• Premier League

Heysel behind Del Piero's Liverpool snub

ESPN staff
October 11, 2012
Alessandro Del Piero opted to join Sydney FC after 19 seasons at Juventus © PA Photos
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Alessandro Del Piero has claimed he rejected a move to Liverpool because of the 1985 Heysel tragedy.

Del Piero, 37, surprised many by joining Sydney FC at the close of the transfer window after finally ending a 19-year association with former club Juventus.

Liverpool reportedly put in a late bid for the striker after Brendan Rodgers was left short of attacking options following Andy Carroll's departure to West Ham on loan - something the club deny.

However, the former Italy international has again insisted he was given the chance to move to Merseyside but felt he could not switch to Anfield, out of respect for the 39 Juventus fans who died when trouble flared at the 1985 European Cup final against Liverpool, played at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.

"Why I said no to Liverpool? The negotiations with Sydney were at an advanced stage and then I thought about what had happened at Heysel," Del Piero told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Juventus and Liverpool have been able to reconstruct their relationship but for many people that tragedy is an indelible memory."

The move to Australia has drawn some criticism but Del Piero is confident he can hold his head up high knowing he made the right choice.

"People can say what they want, but I'm not worried about that," he said. "I had ample possibilities open to me; America, Brazil, Thailand, Qatar, Spain, England, China, Japan.

"But I wasn't after the best financial offer and I'd already won everything as a player. I didn't need to play in the Champions League again."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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