Vieri officially calls time on career

Christian Vieri on Thursday officially announced the end of his glittering football career during a court case in Milan.

The former Italy striker last played for Atalanta but left before the end of last season by mutual consent after he tired of abuse from fans expecting more from him than two goals in nine league appearances.

In July he was linked with a move to Blackburn but nothing came of that and now he says it’s time to hang up his boots.

“I don’t want to play football any more and I’m not even tempted with a move abroad,” he said during an espionage case he has brought against his former employer Inter Milan and Telecom.

Vieri’s lawyer Danilo Buongiorno claims the two companies’ actions limited Vieri’s rights and the former player is suing for 21 million euros.

Vieri left Inter in 2005 after six seasons with the ‘nerazzurri’, the longest time he spent with any one single club.

He played 49 times for Italy and won the Serie A title with Juventus in 1997, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with Lazio in 1999 and the Italian Cup with Inter in 2005.

He was twice named Italian player of the Year and finished top scorer in Serie A in 2003.