Paolo Maldini has turned down the offer of a one-off return to the Italy team as a tribute to a remarkable career that ends this summer.
Asked about the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC)'s offer for him to add to his record 126 caps with a testimonial appearance in Italy's next friendly, the legendary defender told La Gazzetta dello Sport:
''No, I'm not going to play, but I'd like to thank the FIGC for the offer''.
The statement marked a change of heart from Maldini, 40, who will hang up his boots on May 31 at Fiorentina.
Two months ago the AC Milan great, who retired from internationals in 2002, told Milan Channel he'd be ''pleased'' to play for Italy one last time.
Maldini, reckoned by many the best defender in soccer history, had been unaware of the testimonial drive launched by the Goal.com website.
Unveiling its campaign in February, the English-based website said: ''It can't be possible that a monument of the game, who has won seven Scudetti, five Champions Leagues, been capped more than any Milan, Serie A or Italy national team player, can just fade away into the horizon''.
The website urged Italy coach Marcello Lippi to give Maldini a farewell call-up in a friendly against Brazil in London on February 10.
Lippi said it wouldn't be possible to arrange it in the time available but he was amenable to the idea.
The FIGC subsequently said Maldini could feature in the June 6 match against Northern Ireland in Pisa.
But Maldini said Thursday: ''I prefer to leave soccer in an official game, and I don't really like 'farewell' matches''.
Maldini quit the Italian side after the infamous Golden Goal exit to South Korea at the 2002 World Cup and resisted calls for him to return for Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup.
Goal.com noted that another giant of the Italian game, Roberto Baggio, was given an emotional testimonial in a 2004 friendly against Spain.
