Andrea Pirlo

[Socrates 8524]

Verratti honoured by Pirlo comparisons

The 21-year-old says he is flattered by the view that he would be the perfect
replacement for the Juventus veteran as he approaches the end of his Italy career.

Mar 12, 2014

EXCLUSIVE

Marco Verratti says he is "proud" to be considered Andrea Pirlo's heir apparent in the Italy side.

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The 21-year-old midfielder has regularly been compared to the Juventus veteran, who is approaching the end of his stellar career with the Azzurri ahead of the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

Verratti admits that he is honoured by the widely held perception that he would be the perfect replacement for 34-year-old Pirlo in Cesare Prandelli's side.

"The comparisons are definitely something that make me feel proud," the Azzurri starlet told Goal.

http://markting10.nl/

"Being compared to such a player like Pirlo, a guy who has won everything in his career, that's very important for me.

"I'm very happy to be compared to Andrea."

Verratti was heavily linked with the Bianconeri in the summer of 2012 before opting to join Paris Saint-Germain from Pescara, although rumours of a potential future switch to Juventus Stadium continue to circulate.

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However, Verratti says that he sees no reason to leave PSG, claiming that he is constantly improving in the French capital because he is able to train with world-class talents such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva on a daily basis.

"They're all great players and above all great men," he enthused. "They give me a great support to become a better footballer and a better person.

"When you train along with such great players, you just need to watch them to learn something new.

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo hints at imminent new Juventus contract

The veteran midfielder has moved to assure supporters there is "no possibility"
he will leave the club in the summer and will sign fresh terms at the earliest opportunity.

Mar 13, 2014

Juventus star Andrea Pirlo has insisted that he will put pen to paper on a new contract with the club in the very near future.

http://markting10.nl/

The veteran midfielder's current deal expires at the end of the season and he is yet to commit his future to the Bianconeri.

However, he has now revealed that there is been a delay over minor details and assured fans he will still be representing the club next term.

"I still haven't signed. There are little things we are talking about but there is no possibility that I'll go. The announcment will be there shortly," he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

http://markting10.nl/

"Things have been busy and we've not had the time to sort it out. We'll fix things once we have a minute, the fans can rest assured."

Pirlo also revealed that he and coach Antonio Conte have an excellent relationship, although he conceded tempers can flare when he is left out of the starting XI.

"The coach and I have always got along well. Sure, sometimes we argue - you'll never see a player leave the filed or sit on the bench with a smile on his face," he said.

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"But they are small things. He's one of the best I've had. He's a great coach and I was amazed by his tactical preparation, concentration and ability to stay focused.

"His desire to chase perfection is amazing. He transfers all that stuff into the team well."

[Socrates 8524]

‘No-one opposed Allegri on Pirlo’

Mar 18, 2014

Paolo Maldini’s strike out at Milan includes Adriano Galliani’s acceptance in 2011 to release Andrea Pirlo on Massimiliano Allegri’s say-so.

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Pirlo endured a difficult final season with the Rossoneri under Allegri’s tenure and was released at the end of his contract, with Juventus picking him up that summer.

With the Bianconeri benefiting from consistent form from the Italy international, Maldini’s attack on the Rossoneri’s leadership today has included the decision to release the No 21.

“Leo wanted me at all costs to become sporting director. Galliani said that I was someone the club had moved on from,” stated Maldini in part of his interview with the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

http://markting10.nl/

“It is not true. If you surround yourself with capable people then you can make fewer mistakes.

“The best example is Pirlo - if you have a Coach who says that Andrea as a player is finished and he is no longer needed, there must be someone in the club who replies ‘it’s not true, Pirlo is part of the tradition of this club and must remain’.

“So perhaps we would not have done a favour for Juventus…”

[Socrates 8524]

Europa League Player of the Week: Andrea Pirlo

The midfielder's goal was the difference as Juventus left
it fairly late to edge past Fiorentina and into the quarter-finals.

Mar 21, 2014

Juventus were on the precipice of a shock exit before Andrea Pirlo scored the vital winner for the second game in a row, saving them from a second embarrassing European elimination this season.

AMAZONIAN

Three months ago the Bianconeri stumbled out of the Champions League in Istanbul, losing 1-0 to Galatasaray. On Thursday, meanwhile, Juve very nearly bowed out of the Europa League in Florence.

Fiorentina held Antonio Conte's men to a 1-1 draw in Turin a week ago, giving them the upper hand heading into the second leg of their all-Italian last-16 clash.

With the game still scoreless, Vincenzo Montella's men still held the advantage on away goals after 71 minutes of play, but Pirlo changed all that with a trademark free kick.

AMAZONIAN

The Italy international, who scored the winner in the 1-0 weekend win over Genoa with just one minute left on the clock, curled the ball majestically into the top corner, leaving Viola goalkeeper Neto helpless to prevent the Scudetto holders from seizing a lead that they would not relinquish.

There have been questions about whether Pirlo will remain at the Juventus Stadium beyond this season, with his contract expiring in the summer and the likes of Paul Pogba rising through the ranks to potentially usurp his first-team spot.

AMAZONIAN

However, after the match, the 34-year-old confidently proclaimed: "I do not know if I will renew this month, but I know it will be with Juventus that I sign my next contract."

Should he stay true to his word, the Old Lady will continue to benefit from his vast experience and wonderful ability to get them out of tight spots.

[Socrates 8524]

Alessio: Pirlo the world's best free-kick taker

The Bianconeri assistant has lauded the midfielder's ability to find the net
from set pieces, while at the same time saluting his side's display at the Artemio Franchi.

Mar 21, 2014

Juventus assistant coach Angelo Alessio has hailed Andrea Pirlo as the best free-kick taker in the world in the wake of his winner in Thursday's 1-0 Europa League win over Fiorentina.

AMAZONIAN

The Italy international slammed home a stunning 71st-minute set piece to lead the Bianconeri to a 2-1 aggregate triumph over Fiorentina and seal their place in the last eight of the Europa League.

The 34-year-old playmaker had done the very same thing in a 1-0 Serie A success against Genoa last Sunday, leaving Alessio in awe of Pirlo's dead-ball talents.

"I think he is the best in the world at free-kicks and I also believe he can beat Sinisa Mihajlovic's record of goals from set-plays in Serie A (27)," the Bianconeri assistant told reporters.

AMAZONIAN

Alessio, who took Antonio Conte's place at the press conference due to the latter losing his voice during the match, then went on to voice his satisfaction with Juve's performance at the Artemio Franchi.

