Del Piero and Juve have new deal to celebrate

June 17, 1999
ATL World Soccer News

Juventus hope to end a year of speculation next week with the confirmation of a new contract for Alessandro Del Piero.

The star striker has been linked with moves to Atletico Madrid and SS Lazio as he went into dispute with the Turin giants about his wages and the end of his contract next summer. The end of his contract would have made Del Piero a free agent from the end of this year and Juventus were desperate to hang onto their major star of the 1990s.

Del Piero - recovering from a serious knee injury with summer training - is set to sign a new deal which will instantly double his wages. A £7 million basic wage has been agreed rising to £9 million a season by the end of the contract in 2003-04.

The Italian international is also the figurehead for Juventus' worldwide global marketing campaign and has several high profile sponsorship deals. All his major sponsors were keen for the 24 year old to stay with Juve.
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