Manny Pacquiao returned home to the Philippines yesterday, nursing his right shoulder after surgery, weighing up the decision whether to retire or push for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

Pacquiao, wearing a black shoulder brace and arm sling, said his immediate priorities were recuperating from surgery and his duties as congressman and family man.

But with the Filipino fighter getting older, he admitted that the prospect of retiring is near.

“I will focus on healing my shoulder. After that, I will announce continuing my career or retirement,” he said.

“I’m not saying I am going to retire but it’s near. I’m already 36, turning 37 this December.”

Pacquiao received a hero’s welcome on his return to the Philippines, with thousands of people lining the streets as he was paraded through the streets of capital city Manila on the back of a truck.

And he told those in attendance that he would like to take on the pound-for-pound champion again, in what would be Mayweather’s final fight before retiring himself.

“Hopefully there would be a rematch. I like that. I want that,” Pacquiao said.