Alessandro Del Piero has warmed up for next month’s Foxtel A-League All Stars clash against Juventus by visiting Real Madrid’s training camp in the US and the man he rates the best manager ‘of all time’, Carlo Ancelotti.
Del Piero, who will skipper the Foxtel A-League All Stars against his former club on August 10 at ANZ Stadium, arrives in Sydney in the coming days but first caught up with former boss Carlo Ancelotti and his band of stars in the US for the Champions Cup.
The former Sydney FC striker and 2006 World Cup winner is a huge admirer of Ancelotti, who led Madrid to their 10th UEFA Champions League title last season.
“I’ve come to greet Carlo Ancelotti”, Del Piero was reported to have said on Real Madrid’s official website .
“He’s the best manager of all time and I’m very happy for him, because he won ‘La Décima’.
“It was a very beautiful moment for him and Real Madrid.”
Reflecting on his many battles against Madrid in his time with Juve, Del Piero said he always loved playing in the city and at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He expects the La Liga giants to again compete for silverware in the upcoming season, especially with new recruits Colombian star James Rodriguez and Germany’s Toni Kroos.
“They have reinforced the squad very well,” Del Piero said.
“I saw James in the World Cup and he’s an incredible player. He’s very young and has a lot of potential. Kroos will fit in well. He’s a very important midfielder for Real Madrid.”
The next focus though for Del Piero will be getting to Sydney and his battle with the club where he made his name as a footballer.
He will skipper an exciting looking Foxtel A-League All Stars line-up which includes the likes of Besart Berisha and Thomas Broich, while the Bianconeri possess world-class stars like Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, Carlos Tevez and Patrice Evra.
