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A year ago, Milan’s sale of Andrea Pirlo to Juventus would have been unthinkable. Having been injured in the run-up to the World Cup, the Italian press flailed about distraughtly, Pirlo’s absence meaning the Azzurri had no chance. Turns out they were right: Riccardo Montolivo failed to step up, and Italy finished bottom of their group – Pirlo making only a brief appearance as a late substitute in the last game against Slovakia. The man nicknamed “The Metronome” was exactly that, the heart of Milan and the national team, keeping things ticking along. Now, however, Milan are happy to part with l’architetto. Pirlo’s injury problems persisted, managing just 17 league games last season, although the decision to accept Juve’s offer was partly tactical. Massimiliano Allegri wanted a more defensive battler in front of his backline, and saw the issue in having a team dependent on a player past his peak – Pirlo doesn’t have the athletic ability for a more advanced role, so a switch to Turin suited him. He is still involved in the national set-up, of course, but at 32 it can only be so long before he is moved on from Cesare Prandelli’s youth-orientated squad. With the [...]
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