Palermo striker Fabrizio Miccoli has turned down the chance to join ambitious Birmingham after admitting his heart was not in the move.

Miccoli, 30, today committed his future to his current Serie A club as he appeared at a press conference arranged to allow him to outline his plans.

He said: "I would like to start by thanking Birmingham for the offer because to receive an offer like this, despite having just had an operation on torn cruciate knee ligaments, was unexpected.

"I waited before talking because I wanted to evaluate it with my family. I have made up my mind to stay."

Miccoli claimed to have received a four-year contract offer from Birmingham, which could have been his last big opportunity for a lucrative deal.

He scored 19 goals last season, lifting Palermo into a battle for a place in the Champions League which they only lost on the final day to Sampdoria.

His form during the second half of the season attracted interest from Birmingham and others, but a meeting with club president Maurizio Zamparini this week convinced him to remain with the Europa League participants.

"Just a glance into his eyes was enough for me to decide," revealed Miccoli.

"Furthermore, I am the captain and I sent the contract (from Birmingham) back because I want to stay here, in this team.

"I have done a lot to get back into Europe with Palermo and now I want to enjoy the Europa League in a Palermo shirt.

"This is the biggest decision of my career. My head was telling me to accept the offer, but my heart was telling me not to.

"I followed my heart."

He explained: "I called my wife to say we were staying in Palermo and I was in tears on the phone with her.

"Somebody had likened me to past Palermo players who left the club at the first better offer and this upset me because I am not like them and, today, I believe I have demonstrated that.

"When I told him (Zamparini) that I wanted to stay at Palermo, he was taken aback. He himself told me that this was one of those life-changing offers."

Having resolved his future, Miccoli will focus on making a full recovery from a serious knee injury.

"If it were up to me, I would play again immediately," he said. "I will not take part in the first training camp of pre-season because there won't be the facilities to take care of my knee there, but I will be involved in the second part."