"We performed well from start to finish and are very pleased with the performance. This game was talked up a great deal," he mused.

"People say that the Europa League isn’t of great interest to us and we find that slightly irritating: we want to go all the way in every competition."

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: Tevez has proven himself an 'extraordinary' talent

The playmaker has saluted the Argentine for the way in which he has lived up to his reputation
as a world-class forward by storming to the top of Serie A's top goalscorers' chart.

Mar 28, 2014

Andrea Pirlo has paid tribute to Carlos Tevez for himself a player of "extraordinary capabilities" since joining Juventus last summer.

AMAZONIAN

AC Milan appeared the Italian side most likely to sign the Argentine from former club Manchester City but a proposed move to San Siro during the 2013 January transfer window collapsed because of the two parties' inability to agree a deal.

The Rossoneri's loss proved Juve's gain, as Tevez has enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in Italy following a €14 million move to Turin, having netted 18 times in 19 Serie A appearances.

“He’s a truly great player with extraordinary capabilities," Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia. "Everyone knew it already because he had won a lot in England, but as soon as he got here he showed his value.”

AMAZONIAN

Tevez's goals have put Juve within touching distance of a third successive Scudetto, with Antonio Conte's men currently 14 points clear of second-placed Roma.

Pirlo, though, is taking nothing for granted, particularly as Juve face a trick trip to the San Paolo on Sunday to face Napoli, who sit third in the standings.

“We’ve played a great season so far, but we haven’t won anything yet," the midfielder pointed out.

AMAZONIAN

"Napoli are a strong side, and out there on the field the points difference will count for nothing on Sunday."

Indeed, Pirlo insists that in spite of their advantageous position in the league, there will be no letting up in closing weeks of the season as Juve look to pull off a Serie A and Europa League double.

“I always play to win, always with the big objectives in mind," the Italy international declared. "This year it’s the Italian championship and the Europa League.

AMAZONIAN

“The formation and the style of play might have changed in these three years [at Juve], but the desire has always been a constant.”

Pirlo joined Juve on a free transfer in 2011, after a decade with AC Milan.

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: I'm happy to end my career at Juventus

The Italy international says he is happy at the Serie A champions and has pledged
his support to Cesare Prandelli after the Italy coach renewed his contract.

Mar 29, 2014

Juventus veteran Andrea Pirlo has suggested he would be happy to end his career with the Turin club.

AMAZONIAN

The 34-year-old, who has never played for a club outside of Italy, has said he had contemplated opportunities outside of his homeland in the past, but the playmaker was content with life at Juventus Stadium.

"In recent years I have assessed chances to have an experience abroad, but in the end I'm fine here," Pirlo told Sky Sport.

"I think this is the best place for me to continue playing football.

AMAZONIAN

"It's Conte's third year but the hunger to win is always the same. The formation and style of play has changed but our substance has remained the same.

"We have gained experiences and knowledge, things that have helped us to get the results we have.

"I always play to win, I always have big targets in mind.

AMAZONIAN

"We are out of the Champions League but now we need to concentrate on the Europa League.

"The more targets you have, the greater the will to win."

Juve face third-placed Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday, and are closing on a 30th Scudetto, and third in succession.

AMAZONIAN

Pirlo said their huge buffer on Rafael Benitez's men was irrelevant heading into the weekend's clash.

"We know where we want to get to. Napoli are a great team, the 20 point difference between the teams will count for nothing on the pitch.

"In the reverse fixture with Napoli we played very well. It was a huge game but we went out onto the pitch to win, like we always do."

AMAZONIAN

Pirlo's Italy are World Cup-bound in mid-year, and he said he was pleased his nation's FA showed faith in coach Cesare Prandelli by renewing his contract.

"Prandelli's renewal? We are happy, he has done very well and it was right to give his project continuity," he said.

[Socrates 8524]

Webb: Pirlo’s free-kick…

Mar 29, 2014

Howard Webb is grateful for his ovation at Fiorentina-Juventus, and for being able to witness first hand Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick.

AMAZONIAN

The Premier League match official and his team directed affairs in the second leg of the Serie A sides’ Europa League Last 16 clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last week.

Webb was well received by the crowd and was given an ovation by supporters before the kick-off.

“It was a fantastic evening, when I heard the ovation of the audience I did not realise it was for me.

AMAZONIAN

“I turned around to see if someone important had entered the field…” Webb has considered to the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport since.

“I enjoy these things - to be a referee is a passion, but without the co-operation of the palyers, fans and journalists, it becomes all the more difficult.

“It is important to understand the difficulties of a referee, we are humans and make mistakes.

AMAZONIAN

“Would I like to referee in Serie A? It’s a difficult League and therefore challenging, but it would be a good experience for me.”

The 42-year-old, who refereed in 2010 the World Cup Final and Champions League Final, was asked about the winning goal in that match, from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick.

“Pirlo’s free-kick was magnificent, we have the good fortune to be able to witness certain masterpieces live and to see the best players in the world. This was the case in Fiorentina-Juventus.”

AMAZONIAN

Webb was asked for a prediction for this summer’s World Cup clash between England and Italy.

“I don’t know, perhaps I will watch the game with my friend Rizzoli, a great referee, like his collegues - the Italian school is really of the highest level.”

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: Juve right for me

Mar 29, 2014

Juventus talisman Andrea Pirlo believes the Old Lady are the right club with which to continue his career.

AMAZONIAN

The 34-year-old revealed he has recently been offered chances to move abroad but turned them down to remain in Turin.

“In recent years I have assessed chances to have an experience abroad, but in the end I’m fine here,” Pirlo told Sky Sport.

“I think this is the best place for me to continue playing football.

AMAZONIAN

“It’s Conte’s third year but the hunger to win is always the same. The formation and style of play has changed but our substance has remained the same.

“We have gained experiences and knowledge, things that have helped us to get the results we have.

“I always play to win, I always have big targets in mind.

AMAZONIAN

“We are out of the Champions League but now we need to concentrate on the Europa League.

“The more targets you have, the greater the will to win."

The veteran midfielder then commented on his side’s opponents on Sunday, Napoli, and the renewal of Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli’s contract.

AMAZONIAN

“We know where we want to get to,” he said. “Napoli are a great team, the 20 point difference between the teams will count for nothing on the pitch.

“In the reverse fixture with Napoli we played very well. It was a huge game but we went out onto the pitch to win, like we always do.

“Prandelli’s renewal? We are happy, he has done very well and it was right to give his project continuity.”

