FORMER Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati has refused to rule out a return to football management in Scotland.

The ex-AC Milan star who played for Celtic for two years between 2007 and 2009 has his heart set on carving out a career as a manager.

The Italian who also enjoyed playing spells at Hamiton and St Mirren admitted that he is determined to become a coach in his own right.

Donati was released from his managerial position with Serie D side Sambenedettese in October after a poor start to the league campaign.

The 40-year-old has previous experience coaching in Scotland when he was announced as part of Angelo Alessio's coaching staff at Kilmarnock in June 2019.

In their first matches in charge, Kilmarnock lost in the Europa League qualifiers to Welsh Premier League part-time minnows Connah's Quay Nomads.

Alessio and Donati were then sacked by Kilmarnock in December 2019, with the team sitting in fifth place in the Scottish Premiership.

READ MORE: The Celtic history-making moment against AC Milan as Kaka, Pirlo and Seedorf put in the shade

However, Donati insists that he'd love a return to Scotland in a coaching capacity.

He admits that he learned from some of the best coaches having played under the likes of Fatih Terim and Carlo Ancelotti whilst he was at the San Siro as well as Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray during his time in Glasgow.

Donati said: "I am still young and I am only just starting out in my football coaching career.

"I hope to become a football manager in my own right.

"I always try to follow some good examples.

"I worked under some good managers in my playing career and I tried to learn as much as I could from them.

"That is very important to what I am doing now.

"I enjoyed my short spell as a coach at Kilmarnock.

"It was a great experience and an education for me.

"I would love to have the opportunity to possibly come back to Scotland one day and manage a club at some point in the future."

Meanwhile, Donati has revealed that his decision to quit Celtic to sign for Serie B side Bari in 2009 was a huge mistake.

The Italian revealed that he made an emotional decision based on his relationship with then Celtic boss Gordon Strachan which had soured in his second season after he gave an interview detailing the difference between Scottish and Italian football.

Strachan was livid when he read the contents of the article despite Donati's protestations that he had been misquoted.

READ MORE: Neil Lennon's Celtic power play, Gordon Strachan's cutting one-liners and career 'barriers' from crossing Glasgow divide - Steven Pressley Big Interview

Donati said: "I had a wee problem with Gordon and then it became a big problem. I gave an interview explaining the difference between Scottish and Italian football. I explained the difference which was a big one.

"In the papers, the headline was "what Scottish football has to do to be better."

"I never said those words and he was so angry about that interview and I told him I didn't say that but he didn't believe me and that is why I did not play much in the second season.

"For a football player, if you are not playing you are not happy. I told him that maybe it was time for me to go.

"In the pre-season, Gordon Strachan left Celtic and Tony Mowbray came in.

"For a while, it looked as if my Celtic career would get back on track. 

"Bari then came in for me and offered me a longer contract.

"I had a decision to make and I joined Bari.

"Sometimes you make the wrong decision. Leaving Celtic was not a good decision."