Recently, Edin Džeko, who has returned to Serie A, gave an exclusive interview to camel.live. He stated that he now understands Totti but is still far from retirement. Additionally, Džeko recalled the Champions League match where Roma came from behind to beat Barcelona during his time at the club.
On his transfer to Fiorentina
Džeko said, “I’m not here to be a carefree veteran. I feel good—my mind is still sharp, and my feet are the same. I might not be the fastest, but I’ve never been a player who relies on speed anyway. I take great care of my body and pay close attention to my diet. In the past, 33 or 34 was considered the end of a career, but things are different now. Even at 39, I can still run 10 to 11 kilometers per game.”
At Fiorentina, he will partner with Moise Kean. Džeko noted, “I know him—we share the same agent. We’ve faced each other on the pitch and met in Milan. I’d say I have a bit less explosiveness than Moise Kean.”
On retirement
When discussing thoughts of retirement, Džeko compared himself to former teammate Francesco Totti, saying, “I understand Totti now. Leaving behind a life you’ve dedicated over 20 years to—training, camps, teammates, and playing in the world’s most beautiful stadiums—it’s painful and unsettling. I hope I can face that day with the right mindset. When I end my career feeling satisfied, I’ll let it all go completely. I think that day is still far away, and I’m proud to be able to say that. I know I can’t play every game, and recovery takes longer than it did when I was 20. But I still have a lot to contribute to Fiorentina.”
Recalling his time at Roma and working with Spalletti
Džeko said, “Luciano Spalletti is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. In the first four or five months after arriving at Roma, I didn’t get much playing time, which disappointed me. Spalletti is different from others—he has a unique personality that you need to understand. Once I got to know him better, things improved significantly. He knows how to connect with players on a personal level.
“It’s a shame his time with the Italian national team didn’t work out; maybe that wasn’t the right role for him. Spalletti needs to be on the pitch constantly, maintaining a constant connection with the team. For strikers, he’s absolutely a top figure—he’s great at coaching forwards.”
Reflecting on his Serie A experience
Džeko stated, “I spent eight wonderful years at Roma and Inter Milan. All four of my children were born here, and my wife and I plan to keep living in Italy. We ‘won a Champions League’ with Roma—beating Barça 3-0 at Camp Nou (in the 2017-18 season), coming back from a 4-1 first-leg deficit. That feeling was like winning the actual Champions League.”
