As Francesco Totti continues to turn out for Roma at the age of 40, he claims he was better at a young age than his son Cristian is now.

Roma icon Francesco Totti says his son Cristian is a good footballer — but not as good as he was at that age.

The World Cup winner is still turning out for his boyhood club at the age of 40, having scored over 300 career goals.

However, in an interview with Walter Veltroni, the former mayor of Rome, he turned his attentions to his 10-year-old son's footballing talent.

"He's good, he's improved," he said, in quotes reported by Roma's official website. "He was a bit more playful before, just thinking about enjoying himself. He does still have a lot of fun; I know what he does with his time. I see a bit of myself in him. He's now showing more desire, more passion. He likes the game.

"He goes training and goes to play more regularly, and I can see that he likes it. He's good, but not as good as his dad when he was young."

However, despite his apparent potential, Totti is undecided as to whether he would like Cristian to follow in his footsteps as a professional.

"On the one hand yes, but on the other, no," he said. "I say yes because if he has the desire and passion, then he should do what he wants to. On the other hand, having his surname complicates things.

"He's already going to tournaments with friends, in Sabaudia and elsewhere. Once he scored 15 goals and won the award for best player. Then you have everyone saying, 'Oh yeah, he's won the prize because he's Totti’s son.'

"The fact he's scored 15 goals doesn't count, but having that surname does. It annoys me because when you're talking about young kids, you need to be positive. You shouldn't be jealous or have a negative view on everything.

"A child enjoys running and kicking the ball. If they are lucky or unlucky enough to be called Totti, it's hardly their fault."