Nesta rules out Azzurri return

Milan defender will resist Lippi's calls

By Nadia Carminati   Last updated: 27th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Nesta rules out Azzurri return

Nesta: No Italy return

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AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has insisted he will not be persuaded to come out of international retirement.

Injury problems forced Nesta to call time on his Italy career after the World Cup triumph in 2006.

Roberto Donadoni could not convince the centre-back to return to the fold and current Azzurri boss Marcello Lippi has not been successful either.

Nesta's quality and experience would be a valuable asset to the national team for next summer's World Cup but he is not planning to return.

"My return with Azzurri? I don't come back," he told the Italian press after scoring two late goals to help Milan beat Chievo 2-1 at the weekend.

"But only because it would be very demanding physically and I don't want to suffer a relapse.

"Last year I felt in a really bad way.

"I know what Lippi thinks and he knows what I think."

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