Released from his Atalanta contract, striker Christian Vieri is set to join the European poker tour.

Gazzetta dello Sport says former AC Milan and Inter star Vieri is scheduled to sit at the poker tables in San Remo and Montecarlo for the Pokerstars European tour.

"My future is still in football," he told Sportweek. "I will stop playing when I am fed up of running behind a ball. I am not tired.

"But once I receive my pension," Vieri laughed. "Who knows, I could even become a professional poker player."

The former Juventus forward then explained just why he is so passionate about playing a bit of poker.

"We all begin as equals, with the same amount of chips and in what other game do you get to challenge champions from other sports?

"It gives you an incredible feeling. The adrenaline. It's necessary for whoever has played sport at the highest level. I enjoy myself a lot," he concluded.