Top 10 free transfers of all time

Modified Oct 07, 2016 13:30 GMT

Gary McAllister, Liverpool — Gary McAllister proved to be a shrewd signing for Liverpool despite his age

#2 Andrea Pirlo: AC Milan to Juventus

Andrea Pirlo, Juventus — Pirlo was Juventus’ best player for a number of seasons

Andrea Pirlo’s departure from AC Milan to Juventus probably contributed to the Milan side’s decline. Although Pirlo was 32 at the time, the decision to offload him was still extremely questionable.

The Italian’s contract ran out in the summer of 2011 after a number of successful seasons at Milan and while it looked like he would drift into retirement, he ultimately chose a switch to Juventus where his career has possibly gone on to reach even greater heights.

The 37-year-old went on to make over 100 appearances for Juve bagging 4 Serie-A titles, a Coppa Italia and 2 Italian Super Cups and along with Pogba, formed one of the best central midfield partnerships in the world. Pirlo, like fine wine, just got better with age and while AC Milan are now a spent force in Europe, the midfielder continues to chug along tirelessly.

A move to the MLS followed for the midfield maestro and he is currently plying his trade at New York City.

About the author

After a brief and undistinguished stint as an electrical engineer, Arvind discovered his true calling was churning out hyperbolic prose about athletes he had never met.

A writer and editor with close to a decade’s experience, Arvind’s work has been published on Sky Sports, the BBC, the Guardian and other leading websites. He has attended multiple Grand Slams on the ground and provided coverage for Super Bowls and the NBA playoffs.

As a lifelong fan of Arsenal and the Indianapolis Colts, he has mastered the art of managing expectations and can convince anyone that finishing fourth is a moral victory.

When not armchair quarterbacking, Arvind spends his time playing blitz chess online, watching air crash documentaries and smashing controllers after his latest Weekend League defeat.

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Edited by Staff Editor