Andrea Ranocchia has explained retiring from Monza last week.

The former Inter Milan defender joined Monza in the summer, but terminated his contract and retired last week. He is now recovering from a leg fracture.

Ranocchia said: “There wasn't a single triggering episode. Since April, also due to a series of private matters, I started to feel less enthusiasm for football. I hoped it was just a moment. At Inter I was fine with everyone.

“My contract expired in June, Ausilio explained to me that they had to make a whole series of changes. I wanted to play more, and Monza came along.

“A serious project, carried out by managers who have already won, the possibility of not changing home even for my children and for the youngsters to grow. I accepted.

“But during the training camp I struggled a lot. Discovering that the fire for football that lit me up for 30 years wasn't coming back was terrible."

On his injury, he added: “It accelerated a process that was already underway. So much so that I don't rule out the possibility that such a serious injury was related to the fact that my head was no longer spinning in the right way."