What did football legends think of del Piero?

A Juventus and football icon, Alessandro del Piero has turned 48 years old today, and at Max Statman we have looked onto the best quotes said by different great players or managers about him.

Over 19 years at Juventus, Del Piero made 704 appearances, scored 289 goals and won Serie A eight times and the Champions League once. With Italy he scored 27 goals in 91 caps and was a key member of the squad which won the 2006 World Cup.

Here are the quotes from different players or managers:

Raul: “Del Piero is the best player in the history of Italian football. He is a person for who I do not only have a lot of respect but a lot of affection as well.”

Gary Neville: “He’s the greatest player I’ve ever played against. He dribbled in an incredible way.”

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Fabio Cannavaro: “In my view he’s the best person I’ve met in this sport.”

Francesco Totti: “Alex … what an opponent! What a player! What a person! A real symbol, a champion who gave trophies to the Juventus fans, he loves that shirt and gives lots of back pain to opposing goalkeepers. Alessa, I think the older I become the more scared I am of facing you on the field. You are one of the best in the game, I admire you and respect you.”

Diego Maradona: “He is different to Zinedine Zidane. He likes to play, he feels it in his soul. Between him and the Frenchman, I choose him.”

Gonzalo Higuain: “Del Piero has been an inspiration for me throughout my career.”

Fabio Capello: “Maldini, Del Piero and Raul are all the symbols of world football.”

Pavel Nedved: “It’s difficult to find words to describe Del Piero. He has been playing for Juve for about 20 years ‒ he is the history of this club. When anybody in the world says the word ‘Juve’, they have a picture of Del Piero in mind. I think that says it all.”

Ryan Giggs: “Del Piero is the best Italian footballer.”

Marcelo Lippi: “Regarding Del Piero’s situation, my thoughts are very clear. I would sum it up in just four words: Del Piero is Juventus.”

Marcelo Lippi once said: “Regarding Del Piero’s situation, my thoughts are very clear. I would sum it up in just four words: Del Piero is Juventus.”#JFC | #ADP47 pic.twitter.com/KbxhUqmuJO

— Max Statman (@emaxstatman) November 9, 2021

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Ruben Oliviera: “Del Piero is my idol. When I arrived at Juventus and I was introduced to Alex, it was like touching the heavens with my finger.”

David Trezeguet: “Alessandro Del Piero was the symbol of the club for many years.”

Alessio Tacchinardi: “He always comes to the training field with a smile for everyone, a comforting word for everyone. This is his greatness: humbleness… he’s a golden person.”

Roy Keane: “Vieri is a player I would like at United. But maybe Del Piero would be even better. He would be perfect for us.”

Andrea Pirlo: “After his penultimate appearance in a Juventus jersey, he was finally overwhelmed by all the emotions he’d managed to keep a lid on up till then. His ego, his desire to be involved, that need to feel like a true Bianconero. He flooded the dressing room with tears, and we did the same, both with him and for him.”

Andrea Agnelli: “He will always be our captain.”

Alessandro Del Piero: “From tomorrow I will no longer be a Juventus player, but I will always be one of you. A true gentleman never leaves his lady.”

All credit goes to the Football Planet.