Andrea Pirlo has given his side of the story regarding his AC Milan exit, admitting that it does bother him that he is considered a traitor by many.
Two former team-mates in Massimo Ambrosini and Pirlo met in Istanbul, the city where the latter is the head coach of Fatih Karagümrük, and the duo retraced their journey with the Rossoneri shirt together.
Pirlo spoke in an interview for Prime Video with Ambrosini and he revealed some of the background on how he ended up leaving Milan for bitter rivals Juventus, with whom he signed on a free transfer and went on to win several trophies.
“They wanted to give me a one-year contract because for players over 30 – like you too, Sandro and Rino, they did one year of contract – they had this way of seeing things. We never agreed on this idea because I wanted to stay there much longer,” he said (via Corriere della Sera).
“We know the tears we shed. I would have stayed at Milan all my life. I left for many reasons but not because I wanted more money or wanted to go elsewhere. I thought I deserved more years of contract being the youngest player. I thought I had the opportunity to be there for another few years.”
Pirlo began his club career in 1995 as an attacking midfielder with hometown club Brescia before moving to Inter where he saw limited game time and was sent on loan multiple times. He then joined Milan in 2001 winning two Serie A titles, two UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup, a Coppa Italia, and a Supercoppa Italiana.
However, he left for Juventus in 2011 on a free transfer, where he won four consecutive Serie A titles, two Supercoppa Italiana titles, and another Coppa Italia, with many considering it an unforgivable act.
