Milan defender Alessandro Nesta will not come out of international retirement to play for Italy at the World Cup, coach Marcello Lippi said.

Lippi had wanted the 33-year-old's experience for the world champions' title defence in South Africa and said last week that the in-form centre back was considering a return.

"He told me, I think definitively, that he doesn't feel it," Lippi said.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to give a boost (to the team), but I respect his decision."

Nesta, part of Lippi's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, quit internationals in 2007 because of injuries.

Lippi did not say whether he intended to call up Juve's Brazilian-born striker Amauri, who is expected to receive an Italian passport this week and become eligible for the Azzurri.

"I'll talk about Amauri in a few days because only then will he become Italian," Lippi said.

"He'll be under observation like all the other Italians only when he becomes Italian."