Ex-Portugal international Pauleta set to retire

Former Portugal international Pedro Pauleta has indicated that he will most likely hang up his boots this summer.

The Portuguese striker is currently a free agent following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain after a five-year stint with the French capital club.

The 35-year-old hitman has expressed his wish to represent one of the big three in Portugal -- FC Porto, Benfica or Sporting -- before his retirement on multiple occasions, having never played in the Portuguese first division.

But Pauleta, who is currently on vacation, concedes that his career is now over.

"I have finished my career, because only a really good thing would make me play another year," he told radio station TSF. "At the moment, I do not have that thing."

Pauleta, who has 88 international caps to his name, confessed that his wages would never impede his return to Portugal as he has turned down very lucrative offers from France, the Arabian Peninsula and the U.S.

The former Deportivo La Coruña striker added, meanwhile, that he was never approached by representatives from Benfica or Sporting, denying reports suggesting a move to one of the two Lisbon giants.