Alessandro Del Piero wants to play on for as many as five more years, but admits “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect a contract renewal with Juventus.”
The fan favourite left the Bianconeri after 19 years when his deal expired this summer and he was not offered a new agreement.
Alessandro Del Piero wants to play on for as many as five more years, but admits “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect a contract renewal with Juventus.”
The fan favourite left the Bianconeri after 19 years when his deal expired this summer and he was not offered a new agreement.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t expect a contract renewal with Juventus,” he told CNN. “There had already been difficulties last year which had then been overcome.
“But I gave my all, and more, than what I had, so I am extremely happy. After that, everyone has to follow their own destiny and mine is taking me somewhere else. There is no bitterness, at least as far as I am concerned.
“The USA is a unique nation where I have always enjoyed myself on vacation. I haven’t got a new club yet, but we’ll see if it is there or elsewhere. I just want to find the right place to continue playing football for one, two, three, or even five years.”
Pinturicchio took the opportunity to look back over his long career after winning a final Scudetto for Juve.
“Things like people describing a ‘Del Piero-style goal’ fill me with joy. Obviously the greatest memory of my career is lifting the World Cup, but also being applauded in stadiums like the Bernabeu, one of the temples of football.
“That was replicated times a million in my final match in Turin, where the fans stopped to applaud for more than 20 minutes. I still can’t explain it to myself.
“The thorn that remains in my side is the Euro 2000 Final and missing that goal. However, if they’d told me at the time that I would lose the Euros and then win the World Cup six years later, I’d have been alright with that.”
After his playing career has come to an end, Alex is already considering his style as a Coach.
“If I were to become a Coach, I’d certainly try to be like Pep Guardiola. I’d need the enthusiasm of Giovanni Trapattoni, the desire to win of Marcello Lippi, determination of Fabio Capello and the vision of Carlo Ancelotti.”