Over the following seasons, Totti played as second striker as part of a 3--5--2 formation and scored his first hat-trick in Serie A, in a 3--2 away win over Brescia on 30 September 2002.
Over the following seasons, Totti played in a free role as a forward or second striker in a 3--5--2 formation, often alongside either Batistuta or youngster Antonio Cassano. He scored his first hat-trick in Serie A, in a 3--2 away win over Brescia on 30 September 2002.