Nesta regrets Lazio departure

Alessandro Nesta says he remains bitter over the way in which he was portrayed as a traitor after leaving Lazio for AC Milan.

Former Italy international Nesta was a hero to the Lazio faithful after emerging from the youth team to win Serie A with the club.

But the fans turned against him after he joined Milan in 2002.

The Lazio supporters felt betrayed by one of their own, but Nesta claims he agreed to a transfer for the good of the club, who were experiencing serious financial problems at the time.

“I would never have wanted to leave, but the club had to raise cash and it all happened in such a hurry that I could not make a decision,” Nesta told Sky Sport Italia.

“I deserved more respect.

“Passing me off as a traitor hurt because the truth came out that Lazio was in debt and had to sell.

“I remember that day like it was yesterday. We were training in Formello and Massimo Cragnotti (son of former president Sergio) called us in because someone had to be sold.

“He handed me the phone and told me that I should agree (to a transfer) because Lazio needed money.

“He gave me no time to get my things and I ran to catch the plane to Milan.

“There was sort of presentation at San Siro before a friendly, and at one point I turned around to see (Hernan) Crespo: they had also sold him, to Inter.”

Nesta was capped 78 times by his country before retiring from international football after Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup triumph.

He has won two Serie A titles and the Champions League twice during his time with Milan.