No Italy return for Nesta

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has revealed Alessandro Nesta will not be coming out of international retirement.

Nesta made his last appearance for Italy against Georgia in October 2006 before injuries forced him to officially call time on his international career the following August.

There have been widespread calls for his comeback thanks to the AC Milan defender’s impressive form this season.

However, Nesta rejected former Azzurri boss Roberto Donadoni’s attempts to get him back into the national team and the 33-year-old has given Lippi the same response.

“Nesta told me he doesn’t feel like it,” he said. “And I believe it’s definite.

“I tried to explain to him how much he meant to us, it would have even been a shock, but I respect his choice.”

Lippi was more tight-lipped over Amauri’s Italy future.

The Brazilian is to finally be awarded Italian citizenship on Wednesday – the very same day as the Azzurri’s friendly against Cameroon.

However, Lippi refused to comment on whether that would be too late for the Juventus striker to figure in his World Cup plans.

He said: “I’ll talk about it in a few days.”