Zizou snubs head to head with Materazzi

ITALY defender Marco Materazzi claims Zinedine Zidane refuses to even acknowledge him over 12 months after that infamous head-butt in the World Cup final.

The Internazionale centre-back has tried to make contact with the French idol, but has been snubbed in his attempts to clear the air.

“I wanted to meet with Zidane, but he has turned down my invite,” Materazzi said.

“I am at peace with myself and have no problems clearing up the facts with him.

“I am being seen as the aggressor and I, like Zidane, have been punished by FIFA.”

Zidane was sent off following the head-butt to Materazzi’s chest at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium last July. The Frenchman claimed the Italian had taunted him and made crude remarks about his family.

Materazzi said: “It’s clear that many people see me as the aggressor, but like Zidane I was punished by FIFA.”

The 33-year-old Inter Milan player said “someone at the top of world football” had ordered him to be suspended for two international matches, but he would not give the person’s name.

With Zizou off the pitch, Italy went on to beat France in a penalty shoot-out. Zidane retired from football after the match.

Meanwhile World Cup-winning Italy defender Alessandro Nesta has announced his retirement from international football.

The 31-year-old AC Milan star has declared he will “never join the national team again”.

“My adventure with the Azzurri finishes here,” he added.

Nesta follows Roma’s Francesco Totti, who made a similar decision last month, in choosing to concentrate on club commitments.