The real big Del
August 29, 2012
Michael Cockerill
Italian superstar Alessandro del Piero is the man Sydney FC want to replace Nicky Carle as their marquee player, and the Sky Blues have already made an approach to the Juventus legend, voted by FIFA as one of the top 125 players in history.
Del Piero, 37, is the fourth-highest capped (91 games) Italian international of all-time, and played more games (513) for Juventus than anyone else before he pulled down the curtain on his illustrious career with the bianconeri after last season's Coppa Italia final in May.
Since then del Piero has been linked to moves to the Middle East, China, Argentina, the United States and Switzerland, but after two months as a free agent has yet to commit to a new club. This week's surprise departure of Carle to the United Arab Emirates has suddenly opened the door for the Sky Blues to enter the race for a player who would galvanise Sydney's notoriously fickle Italian football community in a heartbeat.
Del Piero, reportedly still in prime condition, would unquestionably be the biggest signing in A-League history. Such is his immense stature as a footballer, and an ambassador, that the Sky Blues could realistically expect several sell-out crowds at Allianz Stadium - something previous marquee stars Dwight Yorke and Juninho both failed to achieve.
''We're going to go for it as hard as we can,'' said chief executive Tony Pignata. ''The board is 100 per cent behind this. We believe he's the perfect marquee player.
''We've already made an approach to his management team, and we're waiting to hear back. This is not a gimmick, it's deadly serious. To get a player of his stature would be huge, and we know that.
''I can't say whether we'll be able to compete with whatever other offers he may have in a financial sense, but I do know playing over the summer, in a city like Sydney, gives us a real selling point.''
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/the-real-big-del-20120828-24yvc.html
haha.
