Lippi:No Return For Totti & Nesta
Lippi’s comments regarding Totti and Nesta’s (rumored) return to the Nazionale:
I firmly believe we should respect the opinion of two great players who have given so much to the Nazionale. I have absolutely no intention of trying to talk them out of retirement, as they have made their decision. If anything, I can give advice to anyone who arrives at a certain stage of their career with difficulty dealing with a packed fixture list and injuries so they decide to retire from international duty. Don’t say ‘I quit the national team,’ instead explain they are temporarily dedicating themselves to the club because they cannot handle the two requirements, that way if there are injuries and suspensions so they are needed, then they can come back. I think some of those who made this decision to retire do regret in a way the manner of their departure. I speak to Totti on the phone fairly often and saw him at my birthday party. We have never talked about the Nazionale and won’t start now. I respect the decision of professionals who made a choice that I’m sure it hurt them to make.”
He still keeps the door open by saying “only if they call me”. He just kicked the ball back to the 2 players, which imo is very smart.
As for his advice, I hope it’s doable, I remember Totti and Nesta didn’t announce permanent retirement until the FIGC issued an ultimatum, so I doubt that FIGC will accept the temporary break.
Gwendlyn | Jul 1, 14:20 | #i wish he had given the advice to these two players before figc got involved. i remember Lippi called Nesta while Nesta was in Miami trying to recover from his injury and after Nesta’s debut game after injury. But it seems he didn’t mention the above advice to Nesta. Had Lippi still been the coach at that time, all these stuff would NEVER have happened.
what a pity!
forza | Jul 1, 15:01 | #Yes, it’s a huge shame for Nesta to leave the NT in such a way, and be seen as a “traitor” to his own country. THAT IS VERY UNFAIR!
But as much as I want to see him play for NT again, I start to think it might be wise to quit at his prime, and for me some players who played Euro2008 should follow suit, it’s so embarrassing to watch them struggle. They don’t deserve the humiliation.
Gwendlyn | Jul 1, 15:45 | #there is a bit missing from the statement that they didn’t publish, the very first thing Lippi said was that he knows it was a very hard decission for both players to retire from the NT, that he respects that and everyone should do the same!
If you remember many people were talking crap after they both quit the NT
it is a pity that the federation got involved cos otherwise neither one of them would have quit :(
Claudia | Jul 1, 23:32 | #From Ancelotti during a recent interview.
Nesta potrebbe tornare in azzurro con Lippi?
«Nesta si è fatto da parte non per problemi personali con Donadoni ma per questioni fisiche: non riusciva a reggere tutti gli impegni»….
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