:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26527275/185412666.0.jpg)
Unlike some of the other clubs in Italy, Juventus seem perfectly content to not do much of anything during the January transfer window. Maybe a little transfer move here and there, but nothing close to splashing a whooooole lotta cash on somebody who the Italian papers love to slap across their front pages on a daily basis.
That means the most important things that Juve could possibly being working on during the first month of 2014 are matters that involve players already on their roster. You know, like giving contract extensions to those who have been rather important players to the squad the past season or two. Maybe even those who happen to be out of a contract when the end of the season rolls around.
Gee, if I didn't know any better, that last sentence sounds a lot like a certain situation Andrea Pirlo finds himself in. And it's no wonder that over the last 24 or 30 hours in Italy, talk of a new Pirlo contract with Juventus has heated up. So much so that Tuttosport has plastered it all over its front page on Thursday morning.
Courtesy of ESPNFC:
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Bianconeri are drawing up a two-year extension for the 34-year-old, and Marotta hopes a deal will be in place shortly.
"Pirlo's contract is up for renewal, but I can tell you that we have an excellent relationship and we will be extending his contract as soon as possible, and we will let you know the duration," Marotta said.
According to the Gazzetta, Juve are to comply with Pirlo's request for at least a two-year contract rather than the one-year deals usually offered to players of his age.
As we all know by now, Pirlo is out of contract at the end of the season. And even though he will be turning 35 years old exactly one day after Juve's final game of the 2013-14 Serie A campaign in May, Beppe Marotta and the rest of the Juve management have made it no secret that they will welcome Pirlo back with open arms. They haven't shied away from that notion as this season has gone on.
And nor should they.
You can say "Bring back Pirlo because he's Pirlo" or "He's gonna be so old!" or whatever you want, but the fact remains that Pirlo is still one of the most important players in Antonio Conte's team. There will be worries about how much Pirlo has left in the tank because of his, and that's only natural. Father Time is working against Pirlo, sure, but it's not like he's suddenly taken a nosedive form-wise. He's still the same Pirlo who can pass the ball with the best of them.
(Or is it that the best of them can still pass the ball with Pirlo? I'll have to check on that.)
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Just keep Pirlo where he is. I have a feeling it will work out just fine.