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: 'I can play with Verratti'

Apr 5, 2014

Andrea Pirlo assures he is “compatible with Marco Verratti” for Italy, will renew his Juventus contract and left Milan on good terms.

The midfielder spoke to Radio Deejay and was asked whether Paris Saint-Germain starlet Verratti was an alternative or whether they could play together.

“I think we can play together, as he already does it very well in Paris with Thiago Motta, so I don’t see why he couldn’t do the same with me.”

Pirlo also denied suggestions some Italy veterans ruled they wouldn’t accept Antonio Cassano in the World Cup squad.

“I never gave a positive or negative opinion on any player. We’ve got a tough group in the World Cup, but certainly within our grasp.

"The renewal with Juventus is more or less done already, it's just an issue of getting together and finalising the details. This is the right place for me to continue.

“I think that I can play a few more years at this level. As long as I keep having fun and am in good shape, I will continue to play.”

Yet Milan thought he was done for when releasing him at the end of his contract, where he went on to win consecutive Scudetti at Juventus.

“I already replied a thousand times about this. We made the decision together, as I wanted a longer contract and the Rossoneri offered a one-year deal. We left on good terms.

“I often talk to Clarence Seedorf and the atmosphere is more relaxed now at Milan. I hope they can get back on track.”

Juve are in the Europa League quarter-finals and lead Lyon 1-0 from the first leg, but there are regrets about their campaign.

“We got the first games wrong in the Champions League and they cost us qualification. We would’ve had our say in the later rounds.

“Paul Pogba? I think he does better in a wider role than in front of the defence, because he can unleash all of his power there. He can improve so much and will certainly become one of the best in the world.”

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: I've not even thought about retirement

The Italy international recently signed a contract extension until the summer of 2016
but he says that he could easily play on for a few more years after that.

Apr 12, 2014

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo insists that he has not yet given "the slightest thought" to retirement.

The Italy international, who will turn 35 in May, signed a two-year contract extension with the Bianconeri in January.

It has been speculated that Pirlo will hang up his boots when his new deal expires in the summer of 2016 but he says that he intends to continue playing for as long as he feels sharp, both physically and mentally.

"I have not given even the slightest thought to the date of my retirement," Pirlo told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

"And I won't - not as long as I have this strength and this desire."

Pirlo admitted that he is currently motivated by the prospect of winning a league-and-cup double, with Antonio Conte's men currently eight points clear at the top of Serie A and set to face Benfica in the last four of the Europa League, the final of which will be staged at Juventus Stadium.

"We always wanted to go as far as possible in the Europa League, driven by the possibility of a final in Torino," the midfielder explained. "The cup is not a distraction. We want it as much as the Scudetto.

"At this point, though, every squad that remains in the Europa League is as strong as the other. They are all formidable opponents.

"But Benfica have done will to get here. They have had a great season and, technically, they are well equipped."

[Socrates 8524]

Balotelli could be crucial
to Italy World Cup bid, says Pirlo

The veteran midfielder believes every player will be a key part of the Azzurri's
campaign in Brazil but feels Balotelli could have a huge role this summer.

Apr 12, 2014

Andrea Pirlo believes Italy's bid to win the World Cup could depend on the form of AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli was an integral part of Italy's unbeaten qualifying campaign, scoring five goals, and the 23-year-old will be looked upon to help Italy through a tricky World Cup group featuring Uruguay, England and Costa Rica.

Experienced Juventus midfielder Pirlo feels the form of Balotelli could be crucial to Italy's success, but warned that the whole squad will have to be at their best.

"We know it's a difficult group, but I really like the atmosphere in Brazil," he said in an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

"Do we depend on Mario Balotelli? Partly yes, but we are all important to the cause. Mario is old enough now, so he doesn’t need advice any more.

"He just needs to focus on finding his form in the summer, concentrate on the football and leave the rest alone."

[Socrates 8524]

I am ready for the World Cup
states Juventus star

Apr 14, 2014

Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has suggested that he is ready for the World Cup and that Italy can go far in the competition.

The 34 year old veteran recently opened the scoring for the Bianconeri in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Lyon at the Juventus Stadium that saw his side beat the Les Gones 2-1 on the night.

Pirlo gave an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport addressing Italy’s squad for the World Cup and their chances at the grandest competition on the international stage.

“We are ready for the World Cup and we have it in us go far in the competition,” the midfielder stated.

“We know that we are placed in a difficult group but I think people are worrying too much. After the 2012 EURO we did really well in the Confederations Cup and also impressed in the World Cup qualifying group.

“We have struggled in friendlies but there was the need to take a breather with the new players settling in. I love the atmosphere in Brazil and I was treated well. I am proud to acknowledge the welcome I was given at the Maracanà.

“Does our team depend on Mario Balotelli? In a way, yes. But, we are all important to the cause.

“Mario is old enough now so he does not need advice any more. He just needs to focus on finding his form in the summer, concentrate on the football and leave the rest alone.”

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: I’ve never felt old

Apr 15, 2014

In an exclusive extract from his new autobiography, Andrea Pirlo takes us back to the day he left Milan, headed for Juventus.

The 34-year-old has chosen to begin his career retrospective, released in English today, where it all ended for him at Milan, after a decade with the Rossoneri.

A pen. Beautiful, granted, but still just a pen. A Cartier: shiny, a little bit heavier than a biro and emblazoned with the Milan club crest. But still just a pen.

The ink cartridge was blue. Plain old blue. I looked at the pen, spun it round in my hand like an infant examining its first soft toy. I studied the thing from a few different angles, seeking out hidden depths and meanings. Trying to understand. Trying so hard that I felt a headache coming on and a few drops of sweat slide down my face.

Finally, the flash of inspiration arrived. Mystery solved: it was, indeed, just a pen. No added extras. Its inventor had left it at that. Deliberately? Who knows.

Suddenly I heard a voice. “For goodness’ sake, don’t use it to sign for Juventus.”

Adriano Galliani had at least managed to come up with a decent line. As a leaving present, I’d have expected something a little more than his perfect comic timing. Ten years at Milan, finished, just like that. Still, I raised a smile, because I know how to laugh, loud and long.

As the club vice president and chief executive spoke, sat safely behind his desk, I had a look around. I knew his office like the back of my hand. It was a vault in the heart of Milan’s old administrative base on the Via Turati. I had happy memories of that room: other contracts, other pens. And yet I’d never noticed some of the photos on the walls, or had only done so distractedly. Those photos had a weighty history, but the prestige was subtly understated.

