Mon Sep 23 21:00:35 UTC 2024: ## Del Piero Reveals He Stayed with Juventus Despite Relegation Amid Calciopoli Scandal

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has revealed his unwavering loyalty to the club during the Calciopoli scandal, a period that saw the Bianconeri relegated to Serie B. Speaking on the CBS Sports Golazo Network’s “Kickin’ It” series, Del Piero described how he refused to leave the club despite the devastating impact of the scandal, which involved allegations of match-fixing.

The scandal, which rocked Italian football in the summer of 2006, saw Juventus stripped of their 2004-05 and 2005-06 Serie A titles and relegated to the second division. While many key players left the club, including Fabio Cannavaro, Patrick Vieira, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Del Piero, along with Gianluigi Buffon and Pavel Nedved, remained steadfast in their commitment to Juventus.

“I was the captain at that time. [My salary was chopped], but I felt completely different. I felt to stay,” said Del Piero. “When the owner called me I say, ‘Don’t need to ask me. I’m going to stay. I know what’s going on, I know we are going get relegated maybe at third division, at the beginning was third division, and I say, ‘I don’t care.’ I mean we won everything and we’re going come back to win everything again.”

Despite the challenges, Del Piero remained a pivotal figure for Juventus, playing for the club from 1993 to 2012 and accumulating a wealth of trophies, including six Serie A titles, a Champions League, and a UEFA Super Cup. His dedication and leadership during a difficult time serve as a testament to his love for the club.

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