Legendary Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo has announced that he will retire once his contract with New York City FC runs out in December.

Pirlo has played in 15 of the 32 MLS games this season and the midfielder, who is now 38, feels that it’s time to go.

"You realise that the time has come," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Every day you have physical problems, you cannot train as you want because you always have some problem.

"At my age, that's enough. It's not that you can go on forever until the age of 50. I'll do something else.

"At 38, it's just right to give young players room. I'm not angry. Instead, I will give a hand to team-mates and to the coach."

Pirlo also suggested that he has not made his mind up about what he will pursue next but believes he will be back in Italy after his contract runs out.

He also said that he had not made any decisions regarding working with Conte at Chelsea and suggested that the stories were just rumours.

Pirlo has won the Italian Serie A six times in his glittering career, playing for AC Milan and Juventus. He also won the Champions League twice.

In a highly successful career, Pirlo was won the World Cup with Italy in 2006.