Udinese coach Lele Cioffi insists Gerard Deulofeu will play again.

The former AC Milan, Everton and Barcelona winger declared this week that injury may force him into retirement.

But Cioffi said today: "I am very close to Gerard and I will continue to be one because he is a special person.

"In my first adventure as a coach he was a driving force. I call him, I still owe him the famous pizza we had bet on (laughs).

"He was a champion, he remains a champion, the injury he's had a hard time getting the upper hand, he's an intelligent and motivated boy. We'll talk about it in three or four years about his retirement."