Totti quit the Italy team initially on a temporary basis after their victorious World Cup campaign in 2006 before deciding to do so permanently the following summer.

Speculation has been rife that he could return to the Azzurri since the return of World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi - with whom Totti enjoys a close personal relationship.

And the 33-year-old, who scored nine goals in 58 games for his country, has admitted for the first time that he is ready to come back into the Italy fold if he is fit.

"I will decide in April," Totti told La Repubblica. "If Marcello Lippi calls me up, if I am fit and if the group wants me, I will go.

"I think it would please the young ones.

"With Lippi I have a relationship that goes beyond football. I'll never forget what he did for me in Germany.

"He didn't know me personally, I was always an enemy on the pitch when he was at Juve but he waited for me, he put his faith in me. I will never forget that, really I won't."

Totti has struggled with injury problems over the past few seasons and that was a major factor in his decision to retire from international football.

However, he insists he can play on at the top level for several more seasons.

"I will play another five years in Serie A, if I don't get badly injured," added Totti. "I'm 33, I'm not old nor finished.

"I want another scudetto here.

"When I retire I won't be a coach. I'm not capable and I'm too nice.

"I want to be a director. At Roma."

Totti has spent his entire 17-year career at Roma, who he fired to the scudetto in 2001.