Del Piero to QPR Dream/Fantasy Over

-
Juventus extend Del Piero's contract to 2010
ROME, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Juventus have extended captain Alessandro Del Piero's contract by two years until 2010, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday.
"Today we have achieved an important result for the future of Juventus," chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc told the club's Web site (www.juventus.com).
"The agreement with Del Piero confirms our ambition and our faith in the absolute value of a player who will continue to put his experience at the service of the team and millions of fans."
The new deal with the Turin club comes after lengthy negotiations. At one stage, the club's sporting director Alessio Secco said Juventus risked losing their all-time top scorer.
It rewards the striker, whose contract was due to expire at the end of this season, for sticking with Juve when they were relegated to Serie B last year because of a match-fixing scandal and helping them bounce straight back to the top flight.
"Today I made a key choice for my career and my life," Del Piero said. "Juventus have given me a lot and I want to continue to win here".
Del Piero made his Serie A debut with Juventus aged 18 in 1993 after joining the club from Padova.
Since then he has won five Italian titles and the Champions League with the team.
The forward, who turns 33 next month, was a member of Italy's World Cup-winning squad and has scored 27 international goals.
But he is not the player he once was and was dropped by Azzurri coach Roberto Donadoni after a lacklustre performance in the goalless Euro 2008 qualifying draw against France last month. Reuters

Goal.com - OFFICIAL: Del Piero Signs New Contract
It is the moment most Juventus fans have been praying for - Alessandro Del Piero has put pen to paper on a new contract with the club.
The Golden Boy has signed a new deal until June 30, 2010 and finally put to an end months of fractious negotiations with the Turin-giants.
Del Piero's brother and agent Stefano had been engaged in day-long talks with Bianconeri officials and as goal.com predicted earlier, the deal was completed by the end of the day.
“This was a decisive choice for my career and my life,” enthused Del Piero. “Juventus have given me a lot and I want to continue winning here.
“I am relaxed and confident, because I share the project that I am sure will enable us to give our fans some wonderful moments,”
The exact terms of the contract have not been revealed but a Juventus press release hinted that Del Piero had accepted a 20 per cent wage cut, which will go to 25 per cent in 2009/10. This loss in earnings is likely to be made up though through image rights.
"The agreement underwritten gives an economic recognition to a world class player, but also allows us to further develop the image potential of the captain in sectors and countries that are still unexplored, thanks to the full collaboration of the Juventus commercial structure,” Juventus announced.
The news of Del Piero's contract renewal is sure to delight the mass of Juventus fans throughout the world. The 32-year-old is a club symbol, having played in Turin for 14 years, making over 500 appearances and becoming the all-time record goalscorer. Goal.com

Italia Channel 4 - Blanc hails Alex extension Wednesday 17 October, 2007
Juventus director general Jean-Claude Blanc has spoken of his delight at Alessandro Del Piero’s decision to commit his future to the Bianconeri.
After 14 years with the Old Lady, relations soured during tense contract talks and it had been feared that Alex may even quit Turin.
However, the Juve captain agreed to extend his contract until 2010 last night with reports suggesting that he has accepted a 20 per cent pay cut.
“It is an important result for the future of Juventus,” Blanc beamed after the announcement late last night.
“The agreement with Del Piero proves our ambition and our trust in a player of such great value who will continue to give his experience to help the squad and its millions of fans.
“He is a world champion, a model professional and a top-class player who will continue to write new chapters in the club’s history.”
The agreement will also shut down the rumour mill, which had been working overtime since Del Piero’s future came into question.
Despite his obvious love for Juve, the 32-year-old had been linked with Milan, Palermo, Brescia and even Queens Park Rangers in recent weeks. Channel 4

See: Mirror October 10: "Del boy deal a stunner for QPR - EXCLUSIVE"
"Qpr's new boss Francesco Guidolin has been given a £20million transfer war chest - and will launch an audacious bid to bring Alessandro Del Piero to Shepherd's Bush. Juventus legend Del Piero, 33 next month, is expected to leave the Serie A giants after not being offered a new deal and has already been made an offer by MLS club New York Red Bulls. But QPR's new owner Flavio Briatore, the Formula One tycoon, wants to see whether he can lure Del Piero (above) to Loftus Road in one of the most unlikely transfers ever seen in English football... "Mirror"

Also: October 13 - Antonio Caliendo on Del Piero