Roma legend Francesco Totti suffered from depression after wife of 20 years Ilary Blasi after ‘had affair with personal trainer’
Roma legend Francesco Totti reportedly split with his wife of 20 years after she had an alleged affair with his personal trainer.
Totti and Ilary Blasi, a former showgirl and TV presenter, tied the knot in 2005 and their wedding was broadcasted live on TV -with over a million people tuning in.
The couple were seen as the Italian equivalent of the Beckhams and had three children together – Cristian, Chanel and Isabel.
Ilary had been by Totti’s side when he played his final game in 2017 and it was a typically emotional affair at the Stadio Olimpico.
But in July it was confirmed they had separated, with a statement from Totti reading: “After 20 years together, my relationship with Ilary has unfortunately ended. All that I said and did over the last few months was to protect our children, who are and always will be the absolute priority in my life.
“I tried to overcome the crisis in our marriage, but today I realise the choice of a separation is – albeit painful – no longer avoidable.
“I will continue to be united with Ilary in raising our marvellous three children, always with great respect for my wife.”
Corriere della Sera have claimed that Ilary was having an affair with Cristiano Iovino, Totti’s personal trainer about 18 months ago.
Ilary allegedly made regular trips to Milan, where Iovino lives, for work. But Totti found inappropriate messages on her mobile phone that confirmed suspicions he had about her having another man.
Totti has now opened up about the break up, telling Corriere della Sera: “It’s not true that I was the first to betray.
“I said I wasn’t going to talk and I didn’t, but I’ve read too many hoaxes in the last few weeks. Some of them have even made my children suffer.
“In September last year, rumours began to reach me: ‘Look, Ilary has someone else’. Indeed, more than one.
“I had never done it [check his wife’s phone] in 20 years, nor had she ever done it with me. But when I received warnings from different people, whom I trust, I became suspicious.
“I looked at her mobile phone. And I saw that there was a third person, who was acting as an intermediary between Ilary and another one.
“Something like: see you at the hotel.”
It hit Totti hard, so hard in fact that he spiralled into depression and struggled to sleep. He credits his new partner, Noemi Bocchi, with helping him find happiness again.
“There have been rumours in the past, regarding both her and me. But they were really rumours,” he continued.
“Here was the evidence. The facts. And that led to depression. I couldn’t sleep anymore. I pretended nothing was wrong, but I was no longer me, I was someone else. I got out of it thanks to Naomi.
“We used to hang out as friends. Then, after the New Year, it became a story. Ilary dated other men before my story with Noemi was born.”
Totti spent his entire career at boyhood club Roma, scoring 307 goals in 786 games and remaining loyal throughout despite offers from elsewhere.
He took on a role as a director at Roma but left on bad terms in 2019 and ended 30 years of association with the Giallorossi