There was every type of photo on display. Memories of glory days and once-in-a-lifetime occasions. Trophies lifted into the air; clouds always being pushed just that little bit out of shot. My picture was being taken down from the frame, but not by force. Getting bored of Milan was a risk I didn’t want to run. That’s why at that last meeting I was sorry, but just the right amount. Galliani and Tullio Tinti, my agent, both felt the same way.

We said our goodbyes without regret. In the space of half an hour (probably not even that), I was out of there. When you’re in love, it’s time you need. When the feeling’s gone, having an excuse can help.

“Andrea, our coach Massimiliano Allegri reckons that if you stay, you won’t be able to play in front of the defence. He’s got a different role in mind for you. Still in midfield, but on the left.”

One small detail: I still thought I could give of my best playing in front of the defence. If the sea’s deep, a fish can breathe. If you put him just under the surface, he’ll get by, but it’s not quite the same thing.

“Even with you sitting on the bench or in the stand we’ve won the league. And you know, Andrea, the strategy’s changed this year. If you’re over 30, we’re only offering a year’s extension.”

Another small detail: I’ve never felt old, not even at that very moment. Only indirectly did I get the impression that people were trying to make out I was finished. Even now, I struggle to get my head round their reasoning.

“Thanks, but I really can’t accept. There’s a three-year deal on the table at Juventus.”

I Think Therefore I Play, by Andrea Pirlo, is out now in paperback and all electronic formats.

[Socrates 8524]

'I belonged to Real' - how Andrea Pirlo
agreed to join Madrid

This extract from Andrea Pirlo's autobiography, 'I think therefore I play',
looks at how the World Cup winner came close to signing for the Spanish giants.

Apr 15, 2014

BOOK EXTRACT
By Andrea Pirlo

It's the summer of 2006, we've just won the World Cup, and I'm thoroughly drunk on life. I go out and about on my bike in the quiet little streets of Forte dei Marmi and, as I pass by on the seafront, people stop and pat me on the back.

They must have thought that beating France in the final had fried my brain, but there was something they didn't know. They were missing a vital piece of the story, namely that as things stood, I belonged to Real Madrid, not Milan. I was a Madrid player in my head, my heart and my soul. I had a five-year contract sitting waiting, and a salary that was out of this world.

It seemed that certain people at Milan had got themselves into one too many scrapes – or at least that was the story doing the rounds. Calciopoli was the second most popular topic of conversation back then, a close second to Italy's penalty shootout triumph in Germany.

One day you'd read that we were going to be relegated to Serie B, the next that we were looking at a 15-point penalty. The next again they'd be talking about us handing back trophies and having our titles removed from the record books. After a while I began to suspect that it wasn't Mark David Chapman who killed John Lennon. It had been one of the Milan directors.

The whole thing was an absolute shambles. Nobody had a clue what was going on and what Milan's fate would actually be, least of all me. One thing I was sure of, though: I would never drop down to Serie B. And if I had to leave, I wouldn't feel like a traitor. There was no way I was going to pay for other people's sins, if that's what they turned out to be.

The Madrid coach Fabio Capello phoned. And then Franco Baldini, their director of football. Everyone wanted to speak to me. I had a word with my agent, Tullio Tinti, and asked him to find out what Milan were saying about it all.

Shortly after, I was due back at Milanello. To make the Champions League proper, we had to get through a qualifier against Red Star Belgrade. At that point Tullio said to me: "Hold off on going back. Let me speak to Real. If you really want a change of scene from Forte dei Marmi, head back to your house in Brescia. And keep your mobile on – in a little while you'll get a call."

No sooner had he said it than the phone started ringing. Nostradamus was a mere amateur compared to our Tullio.

"Hello Andrea, it's Fabio Capello here." Only one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport.

"Hello, coach. How are you?"

"I'm great, and I imagine you're even better. Come and join us. We've just signed Emerson from Juventus and you're the man to play beside him in midfield."

"Okay then."

He didn't need much time to convince me. Less than a minute, I reckon. Not least because I'd already seen the contract. My agent had studied it in great detail and then shot off to Madrid.

"Andrea, we're on."

"I'm really happy about that, Tullio."

I pictured myself in that white jersey. Pristine, and at the same time aggressive; a mean streak running through its unusual purity. My thoughts often wandered to the Santiago Bernabeu, the Temple, a ground that struck terror into opponents. Bruised and battered slaves at the king's banquet.

"What do we do now then, Tullio?"

"Let's go for lunch in a few days."

"Where? Meson Txistu in Plaza de Angel Carbajo?"

"No, Andrea; not Madrid. Milanello."

"What do you mean 'Milanello'? Are you stupid?"

"Nope, you heard right: Milanello. We haven't got Galliani's approval yet."

I was a Madrid player in my head, my heart and my soul. I had a five-year contract sitting waiting, and a salary that was out of this world"

The menu was always the same: I knew it off by heart. Antipasto, starter, main course and then the legendary ice cream with crunchy bits on top.

We met in the room used for team meals, halfway between the kitchens and the hall with the hearth where Berlusconi would pound away on the piano and tell various kinds of jokes.

Tullio spoke first. "Andrea's going to sign for Real."

Then me: "Yes…"

Then it was Galliani, staring straight at me. "Andrea, my friend, you're not going anywhere."

He pulled out a little case from under the table. That made me smile, thinking it had been just as well hidden as Monica Lewinsky under Bill Clinton's desk in the Oval Office.

A contract then appeared from the case, with Mr Biro (Galliani) adding, "You're not leaving, because you're going to sign this. It's for five years, and we've left the salary details blank so you can write in whatever you like."

Tullio just about ripped it out of my hands. "I'll keep hold of this."

He took his time, brought it home, read it and read it again. I went off to the national team training camp at Coverciano and, for a few days, I didn't hear anything. I thought it was a done deal: I was thinking in Spanish, dreaming in Spanish. My imagination was in overdrive, flying off to Madrid and landing somewhere between Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol.

And then my agent phoned me.

"Sign for Milan. Right now, they'll not let you leave."

"No…"

"Yes."

"Ok, fine."

You're then forced to tell the media a lot of crap; provided, of course, that they manage to ask you the right question. If they enquire whether it's right you'd practically signed for Madrid, you're duty-bound to respond hiding behind well-worn clichés and half-truths. You read a dull, lifeless script written by press officers with no talent or creative spark.

"No, that's not the case. I'm perfectly happy at Milan."

F*** off!

It's a pity it went the way it did. I'd have signed for Real in a heartbeat. They're a club with more glamour than Milan; more prospects, more appeal, more everything. They strike fear in their opponents, whoever they happen to be.

