ROME, Feb 9 (Reuters) - AS Roma captain Francesco Totti has ruled out an imminent return to the Italian national team.
The 30-year-old striker, who has scored 10 goals in 58 international appearances, decided to take a break from the Azzurri after they won last year's World Cup.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has repeatedly said the door remains open for his return to the team, but Totti is in no hurry to take up the offer.
"I've got better things to do at the moment," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA on Friday.
Totti is widely regarded as Italy's most talented player but has rarely produced his best form for the national team.
Sent off when Italy were dumped out of the 2002 World Cup by South Korea, and banned from Euro 2004 for spitting at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen, he was one of the few disappointments of Italy's victorious World Cup campaign in Germany last year.
He scored a stoppage-time penalty to beat Australia in the last 16, but his performances were a pale reflection of those he regularly gives for Roma in Serie A.
Italy's next fixture is a Euro 2008 Group B qualifier against Scotland on March 28.
If this is true I have lost all respect for someone who was one of my favorite players and someone I always stuck up for.
The 30-year-old striker, who has scored 10 goals in 58 international appearances, decided to take a break from the Azzurri after they won last year's World Cup.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has repeatedly said the door remains open for his return to the team, but Totti is in no hurry to take up the offer.
"I've got better things to do at the moment," he was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA on Friday.
Totti is widely regarded as Italy's most talented player but has rarely produced his best form for the national team.
Sent off when Italy were dumped out of the 2002 World Cup by South Korea, and banned from Euro 2004 for spitting at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen, he was one of the few disappointments of Italy's victorious World Cup campaign in Germany last year.
He scored a stoppage-time penalty to beat Australia in the last 16, but his performances were a pale reflection of those he regularly gives for Roma in Serie A.
Italy's next fixture is a Euro 2008 Group B qualifier against Scotland on March 28.
If this is true I have lost all respect for someone who was one of my favorite players and someone I always stuck up for.
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