Del Piero in contract talks with Juventus

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero is set to meet with general manager Beppe Marotta on Monday to discuss extending his contract.

The 36 year old, who has made more than 650 appearances for Juve, is out of contract this summer, but Marotta has dismissed suggestions that he will not be offered a new deal.

“The door for the renewal is always open. We hope to get there as soon as possible and keep going with him,” said Marotta.

Del Piero has been at the forefront of Juve’s turbulent recent history, winning Serie A on five occasions, as well as the Champions League in 1995-96.

He also suffered through Italian football’s darkest moment, when Juventus were stripped of two Serie A titles and relegated to Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal.

Yet despite the acrimonious revelations, and the subsequent mass exodus of the Turin-based club’s top players, Del Piero remained a loyal servant to the club and led them to an immediate return to Italy’s top flight.

He has continued to impress observers this season, making 34 appearances and scoring seven goals (281 in total).

And it now appears likely that he will lead out the Old Lady in their new stadium next season, with Marotta enthusing about the prospect of seeing his club’s captain play at a ground whose future has not always been certain.

“We’d like Alessandro to tread on the pitch at the new stadium where we will definitely play next season.”

“It will be Juventus’ home, bringing security and hospitality. It’s a fundamental asset in which we have invested a lot. It will bear fruit in the future, bringing in revenue streams which are unthinkable now.” “I am talking about tens of millions of euros and of course the club will dedicate an important slice of these monies to investments in new players.”