All that said, at the end of the season I had the consolation of winning the Champions League. It could have gone a lot worse.

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo to retire from internationals
after World Cup in Brazil

Apr 16, 2014

Juventus and Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo feels that once he retires he will not be taking up the role of a coach.

The Azzurri veteran will be 35 when he heads into his seventh and final major tournament for the national team as he has decided to hang his boots after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

In extracts from his new autobiography, he addressed his future plans also his penalty against England in the 2012 European Championships, as well as the loss against Liverpool in the 2005 UEFA Champions League that almost made him retire.

“After the World Cup in Brazil, I’ll retire from international football.”, said the Maestro during the interview

“I’ll be hanging up my heart. Until that day, nobody must dare ask me to stop, apart from Cesare Prandelli, should he have tactical reasons. I’ll be 35 by then, and it’ll be time to give someone else a go. Being part of a team that belongs to everyone makes me feel good.”

“A lot of the time, it’s better than sex: it lasts longer and if it falls flat, it can’t just be your fault. Take someone like Antonio Cassano, he says he’s slept with 700 women but he doesn’t get picked for Italy any more. Can he really be happy? I wouldn’t be.”

“That shirt, with its Smurf-like blue, gives you a whole new image across the world. It takes you to a higher level. Much better to be a soldier on the pitch than in the bedroom.

Pirlo also spoke about his plans once he retires as a player and what he hates the most as a professional footballer.

“No Coaching for me. I’ll get a life. I wouldn’t bet a cent on me becoming a manager. There are too many worries and the lifestyle is far too close to that of a player. In the future, I’d like to get back a semblance of a private life. ”

“One part of my job I’ll never learn to love is the pre-match warm-up. I hate it with every fibre of my being. It actually disgusts me. It’s nothing but masturbation for conditioning coaches.”

The veteran also disclosed his mentality before he stepped up to take the penalty against England in the last Euro.

“To be clear, I didn’t do a Francesco Totti against England at Euro 2012. Back at Euro 2000, against Netherlands, just before he went up to take his penalty Totti told captain Paolo Maldini that he was going to chip the keeper. I made my decision at the last second when I saw Joe Hart doing all sorts on his line. ”

Pirlo confessed that he had considered retirement after suffering a painful loss in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool

“I thought about quitting because, after Istanbul, nothing made sense any more. The 2005 Champions League final simply suffocated me I’ll never fully shake that sense of absolute impotence when destiny is at work.”

“How it happened I don’t know, but the fact remains that when the impossible becomes reality. Somebody messed it up – in this case, the entire team. A mass suicide where we all joined hands and jumped off the Bosphorus Bridge.”

“For that reason, I steer well clear of the DVD from the Liverpool game. I will never watch that match again. I have already played it once in person and many other times in my head, searching for an explanation that perhaps does not even exist.”

The Juventus regista spoke of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tactics of using Ji Sung Park to mark him when the two sides met in 2010.

“Even Sir Alex Ferguson, the purple-nosed manager who turned Manchester United into a fearsome battleship, could not resist the temptation. He’s a man without blemish, but he ruined that purity just for a moment when it came to me. A fleeting shabbiness came over the legend that night.”

“They’d programmed him to stop me. His devotion to the task was almost touching. Even though he was a famous player, he consented to being used as a guard dog.”

Pirlo also spoke of how close he was in snatching a move to Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea.

“It was August 2009 and I’d reached agreement with Chelsea, the club where Ancelotti had just come in as manager. Carlo was like a father and a teacher for me, a kind, friendly man who knew how to make things fun.”

“But, in the meantime, Silvio Berlusconi had pulled out a second piece of paper. Berlusconi blew my Chelsea move. AC Milan wanted too much cash, and they were also pushing for Branislav Ivanovic to be included in the deal.

Finally, the Mozart also spoke of the racism circling Mario Balotelli.

“Mario Balotelli is a special kind of medicine, an antidote to the potentially lethal poison of the racists you find in Italian grounds. They’re an horrendous bunch, a herd of frustrated individuals who’ve taken the worst of history and made it their own.”

“And they’re more than just a minority, despite what certain mealy-mouthed spin doctors would have you believe. Whenever I see Mario, I’ll give him a big smile. It’s my way of letting him know that I’m right behind him and he mustn’t give up. A gesture that means ‘Thank you’.”

[Socrates 8524]

The hilarious story of Rino Gattuso trying
to 'kill' Andrea Pirlo with a fork

This extract from Andrea Pirlo's autobiography, 'I think therefore I play',
details some of the hilarious pranks that the Italy star played on his former team-mate.

Apr 16, 2014

My face, with its fixed expression, doesn't let on what I'm thinking. But therein lies the beauty. I can make up the craziest stories, say the most ridiculous things to my team-mates and everyone thinks I'm being deadly serious. They don't realise what's happening and I have a whale of a time. I'll be smiling inside, but outwardly completely impassive as I plot my next joke. And sometimes it's cost me a slap, particularly when Rino Gattuso was around.

With him not being a man of letters, or a distinguished orator, whenever Rino opened his mouth the dressing room turned into the Rio Carnival. People would be blowing raspberries, making trumpet noises, doing the conga. Always the same reaction. We'd never let him finish before we started with the p*** taking.

I'd call him "te***ne" (a derogatory term for a southern Italian) and he'd hit me. To get my own back, I'd nick his phone and send a bunch of texts to Ariedo Braida, our general manager. This one time, Rino de Janeiro, like me, was waiting for his contract to be renewed. I did the negotiating on his behalf by means of a single message. "Dear Ariedo, if you give me what I want, you can have my sister."

Rino found out and gave me a beating before ringing up Braida. "It's just one of Pirlo's stupid jokes," he said. I've always wondered if the response was, "what a pity".

Before Italy games, Daniele De Rossi would hide under Rino's bed and wait. He'd be there for anything up to half an hour. Gattuso would come in, brush his teeth, stick on his leopard-print pyjamas, get into bed, take out a book and look at the pictures. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Daniele would reach up from under the bed and grab his sides, while I'd burst out of the wardrobe like the worst kind of lover, making horrendous noises. Rino took it really well, despite risking a massive heart attack. First he'd beat up Daniele and then he'd do the same to me. Just to prove he was even handed.

Another time we gave him a soaking with a fire extinguisher. A draw away to the Republic of Ireland had been enough to secure our qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and so the last group game, against Cyprus in Parma four days later, had become almost like a friendly. Pretty much meaningless, and that's exactly how we treated it.

