Del Piero will stay in Sydney, club clarifies
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Sydney FC manager Frank Farina reiterated his belief that former Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero remained committed to the cause of the Australian A-League club amid intense rumours surrounding his future.
Earlier this week, it was reported that the 39-year-old Italian might not decide to extend his contract, which would expire in June, with the Australian club.
That left the veteran’s immediate future in doubt, with the striker being linked with a lucrative move to Thai club PTT Rayong.
With his side still in contention for a berth in the post-season play-offs, Farina believed the former Juventus captain and World Cup winner was not interested in going anywhere.
“I think the Thai club was most probably an older one that’s been dragged back up again, but Alessandro’s focus is here.
“We’re in a situation where we’re still very much in the fight and close to everything so his focus is on Sydney FC at the moment
“I’m not worried at the moment and I hope there’s no need to [be],” Farina said in a quote carried by ABC News website.
Meanwhile, Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said he would sit down with Del Piero, who has won seven Serie A titles and Champions League crown in 1996 during 19 seasons spent at Juventus, to discuss his future before the end of the January transfer window.
Barlow insisted that as long as the Italian was contracted to his club he would not be going anywhere.
“I’ve seen a couple of reports and I only know what I’ve read from those but Alessandro is contracted with us until the end of the season, not beyond,” Barlow told Fairfax Media.
“I’m due to sit down with Alessandro over the coming fortnight and begin a discussion about his future with him – as we always agreed we would – before the end of January.”
The Sydney boss, though, kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether he wanted to keep the Italian at his club next season.
“That’s a discussion for me to have with Alessandro first, certainly before we discuss our position publicly. We’ve been consistent that we’d have a conversation in January about the future and that’s certainly still our plan.”
