I'm not really ready to fully comment on the Milan transfer season just despite a flurry of activity which in particular includes the contract extensions of Super-Pippo Inzaghi (!), Nesta, van Bommel and Thiago Silva. Very good.
But. As per an OT comment to a previous post, we now also need to say farewell to Andra Pirlo, 32 years of age this very day. I can see why both parties see mutual benefit in a separation. Andrea has played very little this season. Mostly due to injury but he clearly does not fit Allegri's style of playing. And he is quite an expense with a salary around Euro 6 million a year. Nevertheless. It feels sad.
The story of Pirlo in Milan is a beautiful one. Pirlo actually came to Milan from archrivals Inter back in 2001. According to Wikipedia he made 22 performances in black and blue but I can only remeber one, for a static Inter that lost the Champions League qualifyer in 2000 to Helsingborg (by the way the last time a Swedish club qualified for the group stage, pretty unimpressive). Then he went on loan back to his youth club Brescia and when he joined Milan as a 22-year old it was a bit unclear what we had purchased: the biggest promise in the game or a pretty could-have-been boy? He had not scored for a long time when he joined Milan (in fact he never scored a goal for Inter) and despite playing regularly for Inter as a teen starlet, the career hadn't really taken off.
The first season at Milan was also tough on the young lad. Milan in 2001 was a club that - apart from the magnificant spring in 1999 that surprisingly won us the scudetto and two unbelieveble derbies in 2000 - really had not shown much since 1994. OK, there was another scudetto in 1996 but Milan had not been shining like they used to. Strange players had been signed (of course with exceptions like Sheva) and although expectations were always high - the fans' confidence in the club's transfer policy was low.
In 2001, things were supposed to be different. Terim was brought on as coach and he brought with him Rui Costa, the regista of registas, a players who is cut for one role and one role only - the number 10 behind 2 strikers.
The problem for Pirlo was - this is where he was playing too. Pirlo was brought on as a Rui Costa understudy and if there was any doubt about that Ancelotti (who soon replaced the Terim) could not be any cleared when he said he would only play Rui Costa and Pirlo together when he was allowed to field 12 players. Must have been a huge confidence boost for young Andrea who had actually shone when given the odd chance.
But then Ancelotti made what must be up there on the list of "most brilliant football manager moves of all time" (any contributions, anyone?). When the season 2002-2003 started, there they were together: Rui Costa in his regular number 10 role and Andrea Pirlo as a deep miedfielder or a high libero if you will.
Football coaches since then have been talking about the "Pirlo role". With Pirlo as the conductor of the Milan game we were admitteldly at times a tad slow but still Pirlo was the pace-setter that eventually set Milan back on track with a Champions League and cup title 2003, Scudetto 2004, Champions League final in 2005 and another Champions League title in 2007. In between, he played the exact same role for the Italy that won the 2006 world cup and it was his brilliant passing game and touch in that tournament that made his a household name world wide.
He is not expected to sign for Juventus. It will be strange seeing him in the Juve colours but nevertheless I wish him all the best. And I thank you Andrea, for this.
And of course Andrea should thank his Sancho Panza during all these years. But we are not saying goodbye to him just yet. I hope.
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