Dubai: AS Roma boss Luciano Spalletti says his relationship with Francesco Totti is “perfect” — despite the talismanic forward stalling over a new contract.

The 39-year-old Italian’s current deal expires next month but he has yet to respond to the offer of a one-year contract extension, said to be worth less than his current €2.5 million (Dh10.2 million) a year.

Totti is a one-club man who has been with the Stadio Olimpico-based outfit since 1992.

His 24-year association with The Giallorossi, however, seemed to be heading towards an acrimonious end after he fell out with his manager earlier this year.

Nevertheless, Totti, who has 248 goals in 601 appearances for the club, was still able to salvage an offer of an extension after he scored four goals in the last six games of the season, despite not playing more than half-an-hour in each of those matches.

Now though, Spalletti insists Totti is the flavour of the month again.

“My relationship with Totti is perfect, it couldn’t be better, because when I call him and he comes on the pitch he scores every game, he’s very good,” said Spalletti, speaking in Dubai on Thursday ahead of Roma’s friendly with Egyptian side Al Ahly at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain from 8pm on Friday.

Totti was dropped from Roma’s squad in February and sent home by Spalletti after the player gave a controversial interview in which he demanded more respect from his coach.

“I can’t stay at Roma like this,” Totti told RAI. “It hurts to be on the bench. I understand at my age that I play less, but ending my career like this is bad for me as a man and what I’ve given to Roma. I demand more respect for all I’ve done here.

“What is my rapport like with Spalletti? We say ‘good morning’ and ‘good evening’. That’s it. He said such nice things in the papers, but not to my face.

“My contract expires in June. I await news from [club president James] Pallotta and will evaluate the situation. I expect the fairness of people telling me the reality of the situation and how things really are.”

Pallotta has confirmed that Totti has yet to respond to a new deal.

“We made Francesco an offer more than a week ago, but it’s odd that he’s not accepted it because I thought he wanted to continue playing,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “Our offer’s a generous one. He should have signed it already, but probably he’s not getting good advice from his advisers.”

Totti has since said the delay in his signing has nothing to do with money.

“For now we’re waiting,” he told press at Rome’s Fiumicino airport ahead of flying out to Dubai. “I’m glad it’s been clarified that it’s not a money problem. Is it a problem with my future role? No comment.”