Alessandro Del Piero admits he could work for Juventus one day, but ‘he’s never left’ the Bianconeri and explains how a ‘terrible’ knee injury at 24 somehow helped him in his career.
The Old Lady’s legend released an interview with Il Corriere della Sera where he spoke about the evolution of football but also gave his thoughts on Juventus’ campaign, his possible return to the club and his career as a footballer.
Juventus will face Milan on Sunday night at San Siro, so what has Del Piero made of the Bianconeri’s recent rebuilding?
“There is always pressure at Juventus. That club is a point of reference, not only for Bianconeri fans. After learning the result of their favourite club, I think everyone wants to know the one of Juventus,” he noted.
“It’s a crucial club in the history of Italian football, it’s more than a club. When you have a lot of responsibility and go through a transition period with many injuries, it’s normal that not everything goes the right way. As a fan, I hope they are making the right choices because we hope to see a competitive Juventus in Italy and Europe.
“I’ve built a solid bond with Juventus, 19 years are many. People ask me: ‘Why don’t you return to Juventus?’ I answer that I don’t need to return because I’ve never left,” he continued.
“I don’t work for the club now, but maybe things will change in the future. Who knows? Anyway, I will never feel far away. An important part of my heart is there and will remain there forever. Always on the same side.”
Del Piero, the player with the most appearances at Juventus and the best scorer in the club’s history, won the Champions League with the Serie A giants in 1996 and lifted the World Cup with Italy ten years later. When asked which day he’d like to live again, the legendary No.10 replied: “July 9, 2006, when we won the World Cup. I still have all the feelings inside about that day.
“How can you explain the feeling of a guy who had been dreaming of that moment for his entire life? A guy who hadn’t thought about anything else for years and who, in the end, finally made it? To win that semifinal [against Germany], those penalties [in the Final]…. It was a total, integral, beauty. It can’t be described and can’t be repeated.”
On the other hand, what day would he like to cancel out?
“November 8, 1998. The day I got injured. It was terrible. I didn’t play for a year. I was 24. I was anxious and uncertain to recover. However, I discovered an inner strength I didn’t know I had which helped me to react and take the best from that tragedy,” he replied.
Del Piero was also asked about his father, Gino, who died in 2001. Del Piero scored a stunning goal away at Bari days after his passing and his celebration, with tears in his eyes, has become one of the most iconic in the ex-striker’s career.
“He was a silent leader. Becoming a father myself, I understood more about him,” said Alex.
“I didn’t know much about him. I was 13 when I left home. At that time, you think about other things, but growing up you understand the importance of parents. I’ve had a very nice relationship with them, as it should be.
“My father was an electrician. My mum was first a housekeeper and then a babysitter. My father had incredible humility. He was working hard, breaking his back to make his family live well. He didn’t talk much. I remember meeting him and my mum after winning the Champions League. I think at that moment, they thought about our life path, all the fears and the sacrifices. They had tears in their eyes. They were not proud of Del Piero, they were proud of their Alessandro.”
In the end, Del Piero offered his view on the rise of Saudi football and Roberto Mancini’s recent appointment as Saudi Arabia’s national team coach.
“The Saudi world wants to emerge in football. They are getting organised, they have an incredible budget and this is helping them. Sometimes it’s difficult to say no, other times, you can. It depends on what one wants from life. As for Mancini, having lived abroad for many years, I can only say we really made a bad impression.”