ROME, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta announced in Milan on Wednesday that he is retiring from the Italian national soccer team.

"I'm not going to play for the national team any more, my Azzurri adventure is over," the 31-year-old star said at a press conference at Milan's training ground.

The defender, who has 78 Italy caps and was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, said physical factors were behind his decision to quit.

"I'm sorry because the Azzurri shirt has always been dear to me,but physically I can no longer play all these games," he explained.

"I think that, with more rest, my level of performance can stay good as time passes."

His decision comes two weeks after AS Roma captain Francesco Totti quitted from national team for similar reasons.

Nesta has taken part in the last three World Cups as well as Euro 2000, when Italy were runners-up, and Euro 2004.

But his international career has been dogged by injury.

The player admitted that his decision to abandon his national side was not absolutely his final word on the subject and that he might consider playing in the 2010 World Cup.

"Right now the door (to the national team) is closed. Later we'll see. Maybe in three years' time, if I'm still up to it, I could try to get a last outing with the Azzurri."