March 11, 1998
La Stampa

It has been exactly 4 months since Alessandro Del Piero's injury and Juve will ironically meet Udinese this Saturday.

Del Piero is doing training by himself with physiotherapist Aldo Esposito checking his progress. Del Piero works out in the gym inside Stadio Comunale in the morning and goes to the Ronchi Verdi Country Club in the afternoon for sessions of swimming, conveyor belt, exercise bycicle, and bycicle. Around Easter, Alex will begin exercise with the ball and light running. Doctors expect him to be fully fit for July, although Del Piero wants to be in Barcelona May 26th for the Champions League final, if Juve makes it that far.

Though we haven't seen much of Alex on the field, he was almost everywhere in social events, such the MTV Video Music Awards in Milan, the Miss Italia Pageant, the Italian Music Festival in San Remo, the Skiing World Championships in Vail, and at the opening of the new Adidas store in Milan.

Meanwhile, Del Piero's agent, Claudio Pasqualin, says that his client's contract will be signed between April and May.

Here's a recap of Del Piero's odyssey:

NOVEMBER 8TH, 1998: Breaks ligaments on left knee in match against Udinese.

NOVEMBER 21ST, 1998: Goes to Vail for visit at the Valley Medical Center.

NOVEMBER 25TH, 1998: Dr. Richard Steadman performs surgery on Del Piero's knee. Meanwhile, Alex watches the whole procedure on a monitor.

DECEMBER 10TH, 1998: While returning to Italy on a plane, learns that
Juventus has proceeded to the Champions League quarterfinals.

FEBRUARY 7TH, 1999: Goes back to Vail for a check-up, meets Deborah Compagnoni at the Skiing World Championships. Marcello Lippi leaves Juve.

FEBRUARY 13TH, 1999: Returns to Italy after Dr. Steadman tells him that he will be fully fit in 3 to 4 months.
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