Albertini: I'll never play under Trapattoni

The experienced midfielder left his beloved Milan for the Spanish league and Atletico Madrid in the summer.

However, Albertini looks unlikely to feature in Trapattoni's Azzurri sides, after being left out of the squad, and missing the World Cup through injury.

"He [Trapattoni] hasn't got the courage to tell me that he doesn't want me for the national team," said Albertini.

"When I had my injury before the World Cup he said so much that sounded encouraging, but it was false.

"After the tournament, when he looked at reasons for Italian failure, he spoke of my absence - saying that there was a need for a player of my type.

"This was strange because he had already told me I didn't fit into his formation, and he didn't call up natural replacements for me like [Massimo] Ambrosini or [Eugenio] Corini.

"I think the truth is that he has not got the courage to tell me he does not want me for the national side.

"It will be difficult but I will understand.

"I will leave him with this thought: I'll stay in Madrid and if another Italian boss wants to call me up then I will accept.

"But not if it is Trapattoni."