Alessandro Del Piero confirmed the worst kept secret in Australian soccer on Thursday when the former Italy and Juventus great said he would be staying for a second year at Sydney FC.
Signed last September in the most lucrative deal in Australian sport, the 38-year-old striker has had the impact both on and off the field that the A-League club banked US$2.06 million a year on.
Despite reported interest from clubs in Brazil and the United States, Del Piero said there had never been any real doubt that he would stay on.
“I am very happy to be staying at Sydney FC for another season,” he said.
“I have always said I want to continue that for next season but first we must work hard for success on the field for the rest of this season.”
Del Piero’s 11 goals in 18 games have just been the icing on the cake for Sydney FC as the quality of the World Cup winner’s performances have helped haul the club from a miserable start to the season and into the playoff hunt.