Alessandro del Piero and Juventus: An everlasting relationship that will never end

Even with Zidane in the team, Juventus failed to even make it to the Champions League when Alex was out for 10 long months. Players came, footballers were made, many of them left, but there was only one who stuck around for this long. During the Calciopoli, ‘abandon the sinking ship’, they said to the captain, who had paradise on one hand by winning the World Cup and hell on the other at the sight of playing for the Black and White in Serie B. He stayed. The captain sunk with the ship that helped him get through the worst of storms, the rough waves in the past. The captain replied when asked the reason for staying:

“A true gentleman never leaves his lady.”

Such is the greatness of the man who was going to lead the team back into the league a year later. Since then, he has broken many records, created many in his name, put Amauri’s name on the assists chart when he single-handedly beat Real Madrid in Europe’s elite competition on two consecutive occasions. He would lead the team to winning the Scudetto, a few years later.

What makes him so unique? He can take a gunshot for the team, which is evident in the way he has sacrificed his place on numerous occasions in the starting line up for the likes of Ibrahimovic, Amauri and Borriello when asked to do so. He stuck by a team that was demoted to the Serie B, finished seventh in the league on two continuous occasions, failed to qualify for the Champions League on numerous occasions – sacrificing desires such as fame, money and glory.

Pinturicchio has often shown such great qualities. Juventus are playing Lecce in the 2011-2012 season, fighting for the top spot against Berlusconi’s mafia. Leading 1-0 till the closing stages, Super Gigi makes the mistake of gifting the goal to the team in yellow. The whole team is demotivated. Pirlo, usually calm, is frustrated at this. Del Piero, on as a substitute, having been on the field for very little time, runs to Buffon at this incident from the opponent’s box to the defence, giving him a high five. This level of dedication towards the greatest goalkeeper of the modern era is what makes Alex different from anyone. Buffon needed that bit of confidence; not many realise that bit of inspiration was actually the revival of Gigi as a top custodian at goal. This is what brings tears to the eyes of Juventinos. Regardless of the motive of Alex being left out of the team at the end of the season, he is still a part of Juventus, not on paper… in their hearts… in the hearts of everyone associated to Juventus.

He moved on to a country where football is known as soccer. He may have still played in Europe for any other team, but he decided not to. He joined a team that was formed on the same day as Juventus. He was forced to leave the club to promote football along the Pacific Ocean. Alex has contributed a lot to the world, be it raising funds for the earthquake in Japan or playing in charity games. There will always be “the next Maradona” or “the future Pele”, but there will never be a glimpse of another Alessandro Del Piero.

Alex has been wishing the team and the captain success, via social network. Alex will definitely want the fans to vouch for their team even in his absence rather than staying stuck and cribbing over his departure. Tears have been shed, some at the joy of the role model lifting the Champions League, others at the departure of the saviour. If football is a religion, Del Piero is a God and Juventus is the place of worship.

This is an everlasting relationship that will never come to an end… This is the relationship of our greatest player and our club.