Verona's Luca Toni considering U-turn on retirement decision

World Cup winner Luca Toni announced his intention to retire at the end of the season in early December, but the Hellas Verona forward is reconsidering as he focuses on retaining his side's Serie A status.

The 38-year-old - who enjoyed prolific spells with the likes of Palermo, Fiorentina, and Bayern Munich earlier in his career - has three goals in eight starts so far, but Verona sits bottom with just eight points in 17 matches.

"Everyone says I signed on to become a director of Verona, but the truth is I am still a football player and I haven't decided yet whether I'll retire in June or in 2017," Toni told Tuttosport, as translated by ESPN FC.

"I've been supposed to quit for the last four years and I'll make a decision in the spring. A lot will depend on how the season goes and how I'm feeling, so whether I want to keep challenging myself all over again."

If Toni does play on until 2017, he would sign off shortly before his 40th birthday, but age is just a number for the striker. His focus for now is on Wednesday's trip to his former club Juventus.

"This time we have to make a big comeback, as a team," Toni said. "Saving (Verona from relegation) would be like winning the Champions League.

"It's better we face (Juventus) now after the Christmas break so hopefully some players will still be distracted. Juventus are clearly stronger, but we can cause them problems."