Del Piero unsurprised by Juventus exit

Posted Saturday, July 28, 2012 by Goal.com

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has admitted that he was not caught off-guard by the club's decision not to renew his contract at the end of last season.

The 37-year-old forward is currently on the lookout for a new club after the Bianconeri opted against handing him a new contract in June.

That spelled the end of Del Piero's 19-year-old stint at Juventus, but he has now revealed that he was not shocked that the club did not want him to stay.

"I would lie if I said I expected Juventus to renew my contract," he told CNN. "I never wondered why they did not extend it.

"I gave everything to the club, the fans and the team. I am extremely happy with my journey there. Now, I have to follow my destiny, and my destiny is not here, in Italy.

"The United States is an option, it is a fantastic country. I would love to be there and have a lot of fun, but I still have not found a deal with anyone."

During his time at Juventus, Del Piero helped the club to win six Serie A crowns, one Champions League and one Uefa Super Cup, among other trophies, but he noted that the pinnacle of his career was to lift the World Cup in 2006.

"I cannot hide that my greatest victory was the World Cup," he added. "Since you are a kid, you think: 'I want to win that'. It was massive."

But shortly after the conclusion of tournament in Germany, Del Piero and the rest of the Bianconeri squad were stunned by the Italian FA's decision to strip the club of two Scudetti and to send them to Serie B.

"Even before the relegation was confirmed, I said: 'Guys, if you need me, I am here'," Del Piero recalls.

"I never thought about leaving, even if I had just won the World Cup and because of my status."

Del Piero was able to leave Juventus on a high, having helped the club to win their first Serie A title since 2003 following an unbeaten campaign from Antonio Conte's men.

"We were really motivated, everyone was in it together," the former Italy international said. "There was a lot of quality in the team and it also helped that we did not play in Europe.

"And the new stadium also gave us a lift."