AC Milan captain Paolo Maldini has ended talk of a return to the Italy side at Euro 2004, saying he has told 'Azzurri' coach Giovanni Trapattoni he will not be available for the finals in Portugal.
Maldini, Italy's most capped player with 126 appearances, retired from international football after the 2002 World Cup finals but his impressive performances this season in Milan's title triumph prompted Trapattoni to ask him to reconsider.
Maldini said: "There won't be any European championship for me. I have spoken to Trapattoni recently and I explained to him the reasons for my choice and he understood my motives."
Maldini today celebrated his seventh 'scudetto' with Milan after they beat Brescia 4-2 at the San Siro.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
