Matteo Sereni's wife Silvia has said her husband is not keen on a return to Portman Road when his loan spell with Brescia is up at the end of June. The keeper's wife revealed that she and her husband were less than impressed with their spell in Suffolk.

Sereni, 28, has done well between the Brescia sticks since coming into the side after a hip injury caused by a summer car accident.

Mrs Sereni clearly did not settle during her husband's season with Town: "In Italy, there is a different atmosphere. It's one thing living in Chelsea, but another matter when you are in a suburb."

The locality was not the only matter that the Serenis found unpalatable: "Matteo told me incredible things. In the dressing room, there was a lot of beer and also, during breaks, players drunk a lot.

"Matteo's desire, and mine too, is to stay at Brescia, while my dream is to see my husband wear the national team jersey one day."

Sereni cost Town £4.7 million from Sampdoria in the summer of 2001. His £22,000-a-week wage, currently being paid in full by Brescia, would mean that Town could not afford to take him back unless they were in the Premiership.

The keeper joined Brescia on a one-year loan last summer. The Rondinelle have until the end of April to decide whether they want to take him permanently, a proposed fee having been agreed when the loan was arranged.

Brescia are not in the greatest financial health, however they look certain to remain in Serie A and are in with a chance of a UEFA Cup place.

With Sereni's form excellent this season it is likely that if Brescia are unable to take him then another club may show interest. Town will be keen to get a fee for their record signing but may be forced to let him go on a free to avoid having to pay high wages to a player not wanting to return to England.

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