Andrea Pirlo says he was close to joining Chelsea in the past, but the move was blocked by Milan chief Silvio Berlusconi.
The 33-year-old, now at Juventus, made the revelation in an interview with Sky Sport Italia where he also spoke of interest from Real Madrid.
Andrea Pirlo says he was close to joining Chelsea in the past, but the move was blocked by Milan chief Silvio Berlusconi.
The 33-year-old, now at Juventus, made the revelation in an interview with Sky Sport Italia where he also spoke of interest from Real Madrid.
“I think that I was close to a move to Chelsea and Real,” he noted. “I had already agreed terms with the London club, but then Berlusconi intervened and I remained at Milan.”
The playmaker spent a decade with the Diavolo until he joined Juve in 2011 on a free transfer once his contract had expired.
“I have no kind of regrets about leaving Milan,” he continued. “I needed a change and the best thing was to go and play somewhere else.
“It was also a good decision by the Rossoneri too seeing as they got other players in my role. I’m happy that I accepted a Juve move.”
Pirlo is coming towards the end of his career, but he has admitted that he could choose to remain in the game thanks to boss Antonio Conte.
“He’s surprised me on a tactical level and the way he works on a daily basis, I’ve learned a lot from him.
“I previously didn’t want to become a Coach, but I could decide to now because of what he has taught me.”
Pirlo will collect his second successive Scudetto in Turin if Juve get a point against Palermo on Sunday.