Milan: AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta may have quit the Italian national side for good, coach Roberto Donadoni said on Tuesday.
Nesta was not included in Donadoni's squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers in Faroe Islands on Saturday and Lithuania a week on Wednesday after asking to be left out as he is getting married.
However, the coach said his absence may now be much longer. "I hope it was just an off-the-cuff remark or at least I try to be optimistic as it seemed his choice was definite," Donadoni told reporters as his squad gathered for training at their base near Florence.
Nesta missed out on playing in Italy's World Cup final win over France last July through injury and other knocks have meant he has only featured once since in the 3-1 victory in Georgia in October. Nesta follows Francesco Totti in walking away from the national team.
AS Roma striker Totti, who was Serie A's top scorer this season with 26 goals, has not played for Italy since the World Cup and has shown no inclination of wanting to return.
"Everyone is free to choose what they think is right. I do not interpret it as a refusal to play for the world champions, more a decision about their current condition," Donadoni added.
"Whoever joins up must be fit, but also must be committed and motivated. I have talked with Totti and Nesta, accepting the justifications they have given me. Have I tried to convince them? I have done what was right but there is a limit. I repeat, for my point of view there is no problem."
Italy are fourth in Group B, two points behind leaders Ukraine, Scotland and France.
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