Roma captain Francesco Totti has revealed he could have joined AC Milan as a youngster -- but his mother vetoed the move.

In a column for The Players' Tribune Totti, who has only ever played for his home town club Roma, wrote that Milan representatives had knocked on the door of the family home when he was 12.

"They wanted me to come play for their team, at any cost," the 39-year-old said.

"The men from AC Milan were asking me to join their football club. An opportunity to make it with a big Italian club. What would I choose?

"Well, it was not my decision, of course. My mamma was the boss. She still is the boss. Like any Italian mother, she was a little overprotective. She did not want me to leave home for fear that something might happen.

Francesco Totti has only ever played for Roma. Luciano Rossi/Getty Images

"It was hard saying no to AC Milan. It would have meant a lot of money for our family.

"But just a few weeks later, after being scouted at one of my youth matches, Roma made me an offer. I was going to wear the yellow and red."

Totti said he had turned down the chance to play for Real Madrid in 2004, adding: "There was even a moment 12 years ago when I thought about leaving Roma for Real Madrid.

"When a very successful team, perhaps the strongest in the world, asks you to join, you start to think about what life might be like elsewhere.

"I had talks with the president of Roma, and that made a difference. But in the end, the talk I had with my family reminded me what life is about. Home is everything.

"For 39 years, Rome has been my home. For 25 years as a footballer, Rome has been my home. I hope that I've represented and raised the Roma colours as high as I can. I hope that I've made you proud."