Italian football legend Alessandro Del Piero has revealed that he came close to signing for two Premier League clubs during his illustrious career. The World Cup winner and Juventus icon admitted that playing in England’s top flight was a dream of his, but he ultimately chose to stay in Italy, where he achieved great success with Juventus and became a national hero.
In an interview ahead of the Soccer Aid charity match, Del Piero was asked about his interest in moving to England. He confirmed that there was interest from Newcastle and Manchester United, but he ultimately chose to remain loyal to Juventus, the club he supported as a boy. For Del Piero, the opportunity to captain Juventus and experience the unique journey of the club from “paradise to hell” was more important than financial gain.
Looking back, the 49-year-old has no regrets about his decision. He cherishes the memories of his nearly two decades with Juventus, during which he scored 290 goals and won six league titles, as well as the Champions League in 1996. After leaving Italy in 2012, Del Piero had brief stints in Australia and India before hanging up his boots in 2014. He earned 91 caps for Italy and is the country’s fourth-highest goalscorer with 27 goals.
- Alessandro Del Piero reveals he almost signed for Premier League clubs but chose to stay in Italy
- The Italian became a legend at Juventus and was part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup win
Italian football great Alessandro Del Piero has revealed that he almost signed for two Premier League clubs during his illustrious career. However, he ultimately chose to stay in Italy, where he became a legend for both club and country.
Alessandro Del Piero reveals he almost signed for Premier League clubs but stayed in Italy
Speaking ahead of the Soccer Aid charity match, where he will represent the Rest of the World against England, Del Piero was asked about his interest in moving to England. He confirmed that there was interest from Newcastle and Manchester United, but he had different plans.
“I was a Juventus fan from the beginning when I was a young kid,” Del Piero explained. “I was happy at Juventus, and it was everything to me. It wasn’t about money or other things. I was the captain, and I stayed for 19 years, going through everything from paradise to hell. It’s a unique story and a journey I’m proud of.”
Del Piero was part of Italy’s World Cup triumph in 2006
Despite his love for Juventus, Del Piero admitted that playing in the Premier League was a dream of his: “I would have loved to play in England. Every time I played there, the atmosphere was incredible.”
Del Piero enjoyed a remarkable career with Juventus, making his debut in 1993 and scoring 290 goals in nearly two decades. He won six league titles and the Champions League in 1996. After leaving Italy in 2012, he had brief stints in Australia and India before retiring in 2014.
For Italy, Del Piero earned 91 caps and scored 27 goals, making him the country’s fourth-highest goalscorer. He was also part of the World Cup-winning squad in 2006, adding to his legendary status in Italian football.