<!--Article Start--> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Italian international fullback Federico Balzaretti announced on Wednesday he was retiring due to a long-standing groin injury.</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">The injury kept the Roma defender off the field for a year and a half.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"It was a difficult decision to take but I can't continue playing if I'm not at 100 percent," said the 33-year-old.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Blazaretti, who played 16 times for Italy, including at Euro 2012, will join Roma's coaching staff.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">Having recovered from his injury, he managed to play Roma's final match last season, enjoying 90 minutes against his former club Palermo.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">"Having been able to play those last 90 minutes with Roma was a dream for me and I thank them for everything they allowed me to do," said Balzaretti.</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify"><strong>Balzaretti has also played for Juventus, Fiorentina and Palermo</strong></h3> <p style="text-align: justify">He began his career with home-town club Torino before also going on to play for Juventus and Fiorentina before making his mark at Palermo.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">He won Serie B with Juventus in 2007 but had several near-misses with Roma, finishing runners-up in the league the last two seasons and also finishing as losing finalists in the Italian Cup in 2013.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">But it was his form for Palermo from 2008-2012 that caught the eye of the national selectors and allowed him to establish himself, briefly, as an Italy regular.</p> . <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>By AFP</strong></p> <!--Article End-->