Nedved to leave Juventus, doubts over retirement
ROME (Reuters) - Former European footballer of the year Pavel Nedved said Sunday''s Serie A match at home against Lazio will be his last for Juventus, but doubts remain over whether the midfielder will retire altogether.
"After eight seasons with Juventus the time has come to say goodbye to all the fans, my team mates and the club and thank them for the support received over the years," the Czech said in a statement on the club website (www.juventus.com) on Saturday.
"I''ll think about my future as of Monday."
Nedved had said he would retire at the end of this campaign but Italian media reported the Turin club were trying to convince him to play another year with a reduced salary.
The 36-year-old said that his decision not to stay next season was not related to economic factors.
His agent Mino Raiola said it was uncertain whether Nedved would stick to his plan to quit the game completely.
"Pavel has decided to leave Juve but he has not yet decided whether he will stop playing football," Raiola was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport''s website.
"Lots of teams want him and I won''t give up until I see his boots hung up on September 1."
It is appropriate that Nedved''s last game for Juve is against Lazio as the Rome club brought him to Serie A in 1996. He was awarded the 2003 Ballon d''Or.