Nesta will not return for Italy, says Lippi

Milan: AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta will not come out of international retirement to play for Italy at the World Cup, coach Marcello Lippi said on Monday.

Lippi had wanted the 33-year-old`s experience for the world champions` title defence in South Africa and said last week that the in-form centre back was considering a return. "He told me, I think definitively, that he doesn`t feel it," Lippi told a news conference at the national team`s training camp near Florence ahead of Wednesday`s friendly against Cameroon in Monaco. "I`m sorry. I wanted to give a boost (to the team), but I respect his decision." Nesta, part of Lippi`s 2006 World Cup-winning squad, quit internationals in 2007 because of injuries. He missed last season with a back problem but has been healthy and in fine fettle this term. Lippi did not say whether he intended to call up Juventus`s Brazilian-born striker Amauri, who is expected to receive an Italian passport this week and become eligible for the Azzurri. "I`ll talk about Amauri in a few days because only then will he become Italian," he said of a player who had been expected to feature in his plans before a long wait for the passport and a slide in form. "He`ll be under observation like all the other Italians only when he becomes Italian." Amauri is injured with a thigh strain and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks. Bureau Report