Del Piero offers to sign 'blank' Juve contract
Reuters - Friday 25 February 2011, 23:27
ROME - Alessandro Del Piero has
offered to sign a blank contract to stay with Juventus after
flatly denying he was holding out for more money in talks for a
new deal.
"I've signed my first blank contract with Juventus," said
the 36-year-old Juve captain, out of contract in June, said in a
video on his official website.
"I'll sign my last one to wear this jersey blank too," he
added after admitting to having been stung by rumours he was
holding the club to ransom.
The forward, who has made a record 667 appearances and
scored 280 goals for Juve in a career spanning two decades, has
played a more peripheral part this season.
The Turin giants have struggled, scoring four goals from 12
starts.
"The driving force in my career has always been a deep love
for football, for the Juventus colours and for its fans," he
said.
"It's not about money. I've earned a lot in my life, though
I could have earned more if I'd accepted certain offers."
The Bianconeri brought in forwards Alessandro Matri and
another veteran Luca Toni in the winter transfer window, but Del
Piero is desperate to play a part next season when Juventus will
play at their brand new stadium.
"I spoke with the president (Andrea Agnelli) not about
financial matters but my willingness to make myself available
for next season," said Del Piero.
"My passion and my will to win that has been with me from
the Viareggio (youth) tournament to the World Cup, not to
mention Serie B," he added. "My ties to the colours and the fans
cannot be measured in numbers."