Nesta rubbishes Real talk

Lazio defender Alessandro Nesta has taken time out of training with the Italian squad to dismiss talk of his imminent move to Real Madrid.

After hearing of the re-emergence of talk of his potential move to the Spanish capital, a clearly-annoyed Nesta seized the first available opportunity to play down such talk apparently generated by the Spanish media.

Following Tuesday's training session with the rest of the Azzurri squad, Nesta barked at waiting Italian TV reporters: "Why do you keep asking me about this?"

"You know that my answer will be the same, so you might as well pull out an older interview and air that!"

"Seriously, nothing has changed. I am, and will remain a Lazio player. The team has no financial problems at the moment, but in the future we'll see."

"The only certainty at the moment is that I am a Lazio player. Let the fans be fans and let the management take care of balancing the books."

Nesta is expected to line up at the back for Italy's crucial World Cup qualifier with Lithuania in Kaunas this weekend. A win for Giovanni Trapattoni's men will guarantee their place in next year's World Cup finals in Korea and Japan.