'Retired' Vieri close to Botafogo switch - report

Christian Vieri is on the verge of signing for Brazilian club Botafogo just weeks after announcing his retirement from football at an Italian court hearing.

Empics

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According to reports in Brazil the veteran striker will sign for Rio de Janeiro based club this week after holding contract talks.

Just a few weeks ago Vieri told a trial where he accused former club Inter Milan of tapping his phone when he was player there at the start of the decade: "I don't want to play anymore and I'm not even tempted to play abroad."

But now it seems he is set for a switch to the Paulista championship after his agent, Franck Assuncao, met with the Brazilian club's president Luiz Pereira, on Monday.

Assuncao then told Globoesporte.com: "On Wednesday, I will go to Botafogo again to sign all of the documents, and immediately after that, the news will be made official on the club's website.

"The player must undertake a medical in Rio de Janeiro, before being presented by Botafogo, most probably between November 25 and 30."

The 36-year-old began his career at Torino and played for four more clubs before moving to Juventus but he had his most prolific spell at the Nerazzurri after they paid a world record £32 million to sign him from Lazio. Vieri netted an incredible 103 goals in 144 Serie A games.

He left Inter in 2005 and had disappointing spells with Milan, Monaco and Atalanta before ending up at Fiorentina, where he had a brief resurgence. But after going back to Atalanta for a third time he walked out claiming too much was expected of him. Vieri had a trial at Blackburn last summer but was never offered a contract.

Vieri was capped by Italy 49 times, scoring 23 goals. His haul of trophies includes the Scudetto with Juventus in 1997, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup with Lazio in 1999 and the Italian Cup with Inter in 2005. He was twice named Italian player of the year.