Maldini only regret

Paolo Maldini prepares to hang up his boots after 24 years, but has only one regret. “I’d love to replay the 2002 game against South Korea.”

In what proved to be his final appearance for Italy, the legend made a mistake that allowed Korea to snatch a Golden Goal, knocking the Azzurri out of the World Cup.

“If I could play one game again, it would not be Milan-Liverpool in Istanbul,” he said of the Champions League Final in which they threw away a 3-0 lead in six minutes.

“We played there for 120 minutes like Gods and for six like idiots. No, I’d love to replay the 2002 game against South Korea.

“I can still see Ahn Jung Hwan’s Golden Goal, my last moment in the Nazionale.”

Many have urged Marcello Lippi to give Maldini one last cap to celebrate his retirement, but even the defender was against that being February’s clash with Brazil.

“The newspapers dragged me into that match. I was open to it as long as a) it wasn’t out of pity and b) I didn’t get in the way.”

However, Maldini did say he would be “proud” to play for Italy in the friendly that is being organised in Pescara to raise funds for the Abruzzo earthquake victims.

“I have played 895 games for Milan in all competition and now I’ve recovered from my muscular problems and there are seven rounds left, I’d like to reach 900.

“I wanted to call it a day at San Siro, but in our last game of the season we play away to Fiorentina. So I’ll have to salute the fans the week before, on May 24 against Roma.”

Some at the club are still trying to convince the captain to change his mind and play on, but the dye is cast.

“I am 100 per cent going to retire. This time last year I was doubtful, but not now. Negative incidents can happen when you’re 25 or 40.

“The problem is you cannot go against nature. You can push it, but at a certain point you need to give up. I still have the fire in my belly and could physically continue, but I’ve made my decision.”