Del Piero snubbed Liverpool move overHeysel

[KingDing]

Liverpool reportedly made a late offer to sign Del Piero last month after Sydney made their initial attempt to sign the Italian legend.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers was in the market for attacking reinforcements after failing to bring in a replacement for Andy Carroll during the transfer window.
However, Del Piero, who was available on a free transfer after leaving Juventus, revealed he rejected overtures from Liverpool out of respect for the Heysel tragedy.
"Why I said no to Liverpool? Negotiations with Sydney were already advanced and then I thought about what had happened at Heysel," Del Piero told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Juve and Liverpool were able to rebuild the relationship, but for many people that tragedy is an indelible memory. I thank all the clubs which wanted me, but I'm convinced of my choice.
Del Piero is settling into life in Australia, but he admits his departure from Juventus still wrangles with him after 19 years with the Turin giants.
"One month is not much to make judgments, but the beginning is comforting from every point of view," added Del Piero.
"The farewell to Juve still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. One year and a half ago I would not have imagined that this would happen, then things change. I still have the great satisfaction of having given everything I could for Juventus".

 

[keniget]

That's fair enough I guess - he's trying to be respectful. He will always be a Juve legend.

He could have chosen to approach it from another angle and used a move to try and unite the clubs. Not sure how that would've gone down with sections of the Juve fans.

 

[gkmacca]

I'm not sure why he has to pipe up about it at all now. LFC went on record in the Echo denying they'd been in for him at all, so it's all a bit embarrassing. If Del Piero wants to chat about the past maybe he ought to say what he thinks about his former club's disgraceful record for corruption and violence instead of stoking up emotions about Heysel.

 

[mark1975]

He said this months ago.

 

[Rael]

it's all a bit embarrassing.

For us or him?

 

[LeTallecWiz]

He said this months ago.

I thought so too - odd why it's up now.

Tbh - I don't have a problem with the reasons ...

 

[Judge Jules]

I'm not sure why he has to pipe up about it at all now. LFC went on record in the Echo denying they'd been in for him at all, so it's all a bit embarrassing. If Del Piero wants to chat about the past maybe he ought to say what he thinks about his former club's disgraceful record for corruption and violence instead of stoking up emotions about Heysel.

I wonder if the clue to Del Piero's motivation lies in those words "but for many people that tragedy is an indelible memory". Sounds to me like he's one of them. Given that opposing fans have already been singing "What a waste of money" at him (in the A-League FFS) I reckon we dodged a bullet here.

 

[Red Astaire]

Really? I would have loved to see Del Piero play for us. A class act. Oh well.

 

[Judge Jules]

So would I at the time. It would seem we'd both have been wrong.

 

[mark1975]

I think the idea was always better than the reality.

But it WAS Del Piero though.

 

[Red Astaire]

It seems the pull of playing in a third full stadium of 11,000 seemed too much to resist.

 

[mark1975]

Yep. Wonga.com.

 

[Roopy]

I wonder if the clue to Del Piero's motivation lies in those words "but for many people that tragedy is an indelible memory". Sounds to me like he's one of them. Given that opposing fans have already been singing "What a waste of money" at him (in the A-League FFS) I reckon we dodged a bullet here.

HAHA they are taking the piss.

The season is only 1 week in.

 

[Red Astaire]

Roopy are you following Sydney in the Far Flung Land thread?

 

[gkmacca]

I definitely wanted him here. Even if he's a shadow of his former self he'd still improve the squad!

 

[Judge Jules]

HAHA they are taking the piss.

The season is only 1 week in.

They'd look pretty damn silly if they did it while he was having a stormer, which suggests to me that he wasn't.

Fair point about the season still being in its early stages though. Let's see how it pans out.

 

[Roopy]

They'd look pretty damn silly if they did it while he was having a stormer, which suggests to me that he wasn't.

Fair point about the season still being in its early stages though. Let's see how it pans out.

The opposition fans are gonna have to sing something ... it's just banter.

Anyways, Sydney FC were absolutely woeful - they got a great player in ADP, who look decent when he was able to get on the ball ... but their squad is not very good at all, a lot will rest on his shoulders.

They will struggle to make the finals, and there's no way they will win the competition.

 

[Spionkop69]

For us or him?

You love to see other people's opinions before giving yours don't you.

 

[red_maradona]

Seeing where he comes from his attitude is understandable. Altghough as Keni says his gesture could have united us,

 

[Ryan]

This Is Anfield ‏@thisisanfield
Rodgers: "Nobody at Liverpool spoke to the player or his representatives at any stage about the possibility of him joining the club."
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1h​

This Is Anfield ‏@thisisanfield
Rodgers: "No attempt was made to sign Alessandro Del Piero."
Retweeted by Jim Boardman
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