Udinese coach Stefano Colantuono says Antonio Di Natale needs to be left in peace to reflect on his future, amid rumours he is considering calling it a day this winter.
Di Natale, 38, is thought to be pondering his future after scoring just one goal in 13 Serie A appearances so far this season.
He is used to going into double figures, having done so in every campaign since 2005-06, and this lack of goals is reportedly convincing him the time has come to hang up his boots.
However, Di Natale bagged a brace as Udinese beat Atalanta 3-1 to reach the last 16 of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday and Colantuono wants an end to be brought to the ongoing speculation to allow the striker to focus on finding his form again, which could then shelve any idea of retiring.
"Let's leave him in peace," he told RAI television. "Let's let him work the way he is doing. The wrong things have been said in recent weeks and if he does want to quit, as he has said, it is because maybe his morale levels are low after such a long career.
"He made us win the game in Verona with an incredible assist and he was our match-winner again tonight, so let's just leave him be."
Colantuono has not seen a loss of appetite in training, branding Di Natale a "model professional" for the way he continues to work day-in, day-out.
"He's an easy player to deal with," Colantuono said. "He has to do some special work because he's 38 years old, but that goes for any footballer who has played for so long. But I can assure you that he's not at all difficult to work with.
"He leads a healthy life and never makes mistakes -- not at breakfast, not at lunch, nor at dinner. He's a model professional."
Di Natale's teammate Bruno Fernandes is also hopeful that the forward will be convinced to carry on playing for a while yet.
He told RAI television: "I don't think he really wants to quit. He can still make the difference, as we saw today, and he knows full well how important he is for us."
Di Natale has scored 208 goals in 434 Serie A appearances -- seven short of Jose Altafini, who is fifth on the list of all-time top scorers in the Italian top flight, and eight behind fourth-placed Giuseppe Meazza.