Lippi gave us a night off in Florence, and almost all of us went out for dinner. Gattuso didn't – he stayed at the team hotel. When we got back, we were quite drunk, actually very drunk, and we ended up chatting in the lounge. We weren't tired, so we needed to find something to pass the time. Everyone had the same idea: "Let's go and p*** off Gattuso."

He was already asleep, with his little nightcap on his head. On the way up the stairs to Rino's room, De Rossi spotted a fire extinguisher. "I'm off to put out Gattuso," he said. We knocked on the door and out Rino came, screwing his eyes up as he advanced. Daniele started spraying, covering him in every last drop before running off to hide in his room.

He left me at the mercy of that monster in its underpants, absolutely dripping with foam and shouting total gibberish. Listening to him, though, I knew he was beginning to wake up and regain his senses. I tried to escape, but I was already done for. When the guy on your shoulder is Gattuso and he's out to do you harm, you can run as hard as you like, but he'll always catch you. Rino ran me through his full range of slaps.

Gattuso's also superstitious to a pretty disgusting degree. At the 2006 World Cup, because things were going well, he kept the same tracksuit on for more than a month. It was something like 40 degrees in Germany and he was going about dressed like a deep-sea diver. From round about the quarter-finals, he began to stink. Never mind a fire extinguisher – what he really needed was an industrial supply of lavender.

"Gattuso would grab a fork and try and stick it in us. Some of us ended up missing games because of Rino's fork attacks"

Rino's always been my favourite target, top of the table by some distance. This despite the fact that on several occasions he's tried to kill me with a fork. During meal times at Milanello, we'd invent all sorts to torment him and put him on the spot. When he got his verbs wrong (pretty much the whole time), we'd jump on him immediately. And then when he actually got them right, we'd make out that it was still wrong just to wind him up even more. Me, Ambrosini, Nesta, Inzaghi, Abbiati, Oddo: that was the group of bast***s right there.

"Rino, how are you?"

"Bad. We got beat yesterday. I was better if we won."

"Rino, try again. It's: 'I'd be better if we'd won.'"

“But it's the same thing."

"Not exactly, Rino."

"Fine then. I'd be better if we'd won."

"Rino, just how ignorant are you? 'I was better if we won.' That's how you say it."

"But that's what I said before."

"What, Rino?"

"That thing about winning."

"What thing, Rino? Can you repeat it?"

You could see the red mist coming down and he just wasn't able to hide it. We could tell what was coming and so we'd commandeer all the knives. Gattuso would grab a fork and try to stick it in us. On more than one occasion, he struck his intended target and the fork sank into our skin. We were as soft as tuna; the kind you can cut with a breadstick. Some of us ended up missing games because of one of Rino's fork attacks, even if the official explanation from the club was one of “muscle fatigue”.

We'd get out of his way when he got mad but once he'd calmed down and gone to his room, we'd come back out, pile up the sofas in front of the door and block his exit.

"Let me out – training starts in a while."

"Deal with it, te***ne."

He'd then go crazy again, smashing up everything in sight. But even when he was angry, he was one of the good guys.

Amongst other things, I've seen Rino catch and eat live snails for a bet. He really does belong in a film.

[Socrates 8524]

‘Gattuso will always catch you’

Apr 17, 2014

Andrea Pirlo has revealed that one of his favourite past-times between games was to pick on then Milan and Italy teammate Gennaro Gattuso.

Pirlo has just released his autobiography in English this week and in an exclusive extract, the creative midfielder recalls how his on-field relationship with Gattuso also included a lot of off-field teasing.

My face, with its fixed expression, doesn’t let on what I’m thinking. But therein lies the beauty. I can make up the most crazy stories, say the most ridiculous things to my team- mates and everyone thinks I’m being deadly serious. They don’t realise what’s happening and I have a whale of a time. I’ll be smiling inside, but outwardly completely impassive as I plot my next joke. And sometimes it’s cost me a slap, particularly when Rino Gattuso was around.

With him not being a man of letters, a distinguished orator or a member of the Accademia della Crusca, whenever Rino opened his mouth the dressing room turned into the Rio Carnival. People would be blowing raspberries, making trumpet noises, doing the conga. Always the same reaction. We’d never let him finish before we started taking the piss. It was the Maracana at Milanello (or Coverciano), and he’d be speaking Portuguese without even knowing. To be fair, it’s the same story with Italian where Rino is concerned.

I’d call him te***ne and he’d hit me. To get my own back, I’d nick his phone and send a bunch of texts to Ariedo Braida, our general manager. This one time, Rino de Janeiro, like me, was waiting for his contract to be renewed. I did the negotiating on his behalf by means of a single message. “Dear Ariedo, if you give me what I want, you can have my sister.”

Rino found out and gave me a beating before ringing up Braida. “It’s just one of Pirlo’s stupid jokes,” he said. I’ve always wondered if the response was, “what a pity”.

Before Italy games, De Rossi would hide under Rino’s bed and wait. He’d be there for anything up to half an hour. Gattuso would come in, brush his teeth, stick on his leopard- print pyjamas, get into bed, take out a book and look at the pictures. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Daniele would reach up from under the bed and grab his sides, while I’d burst out of the wardrobe like the worst kind of lover, making horrendous noises. Rino took it really well, despite risking a massive heart attack. First he’d beat up Daniele and then he’d do the same to me. Just to prove he was even handed.

Another time we gave him a soaking with a fire extinguisher. A draw away to the Republic of Ireland had been enough to secure our qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and so the last group game, against Cyprus in Parma four days later, had become almost like a friendly. Pretty much meaningless, and that’s exactly how we treated it. Lippi gave us a night off in Florence, and almost all of us went out for dinner. Gattuso didn’t – he stayed at the team hotel. When we got back, we were quite drunk, actually very drunk, and we ended up chatting in the lounge. We weren’t tired, so we needed to find something to pass the time. Everyone had the same idea: “Let’s go and piss off Gattuso.”

He was already asleep, with his little nightcap on his head. On the way up the stairs to Rino’s room, De Rossi spotted a fire extinguisher. “I’m off to put out Gattuso,” he said. We knocked on the door and out Rino came, screwing his eyes up as he advanced. Daniele started spraying, covering him in every last drop before running off to hide in his room (i.e. our room). He left me at the mercy of that monster in its underpants, absolutely dripping with foam and shouting total gibberish. Listening to him, though, I knew he was beginning to wake up and regain his senses. I tried to escape, but I was already done for. When the guy on your shoulder is Gattuso and he’s out to do you harm, you can run as hard as you like, but he’ll always catch you. You could be a gazelle or a lion – it makes absolutely no difference.

