Comparisons between Paulo Dybala and Alessandro Del Piero were often drawn over the years and now it seems the nature of their departures share similarities as well.
Del Piero spent 19 years of his professional career with the Bianconeri from 1993 to 2012, making 705 appearances for the club in total. He scored 290 goals for them in that time, winning a number of honours including a Champions League title and six Scudetti. Wearing the number 10 shirt, he was a fan favourite and well-appreciated servant of the club.
So when Juventus announced that Del Piero’s contract would not be renewed in October 2011, eyebrows were raised. Despite being 37 then, he had still been a regular in the first team the previous campaigns and was an important part of the squad. His final season in Turin saw him used sparingly by Antonio Conte and he commented later in the campaign that he was “surprised” by Andrea Agnelli’s announcement that he’d be leaving.
It’s no coincidence that the Italy legend is not on good terms with the club’s chairman. The ex-striker has never been to Turin to watch a Juventus game since he left. “Why? I don’t think we have time to explain that,” he told ESPN this past June.
Juventus wanted to part ways with him and didn’t even sit down to discuss a new contract with their legend. It’s not hard to draw parallels between Del Piero’s departure and the end of Dybala’s time with Juventus. The Argentinian forward became a star in Turin and he scored 113 goals in 283 appearances for the club in seven years of service.
Due to this, it was no surprise when reports trickled out last year suggesting that a verbal agreement had been reached between himself and Juventus regarding a new contract. Things went quiet though, and CEO Maurizio Arrivabene’s remarks to the media suggesting that a deal wasn’t for certain clearly upset the former Palermo man.
Today Dybala’s agent met with Juventus’ management to clarify his future and media reports later detailed how he would be leaving the club on a free transfer in the summer. Arrivabene announced earlier today that the club “made their choices in January”, referencing the €80m signing of Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina, and they had decided not to continue with him.
Juventus were prepared – to say the least- to part ways with Dybala as they knew that even a lower offer would push him away from the club. They probably felt that it was the right time to part ways with their No.10, just as it happened back in the days with his most notable predecessor. Dybala’s departure at the end of this season will ultimately feel anti-climatic, and if Del Piero’s experience is any indication, it will not be the warmest send-off.