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August 28, 2009

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Czech star Nedved calls time on career

PAVEL Nedved is retiring from football, ending an 18-year career as a top class player despite numerous offers to continue.

"I have decided not accept any of the offers I got recently and I end my career as a player for good," the 37-year-old midfielder said on his Website on Wednesday. "I want to devote my entire time to the family, my wife and the children."

Nedved first came to prominence with Czech champion Sparta Prague in 1992. He later joined the Italian league with Lazio and spent his last eight years at Juventus.

He scored 18 goals in 91 matches for the Czech national team and won the Golden Ball awarded to the best player in Europe in 2003.

Meanwhile, Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder is fully focused on new club Inter Milan after agreeing a move to Italy from Real Madrid, which, he said, had treated him "very badly".

Both clubs have yet to confirm the deal and declined comment, but Spanish and Italian media reported the fee was 15 million euros (US$21.4 million).

"What happened with me is very strange," said Sneijder. "They (Real Madrid) treated me very badly but to tell the truth I would prefer not to talk about it."

The Dutch international had agreed a five-year contract with a net annual salary of 4 million euros, media reported.

Sneijder had said he was being pushed out the door by Real, which is trying to trim its squad after a massive spending spree on a number of top players including Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso. Sneijder had felt the initial indications were that he was part of new coach Manuel Pellegrini's plans for the new season, which starts this weekend.





 

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