Following months of rumours, TV presenter Ilary Blasi announced the end of her marriage to AS Roma legend, Francesco Totti. The couple have been married 17 years and have three children together.
Italian TV presenter Ilary Blasi announced the end of her 17-year marriage to footballer Francesco Totti in a statement on Monday night.
“After 20 years together and three wonderful children, my marriage to Francesco is over,” the statement reads. “However, the separation process will remain a private matter and I will not be making any further statements.”
“I invite everyone to avoid speculation and, above all, to respect the privacy of my family.”
Totti later released his own statement which echoed may of Blasi’s sentiments. “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. The separation process will remain a private matter and I will not make any more statements. I urge everyone to avoid speculation and, above all, respect the privacy of my family.”
Rumours had been circulating
Totti also appealed for privacy, particularly in relation to his children, telling ANSA: “I tried to overcome the crisis of my marriage but today I understand that the choice of separation, although painful, is unavoidable.”
Reports of a split have been circulating since February. Rumours abounded that Totti was having an affair with Noemi Bocchi, although the couple had repeatedly denied these stories. In February, the couple took to social media to deny their marriage was over. Totti lashed out at the “fake news”, reminding the media that when children are involved “they must be respected”.
Totti played for AS Roma for 28 years as well as being capped 58 times for Italy. He and Blasi married at S. Maria dell’Ara Coeli church, Rome in June 2005.
The couple have three children: Cristian, Chanel and Isabel. Cristian has followed in his father’s footsteps and is now a player in the Roma youth academy.