[Socrates 8524]

Andrea Pirlo reveals the secret
behind his free kick brilliance

This extract from Andrea Pirlo's autobiography, 'I think therefore I play', explains
the legendary midfielder's recipe for success when it comes to dead-ball situations.

Apr 17, 2014

I'm Italian, but I'm also part-Brazilian. Pirlinho, if you like. When I take my free-kicks, I think in Portuguese and at most I'll do the celebrating in my native tongue.

I strike those dead balls alla Pirlo. Each shot bears my name and they're all my children. They look like one another without being twins, even if they do boast the same South American roots. More precisely, they share a source of inspiration: Antonio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Junior, a midfielder who's gone down in history as Juninho Pernambucano.

During his time at Lyon, that man made the ball do some quite extraordinary things. He'd lay it on the ground, twist his body into a few strange shapes, take his run-up and score. He never got it wrong. Never. I checked out his stats and realised it couldn't just be chance. He was like an orchestra conductor who'd been assembled upside down, with the baton held by his feet instead of his hands. He'd give you the thumbs up by raising his big toe – somebody at Ikea was having a good laugh the day they put him together.

I studied him intently, collecting DVDs, even old photographs of games he'd played. And eventually I understood. It wasn't an immediate discovery; it took patience and perseverance. From the start, I could tell he struck the ball in an unusual way. I could see the "what" but not the "how". And so I went out onto the training pitch and tried to copy him, initially without much success. In the early days, the ball sailed a couple of metres over the crossbar, or three metres above the sky to borrow from the Italian film of the same name.

Much of the time it went right over the fence at Milanello and I'd end up lying to the fans gathered outside, pretending I'd done it deliberately. "Boys, I want to give you a present," I'd say, glossing over the fact that the session was behind closed doors and they shouldn't have been anywhere near it. As I was speaking to outlaws, I told myself that what I said was neither a sin nor a crime.

The misses went on for several days and by that time the bloke in charge of the kit store was getting somewhat peeved. For him, it was a case of too many lost balls becoming a ball ache as I persisted with my experiments. Days soon turned into weeks.

My own Eureka moment arrived when I was sat on the toilet. Hardly romantic, but there you go. The search for Juninho's secret had become an obsession for me, to the extent that it occupied my every waking thought. It was at the point of maximum exertion that the dam burst, in every sense of the term. The magic formula was all about how the ball was struck, not where: only three of Juninho's toes came into contact with the leather, not his whole foot as you might expect.

The next day I left the house really early, even electing to skip my usual classic PlayStation battle with [Alessandro] Nesta as I rushed to the training paddock. All I had on my feet was a pair of loafers – I didn't need proper boots to demonstrate what I was now convinced was the right theory.

The kit-store guy had already turned up for duty.

"Can you pass me a ball, please?" I asked.

"Get to f***," he said under his breath, almost hissing at me.

"What was that?" I replied.

"I said I saw a duck."

"Right you are. Go on, you fool, throw me over a ball."

Reluctantly, he chucked one across. Mentally, he was already preparing himself for a trip to the woods to recover it. Instead I stuck it right in the top corner, just where the post meets the crossbar.

A geometric gem. I placed the shot so perfectly that it would have gone in even with a keeper. Luckily for our goalies, none of them were around.

"Why don't you try doing that again, Andrea," came a provocative voice from behind. This was now a battle of two against one. Me on one side, the kit store guy and the ghost of Juninho Pernambucano firmly on the other.

"Okay then, spoilsport. Just you watch," I said.

"The ball needs to be struck from underneath using your first three toes. Keep your foot straight and then relax it in one fell swoop"

Up I stepped and unleashed a carbon copy of the previous free kick. It was a thing of absolute beauty, stylistically impeccable. I lined up another five strikes and it was the same story every time. By now it was official: I'd cracked it. The secret was no more.

In essence, the ball needs to be struck from underneath using your first three toes. You have to keep your foot as straight as possible and then relax it in one fell swoop. That way, the ball doesn't spin in the air, but does drop rapidly towards the goal. That's when it starts to rotate. And that, in a nutshell, is my maledetta.

When it comes off exactly as I want, there's no way of keeping it out. It's specifically designed to head over the wall before taking a direction that nobody can predict. For me, the best feeling in life is watching the ball fly into the net after it whizzes a couple of centimetres over the heads of the defenders. They can almost reach it, but not quite. They can read the maker's name, but they can't stop it going in. Sometimes a pinch of sadism is the ingredient that makes victory taste that little bit sweeter.

The further away from goal I am, the better. As the distance increases, so does the effect I can impart. The greater the space between me and the keeper, the quicker the ball tends to drop as it hones in on its target.

I can obviously mix things up a bit, throw in a few little tricks to make every free kick unique, but the underlying concept never changes. Scoring from a dead-ball brings me massive satisfaction. It sets me up as an example for other players to follow, copy and perhaps even emulate over the course of time. For them, I'm a Juninho Pernambucano 2.0, a Brazilian with a Brescia accent.

I've never told anyone, but my ambition is to become the leading all-time scorer of free kicks in Serie A.

[Socrates 8524]

Serie A stars add to tributes following death
of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova

Apr 27, 2014

Serie A joined the footballing world in mourning the premature death of former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova, with Juventus duo Fernando Llorente and Andrea Pirlo offering their condolences via social media.

His death at just 45-years-old was officially announced on Friday evening after the Spaniard had fought a relapse of the throat cancer that had caused him to resign as Barcelona coach at the end of the last campaign.

“You have been an example of a struggle for everyone, you will always be remembered Tito. Rest in peace,” countryman Llorente posted in Twitter.

Bianconeri midfielder Pirlo reiterated those feelings and expressed how such a tragic end can make people appreciate those around them.

“I cling to family and friends after the death of Mr Vilanova,” Pirlo announced on Twitter.

Despite a vital win over AC Milan to keep pressure on Juventus at the top of Serie A Roma captain Francesco Totti included his thoughts of Vilanova’s passing during his post-match interview.

“The whole day has given us joy, but also bitterness and sorrow for the death of Tito Vilanova,” Totti told Tuttomercatoweb.

“He left as a football man respected by many and I join the condolences expressed by athletes throughout the world.”

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo to sign two-year Juve deal

May 2, 2014

Andrea Pirlo will sign a two-year contract extension with Juventus, it has been reported on Friday.

The veteran midfielder’s current deal with the Bianconeri ends this summer, but several outlets, including Sport Mediaset, insist that the Italy international will put pen-to-paper on an extension.

