Oddo: “A return to Lazio? You can never rule anything out in life”

Massimo Oddo has admitted that he has no chance of making it to South Africa 2010 after being part of the victorious World Cup squad in 2006. The Milan defender played a small part in the Azzurri’s triumph in Germany, but he’s not one of the Berlin heroes who boss Marcello Lippi still has faith in. “Winning an Azzurri shirt for the World Cup Finals in South Africa is not part of my plans,” he said. “I have already given a lot to the national side and I have received a lot in return.

“I don’t think that I am in the plans of the Coach so I can calmly say that my cycle with the La Nazionale has come to an end.” Oddo made his Italy debut in a 1-0 home loss to Slovenia in August 2002 and has scored once in 34 games since then. Although he may have given up hope of representing his country again, Oddo insists that he hasn’t admitted defeat when it comes to Milan.

The club loaned him to Bayern Munich last season and recently admitted that they would consider offers for the right-back, with Lazio understood to be a possible destination. “As I’ve said on a number of occasions, I am a Milan player and I am looking to win a first team shirt with the Rossoneri,” he added. “A return to Lazio? You can never rule anything out in life but, I repeat, I am now a Milan player and I’m only prepared to talk about my team. I can’t talk about things that don’t exist.”