A perfect storm is brewing that could see the bearded wonder, Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, finally play in the Premier League with Tottenham on high-alert.
The rumors are swirling after Tuesday’s resignation of Antonio Conte, the mastermind who guided Juventus to three straight Serie A titles by utilizing Pirlo as the fulcrum of his midfield.
Following Conte’s resignation, Juventus immediately appointed Massimiliano Allegri, the former AC Milan manager who, coincidentally, was the man responsible for ousting Pirlo from the Rossoneri after 10 years of service.
The 35-year-old details how it all went down back in 2011 in his autobiography, ‘I Think Therefore I Play':“Andrea, our coach Massimiliano Allegri reckons that if you stay, you won’t be able to play in front of the defence. He’s got a different role in mind for you. Still in midfield, but on the left.”
One small detail: I still thought I could give of my best playing in front of the defence. If the sea’s deep, a fish can breathe. If you put him just under the surface, he’ll get by, but it’s not quite the same thing.
“Even with you sitting on the bench or in the stand we’ve won the league. And you know, Andrea, the strategy’s changed this year. If you’re over 30, we’re only offering a year’s extension.”
Another small detail: I’ve never felt old, not even at that very moment. Only indirectly did I get the impression that people were trying to make out I was finished. Even now, I struggle to get my head round their reasoning.
“Thanks, but I really can’t accept. There’s a three-year deal on the table at Juventus.”
It was a polite ‘no’ for Milan, without money even entering the conversation that spring afternoon in 2011. Not once in those 30 minutes was it ever mentioned. I wanted to be thought of as important, a key player in the club’s plans, not someone about to be thrown on the scrapheap....
And so, Pirlo left Milan for Juventus, only to become an arguably better player and in the same position to boot. He flourished so much under Conte, in fact, that he signed a new two-year deal with the club this past June. But with the recent managerial events and Juventus rumored to be struggling financially to hold on to their best players and recruit others to boost the squad, a fire sale looked a strong possibility.
Most pegged Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba as the most likely to leave with Manchester United leading the chase to buy the Chilean and Chelsea taking the Frenchman. Surely losing those players would only add to Pirlo’s misery but that possibility was diminished earlier today when Juve announced it would not be selling Vidal.
[Related: Vidal to remain at Juventus]
Given Tottenham’s previous interest in the timeless Italian, however, there remains a strong possibility the club offers Pirlo an out from having to revisit a potentially toxic situation with Allegri. For Spurs, Pirlo would provide something the North London side has desperately lacked since the sale of Luka Modric to Real Madrid: a midfield anchor who can create.
He may not have the motor to sustain the full 90 minutes of high pressure that new Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochetino has become so famous for but there’s little doubt that, if paired with the likes of Christian Eriksen or Moussa Dembele, Pirlo could pick apart the opposition.
But for now we simply do what we always do: follow the beard.