It is suggested that the 34-year-old will continue with Antonio Conte’s men for a further two years, after negotiations between himself and the club were a success.

Pirlo has been virtually ever-present for the Turin giants this term, playing in 41 matches and scoring six goals.

With the former Milan man now confirmed, attention turns to Paul Pogba, who the club are desperate to keep despite heavy interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: 'I'm still having fun'

May 6, 2014

Andrea Pirlo joked he’s “too old for PSG,” will continue playing as long as he enjoys himself and hailed Paul Pogba and Marco Verratti.

The veteran Italy midfielder has now won four consecutive Scudetto titles, as he was in Milan’s squad before the three-year winning streak at Juve.

“My main motivation is just to play football, because it is something I adore,” 34-year-old Pirlo told French newspaper L’Equipe.

“I have fun on the field and really enjoy it. Fortunately, even today, every morning I arrive at the training ground or each time I arrive at the stadium for a match, I still feel pleasure. I do not feel tired or fed up, it’s fun.

“The day I no longer feel that sensation I will undoubtedly go and do something else instead.”

For all his success, including the 2006 World Cup with Italy, Pirlo has never tried the experience of a foreign League.

“It’s true, I would’ve liked to try that. I had several opportunities to do so in the past and they came around regularly. At the end of the day, I chose to remain in Italy.

“We’ll see in future, why not? PSG? No, I’m too old for PSG! I want to stay at Juventus for a few more years, as I am very happy here.

“As soon as I arrived, I realised the desire to do better. The club had an ambitious project that took us to this point.”

If Pirlo is too old for Paris Saint-Germain, then the club is targeting his Juventus teammate Pogba.

“He will become a great champion. He just needs a little more time to grow and reach that pantheon.

“As for Marco Verratti, he plays with a different style to me. He is very good at short passing. Everyone has to make the best of their qualities. He has a lot of talent and is still so young, but he already plays in the Champions League for an ambitious club like PSG. The future belongs to him.”

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: I'm too old to join PSG

The 34-year-old insists he wants to spend a few more years with Juventus
and insists he doesn't think he will retire any time soon.

May 6, 2014

Andrea Pirlo has dismissed rumours linking him to a move to Paris Saint-Germain, jokingly insisting he is "too old" to join the Ligue 1 champions.

The Juventus star has been the subject of foreign interest several times in his career, as he revealed in his autobiography that he almost joined Barcelona and Real Madrid, and he was most recently among a list of players PSG player Thiago Motta said he would like to see join the French giants in the summer.

However, the 34-year-old insisted he hopes to spend a few more years with the Bianconeri, despite admitting that the idea of playing outside of Italy is appealing.

"It is true that I would like to try to play in another league," he told L'Equipe. "I had several opportunities in the past and I get proposals regularly.

"At the end of the day, I always end up choosing to stay in Italy. We'll see what happens in the future, but I'm too old for PSG.

"I want to stay at Juventus for a few more years, I am happy here. It is a club with an ambitious project that has led to where we are now."

The midfielder, who won a third consecutive Serie A title with Juventus at the weekend, says he does not intend to retire any time soon.

"I feel motivated to play football because it's something I love. I still feel pleasure in playing - I'm not tired or bored, it's fun."

[Socrates 8524]

Pirlo: 'Italy ready for World Cup'

May 10, 2014

Andrea Pirlo is confident Italy “are ready for the World Cup,” and Mario Balotelli “will be important, just like the others.”

The Juventus midfielder spoke to giornalaccio rosa TV about the upcoming tournament in Brazil, which will likely be his last for the Azzurri.

“The team grew well, had a good Confederations Cup and comfortable qualification, so I think we are ready for the important adventure that is the World Cup.

“It is going to be a tough group, but we have everything it takes to get through the round.

“My favourites for the trophy are Brazil, as they are the hosts, Spain, Germany and Argentina, but there are many contenders.”

Italy will face England, Costa Rica and Uruguay in Group D next month.

Pirlo was also asked whether Balotelli will be the decisive figure in Italy’s tournament and if he had any advice for the Milan striker.

“No, I have no suggestions, as he is big enough to take care of himself. The important thing is that he reaches the tournament in good shape, then he’ll be important to the squad, just like the others.”

Pirlo has become an icon of Italian football all over the world and was greeted with excitement by the crowd at a recent friendly in Spain.

“It is pleasing to be known abroad, especially by children, as that means I’ve done some good work over the years. It also happened in Brazil at the Maracanà.

“I still want to play football and I still have fun, so as long as I have that hunger I’ll continue to play.”

[Socrates 8524]

Europa League Team of the Season:
Pirlo, Rakitic and Luisao all feature

Four of Sevilla's final heroes are named alongside the tournament's
other top performers, including Paco Alcacer and Yann Sommer.

May 15, 2014

Sevilla clinched the Europa League in dramatic style on Thursday as they condemned Benfica to a second successive final loss after a penalty shootout victory.

The Spaniards' third trophy in nine years in the tournament brought a thrilling end to a superb competition in the 2013-14 season, and the very best performers throughout the campaign are rewarded with a place in our Team of the Season.

There is little doubt that Basel's Yann Sommer has been the outstanding keeper in the Europa League this season and the Borussia Monchengladbach-bound man is rewarded with the No.1 position in our selection.

In front of Sommer is a back four, beginning with Alberto Moreno at left-back - the Spain youngster was superb at both ends of the pitch en route to lifting the trophy. At centre-back, Luisao - immense throughout the campaign for Benfica - partners Valencia stopper Jeremy Mathieu, who deserved a chance of competing in the final following his form during the tournament. Our defence is completed by Maxi Pereira, who has excelled on Benfica's right-hand side this season.

Our three-man midfield is anchored by Stephane Mbia. The Cameroon international was the driving force behind Sevilla's grloious campaign, scoring the dramatic late goal to send them to the final before running himself into the ground for the cause in Turin. Alongside him is team-mate Ivan Rakitic, the tournament's best player this season, whose creativity and guile in midfield carried Unai Emery's men to the trophy. Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo completes the trio after inspiring his own side to the semi-finals with consistently strong passing displays and set-pieces.

In attack, tournament top-scorer Jonatan Soriano earns a place, with only Basel's Sommer doing enough to stifle the eight-goal Spaniard. Next to Soriano is Paco Alcacer, who scored seven goals before picking up a harsh suspension which kept him out of the semi-final second leg, and Kevin Gameiro, who - despite often being used as a substitute - fired Sevilla to glory with five goals and the crucial penalty in the final shootout.