Pizarro – I haven´t quit international football

Experienced midfielder David Pizarro has insisted that he has not quit international football for the second time in his career.

Florence – All sorts of rumours sprung up after the Fiorentina playmaker wasn’t among the 19 overseas players called up by boss Jorge Sampaoli for the friendly against Germany in Stuttgart on March 5.

There was speculation that the 34-year-old, who has spent the last 15 years playing in Italy, had called time on his international career again. The Valparaíso-born player had quit La Roja in 2005, reportedly because of the lack of professionalism of his team-mates and because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

It took all the efforts of new boss Jorge Sampaoli to lure him back to the national team in May last year. However, Pizarro started only one of the remaining World Cup qualifiers, a 3-1 victory against Bolivia in Santiago, and had to get used to being on the bench.

The ANFP said that Sampaoli had tried to get in touch with Pizarro about the Germany match, but hadn´t had any answer from him.

Speaking to El Mercurio de Valparaíso, Pizarro broke his silence over the confusion.

He said: “I haven´t quit – they didn´t call me, full stop. I´m not in the position to return and then quit the national team. I took on this process and I´m going to fulfil that obligation.

“It´s Sampaoli who must define is he wants to count with me or not. I hope that´s sufficiently clear.”

Although Pizarro, who had a loan spell at Manchester City in 2012, would be unlikely to make the starting line-up in Brazil, his experience and quality would be a plus for the squad. He´s played 40 times for Chile and scored three goals.

Tags: David Pizarro, Football, La Roja