Anelka has had a frosty relationship with French football chiefs

Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka has reportedly said he will never play for France again.

The 23-year-old's tempestuous relationship with French football chiefs culminated in a ban after he snubbed a late call-up for a friendly with Yugoslavia in November last year.

Now he has said he does not want to play for the international team again.

"For me the French team belongs in the past," Anelka is reported as saying in several newspapers on Saturday.

"I missed out on the World Cup twice and it did not kill me."

My hard feelings (towards Anelka) are based on the human aspect France manager Jacques Santini

Anelka, who won the last of his 28 caps for France in April, said his decision was made long before the Yugoslavia friendly.

"Nothing was decided in a rush. My decision had been well thought through," he said.

"It was clear for me that if I was called up I would not go. I did not want to create mayhem.

"I just wanted the fans to understand me and I think they did," said the former Liverpool and Arsenal player.

France manager Jacques Santini, who in December described Anelka's actions as "disrespectful", said last week his relationaship with Anelka was poor.

"Of course (he can come back) if he settles the human aspect of the situation," he told French weekly L'Equipe Magazine.

"My hard feelings are based on the human aspect and so far I don't know what were Nico's reasons there."

Anelka, who scored six times for France, has hit 11 goals for Manchester City this season.