Roma talisman Francesco Totti has likened Ivorian teammate Gervinho to Cristiano Ronaldo and called the former Arsenal forward a ‘beast’.

Gervinho has been instrumental in the Giallorossi’s impressive start to the Serie A season after struggling at the Emirates.

Totti has been impressed by the Ivorian since his move to the Stadio Olimpico and he has already hit four goals for his new club.

"I had seen him two or three times at Arsenal, but up close he is a beast," the Roma captain is quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

"If he also scored goals, he would be Cristiano Ronaldo and Roma would never have got him."

The Roma skipper also admitted that the performance of midfielder Kevin Strootman who was signed from PSV has surprised him and that the club’s biggest signing was that of coach Rudi Garcia.

"I didn't really know [Strootman] and I never thought that he would be so strong," the World Cup winner confessed.

"But when Garcia arrived here, he had an extraordinary impact. He was direct with everyone. He doesn't mince his words, neither externally nor internally.

"Everyone knows how he thinks. When he speaks, it's either black or white. He sees everyone in the same away. It makes no difference.

"When they chose him, I feared that it was another gamble. We were going to take a coach in France, from Lille, while we needed a certainty; an Italian, and one with experience ..."