Juve right to sell Zidane, says Del Piero

July 17, 2001
Onefootball

Juventus forward Alessandro Del Piero believes the club were right to let Zinedine Zidane leave, but insists that he would never turn his back the Turin giants.

Juventus have been heavily criticised for allowing Zidane to join Real Madrid, but Del Piero insists that if a player is unhappy, there is no point in the club trying to keep him.

"I admit I was surprised he (Zidane) left," said the Italy star. "But he walked out without causing any arguments and without angering anybody. There was a general feeling that he had parted on good terms, which is important.

"There's no point in trying to keep a player that wants to leave. If someone doesn't feel good about a place, a piece of paper won't make any difference," he insisted.

Meanwhile, the diminutive forward insists he would never consider leaving the Stadio Delle Alpi. "Between me and Juve, everything is clear. I have never asked to leave and I want to stay here for the rest of my life," claimed Del Piero.

Now the Juve star has set his sights on challenging for the Scudetto next season. "From a personal point of view, I think I have to score more goals. The team needs me to do that," he reasoned.

"I don't know if we're the best team in Italy, but I know that we have assembled the best group of players possible. I certainly didn't expect to see Gianluigi Buffon here.

"I think that without Zidane we will have to change the way we play a bit. That's what Mr Lippi said yesterday. I have known Lippi for some time and I know that he has good ideas," he added.
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