"England was a dream from my childhood, from when I started playing football because it has a football and league which always pleased me. But childhood dreams don't always come true," Figo said in an interview with sports daily A Bola Monday.

"I'm in the final phase of my career, I have to think much more of my family than merely of my personal objectives. I have this whole season to think," he added.

"I think it's time to listen to my family and try to do what is best for them. I have children and it is my obligation to think about their future."

Figo, 33, is married to Swedish model Helen Svedin. The couple have three young daughters.

The player signed with Inter from Spanish giants Real Madrid in August 2005 on a two-year contract after spending time at Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona.

He bowed out of international football after Portugal's fourth-place finish at the World Cup in Germany in July after earning 127 caps, the most of any national team player.

Italian champions Inter Milan face Sporting Lisbon on Monday in the Portuguese capital in a pre-season friendly.