Pirlo says he's committed to AC Milan

Posted Friday, May 13, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

MILAN (AP)—AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo has echoed Clarence Seedorf’s sentiments to become the second player in two days to declare his desire to remain with the newly crowned Italian champion.

The 2006 World Cup winner has been strongly linked with a move to Juventus when his contract runs out at the end of the season, with some reports claiming a deal has already been agreed.

“It’s not true about Juventus. If I had already signed with Juventus then why would I need to talk to Milan,” Pirlo told Friday’s Corriere dello Sera. “I’d spend another 10 years here at Milan.”

On Thursday, Seedorf hit out at the club’s hierarchy for not having offered him a new contract. Massimo Ambrosini and Alessandro Nesta are also waiting to hear if their contracts will be extended when they run out at the end of June.

“I’ll be speaking with Milan vice president Adriano Galliani in the coming days and then we’ll make a decision,” Pirlo said. “However, both parties have to agree. If there are the right conditions in place and if they are happy then I would be happy to stay.”

Much of Milan’s success in recent years has been built on elongating its older players’ careers, but now many fans feel that at over 30 years of age, the senior players should be shown the exit.

Pirlo missed four months through injury this season, Nesta missed three and Ambrosini two.

“It’s now the time for the club to let us know of their intentions,” Pirlo said. “Everyone is free to make their own decision. If there is no more room for the old guard then that’s no problem.

“But I still feel young, I feel as if I can play at the highest level for another three or four years. That’s why a one-year contract makes no sense.”