MONTREAL – Marco Di Vaio didn’t take an oath, but his words on his future were certainly strong.

The decision is difficult, Di Vaio ensured. But asked – again – about the possibilities that he’ll still wear a Montreal Impact uniform next season, Di Vaio said on Thursday that he “thinks” 2014 is his final year in North America.

“It's tough for me to say, but I think I'm going back to Italy [next year],” Di Vaio told reporters.

Montreal had exercised its contract option on Di Vaio on October 15 of last year. The statement published then avoided any mention of long-term commitment; Di Vaio expressed his happiness at staying with the Impact in 2014, “for another season.”

The arrival of fellow Designated Player Ignacio Piatti – and the instant chemistry with Di Vaio – raised the prospect of Di Vaio staying put for another season. (On Thursday, Di Vaio pointed out that Piatti, among others, is still trying to convince him to hang around.)

But a report published this week on SB Nation’s Mount Royal Soccer blog restored the open secret that was Di Vaio’s intention to return home after this season – whether Montreal play in the CONCACAF Champions League Championship stage this winter or not.

“No, [CCL] is not going to affect my decision,” Di Vaio said. “The reasons are different. It’s family. It’s different.”

Due to an illness to a relative, Di Vaio’s wife and their two daughters flew back to Italy last summer, in the midst of the patriarch’s outstanding 2013 season. His decision to stay to Montreal in 2014 revolved around having to live here on his own, a sacrifice he elected to make in the end after declaring that he may retire.

Asked if his eventual return to Italy could include a last hurrah in Serie A, Di Vaio was dismissive, evoking the responsibilities that follow footballers around in his homeland.

"Now, I’m used to here and I want to contributed to good things here," Di Vaio said. “Returning to Italy is not an easy thing, but I’m not sure because I like it too much, coming to work every day. I don’t know what can happen after a month without soccer, so I want to make sure that when I stop, I won’t feel like going back to playing. It’s not easy.”