Makelele pledges to do his best for France

CLAIREFONTAINE, France, Aug 31 (Reuters) Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele confirmed today he had wanted to retire from international football after the World Cup but said he would do his best if asked to play for France again.

Makelele made a formal statement today in an effort to put an end to the controversy triggered by his call-up last week.

''I want to make a statement because I'd like to close this case now,'' Makelele told a news conference. ''People know me. I'm a professional.

''I have always had great respect for the blue shirt and I will play 100 per cent for France,'' Makelele said. ''I will do everything I can so that we win our next two matches.'' France kick off their qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 with a match against Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday before they host world champions Italy next week.

''I said to the coach (Raymond Domenech) that I wished to stop my international career after the World Cup'', Makelele said. ''I even sent an official document to the French football federation to let them know what I intended to do.

''But the fact that I was included in the squad list turned things up side down. There was risk that I might be suspended if I turned down the call-up,'' Makelele said.

''My club agreed to let me go'', he said.

Chelsea's outspoken manager Jose Mourinho reacted angrily to Makelele's call up last week, accusing Domenech of treating his midfielder like a slave and denying his human rights.

Domenech said FIFA rules entitled him to recall the 33-year-old midfielder.

Makelele, 33, came out of an initial international retirement in August 2005 to play for France in the World Cup qualifiers then the finals in June and July.

He won his 50th cap in the final defeat by Italy and then said he wanted to call time on his international career.

REUTERS PDS PM1905