look, Ilary has someone else'. Indeed, more than one," he added.

Francesco Totti
MILAN, ITALY - OCTOBER 06: AS Roma former player Francesco Totti attends the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on October 6, 2019 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

"I had never done it in 20 years, nor had she ever done it with me. But when I received warnings from different people, whom I trust, I became suspicious.

"I looked at her mobile phone. And I saw that there was a third person, who was acting as an intermediary between Ilary and another one.

The discovery understandably hit the former Roma captain hard and even sent him into a spiral of depression.

"There have been rumours in the past, regarding both her and me. But they were really rumours," Totti said.

"Here was the evidence. The facts. And that led to depression. I couldn't sleep anymore. I pretended nothing was wrong, but I was no longer me, I was someone else. I got out of it thanks to Naomi."

Naomi is his new partner, who Totti says he started seeing after the break from his wife.

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"We used to hang out as friends. Then, after the New Year, it became a story. Ilary dated other men before my story with Naomi was born."

It's great to hear that Totti has found someone new and beaten his stint with depression.

Hopefully, with his new partner Naomi, the iconic Italian can put the difficulties of his failed marriage behind him and enjoy the retirement he so truly deserves.