Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale has announced that he is postponing his retirement from football following assurances from club president Giampaolo Pozzo.

The 36-year-old had earlier decided to hang up his boots at the end of the campaign, seemingly signing off with a hat-trick in his final game in a 3-3 draw with Sampdoria.

However, the Italian international told Thursday’s edition of Corriere della Sera that he will now play on for at least another season after the club persuaded him to change his mind.

“I am bound to Udinese by another year of contract,” Di Natale said.

“Last Thursday I went into president Pozzo’s office and we talked about the future.

“Now that [former coach Francesco] Guidolin has decided to leave, I wanted to understand the future project of the club.

“The president reassured me, and now I will go on holiday.”

The diminutive forward has spent ten years with the Zebrette, finishing as Serie A Capocannoniere in 2009-10 and 2010-11, and still managed to score 20 goals in all competitions this season despite his initial deciding to retire.

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