Rome - AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has returned to Italy after a long period spent in the United States to treat a back problem, the Devils web site reported Thursday.

"I'm going to (Milan's camp in) Milanello to start training and when I'm fine I'll play," Nesta said.

The full-back, who turns 33 in March, went to Florida in November to undergo treatment for a lower-back pain that had sidelined him since the summer.

"I suffered for a long time but now I took the problem seriously because there was a way to come out of it," he said.

"I did some serious cures and the back recovered well. Now I miss the pitch. That will be the last test.

"I want to comeback at high levels. This is what I hope. I think soon, in a month at the latest, but I need to do physical work. I haven't played for eight months, let's see how my body reacts." (dpa)