Italy hailed the return of its most talented footballer to the national team Tuesday, after the AS Roma star made peace with Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni.
"Totti, what a goal: Italy, I'm returning," read a headline in sports daily Corriere dello Sport.
The Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) ended speculation that the star had played his last game for the Azzurri when it announced Monday that he will return for September's Euro 2008 qualifiers against France and Ukraine.
The AS Roma captain has not played for his country since the glorious July 9 World Cup final against France.
After the triumph Totti announced he was taking a one-year sabbatical from Azzurri action to recover completely from an injury he sustained before Germany 2006.
The decision seemed to irritate Donadoni, who on one occasion stressed that it is up to him to decide who plays for Italy, not Totti.
But the Roma captain called his bluff, suggesting several times that he might retire from the national team all together.
The Azzurri coach has now softened his position.
FIGC said that Donadoni and Totti have agreed the player should only return to Italy action when metal pins inserted into his right foot to heal a broken bone have been removed.
This will be after the end of the season.
FIGC said Totti had sent his "affectionate regards" to the Italy players for the March 28 Euro qualifier against Scotland.
Although Totti was a key part of Italy's World Cup-winning team, the injury stopped him living up to his billing as one of the game's top stars.
"Totti had to choose which commitments he should concentrate on after the injury," explained Luigi Riva, a FIGC Deputy Commissioner and former Italy legend.
"Totti deserves praise for the effort he made to take part in the World Cup in Germany.
"He does not have to show anything any more, and from now on we won't hear talk of Totti not wanting to play for the national team".
The 30-year-old is now back to his very best.
He is Serie A's top-scorer with 18 goals - three more than his closest rival, Fiorentina and Italy striker Luca Toni - and on track to win the 'Capocannoniere' (top scorer) crown for the first time.
Totti has always scored plenty of goals, but he is particularly prolific this season because he is playing as an all-out striker.
For most of his career, the lifelong Roma fan has played as a 'trequartista' in the hole between the midfield and the attack.
In this position there was slightly more emphasis on creating chances than on putting them away.
As well as aiming for the Capocannoniere title, Totti is set on winning the Champions League with Roma.
Roma face English giants Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals.
FERGUSON JIBE?
United boss Alex Ferguson caused a stir here when he failed to mention Totti while speaking about Roma after the quarter-final draw.
He did mention Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi and Brazilian winger Mancini.
The media here have hinted Ferguson may have wanted to snub Totti.
Roma coach Luciano Spalletti warned Ferguson at the weekend that he will "realize who Francesco is when we play against them".
"He is in great shape and everything he does comes off," Spalletti said after Totti scored two goals in Roma's 3-1 win over Udinese Sunday.
Even Delio Rossi, the coach of Roma's cross-town rivals Lazio, expressed admiration and suggested the Manchester United boss is playing mind games.
"Ferguson was wrong to say what he said, but he probably did it on purpose," commented Rossi.
"I think Totti is the best player of the championship so far".
Totti has 58 Azzurri caps and has scored nine international goals.
Italy are third in Euro 2008 qualifying Group 8, two points behind joint leaders Scotland and France. Ukraine are fourth, a point behind Italy.
