Juventus have signed veteran Italian international midfielder Andrea Pirlo from Ac Milan on a three-year contract, reports from Italy suggest.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, the player’s agent met representatives of the Turin club to discuss terms, and an agreement has been confirmed.

SOURCE: Goal.com

Andrea Pirlo has long since been considered one of the most stylish midfielder’s in the game and now it seems the Italian international is ready to leave the San Siro after a decade at Ac Milan, which of course followed three years at Inter Milan.

The 31 year old set piece specialist was linked with a move to Chelsea but the two time Champions League winner was clearly keen on staying in Italy rather than pursuing a move to reunite with former Rossoneri boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Pirlo moves to a Juventus who are seemingly in a continual state of disarray, Luigi Delneri was brought in during the summer after an appalling last term left the Turin side in seventh spot and look likely to finish in the same spot this season, however such a finish does not bring with it a Europa League spot this time around.

Pirlo has amassed a total of 377 appearances for AC Milan and seemed destined to leave at the end of the season having seen his first team chances greatly limited under boss Massimiliano Allegri’s reign.

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Ac Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed the signings of defenders Taye Taiwo and Phillippe Mexes from Marseille and Roma respectively on free transfers.

Nigerian left-back Taiwo was the subject of serious interest from Liverpool but has chosen to join the Serie A champions.

The 26-year-old will sign for the Rossoneri as an EU player after being with the Ligue 1 team since 2005.

France international Mexes said last month he would be joining Milan from rivals Roma after seven years in the Italian capital.

The 29-year-old was the subject of a late bid from Arsenal to solve their defensive frailties but to no avail.

Ac Milan are in need of rejuvenating an ageing squad despite being on the verge of a domestic double.

Several players including out of favour midfielder Andrea Pirlo are out of contract in the close season and others are in their mid-30s.

“In defence, Milan are sorted. We have taken Mexes and Taiwo,” Allegri told a news conference on the eve of their Italian Cup semi-final second leg at Palermo.

“When the season is over we will talk with the club,” Allegri said of Pirlo’s situation while responding to questions about media speculation linking Milan with former playmaker Kaka – now at Real Madrid – and Santos’s Brazilian youngster Ganso.

“The first has won everything in his career and the second must still learn a lot,” Allegri said.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants Ac Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo to add the steel and experience he feels his side are missing.

The 31-year-old is a free agent in the summer but Wenger will face strong competition from Chelsea and Manchester City.

Wenger wants Pirlo to compete for a place with Alex Song and Abou Diaby, whilst help guide and teach youngsters Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

Pirlo’s experience of playing the holding role allied with his exquisite passing make him an ideal Wenger signing.

The Italian international has won a World Cup, two Champions League and a Serie A title in a 16-year career.

But both Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini want to bring Pirlo to Chelsea or Manchester City respectively.

Ancelotti wants to work with Pirlo again, after their time at Milan together, but his signing will go against the Blues policy of signing youngsters.

Mancini knows all about Pirlo from his time as manager of Inter Milan, and would love to have San Siro legend to replace Patrick Vieira.

Roberto Mancini is ready to battle Carlo Ancelotti to land AC Milan’s midfield ace Andrea Pirlo.

The star is set to leave the San Siro on a free transfer, because Milan want him to accept a substantial pay-cut in exchange for a new deal as they try to trim their wage bill.

Chelsea’s former Milan boss Ancelotti remains keen on the Italy playmaker after failing to land him last year and will try again – if he’s still in charge this summer.

Manchester City struggled for creativity when Adam Johnson was injured recently and manager Mancini feels Pirlo could bring a different dimension to his developing side.

He is also attracted by his compatriot’s experience – Pirlo has won many top honours in the game, including the Champions League and World Cup.

Mancini feels he needs seen-it-all operators such as Pirlo in his squad as he builds a title-winning team at Eastlands, especially as Patrick Vieira is widely expected to quit this summer.

SOURCE: Daily Mirror

It seems that Andrea Pirlo’s lengthy spell at the San Siro is set to come to an abrupt halt due to wage demands that the 31 year old Italian international is not willing to give in to. Therefore he is being presented with two options to significantly increase his bank balance as well as to forge a new era in his footballing career.

After almost a decade in the AC Milan first team there is little that Pirlo has not achieved and one can see why both Chelsea and Man City would want to sign the talented midfielder, regardless of the fact that he may only have a few years left in the tank.

To be fair Pirlo’s game has never been about speed so perhaps there is still much he can achieve. Chelsea however appear to be looking to deal with their ageing squad so not sure how this transfer would fit into those plans. Also taking into account Carlo Ancelotti has the likes of Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, Ramires and John Obi Mikel to squeeze into the centre of his midfield, one wonders where the AC man will fit?

Manchester City may have more need for Pirlo’s creativeness as they can appear quite brittle going forward and clearly Roberto Mancini will no alot about a player he has crossed swords with on a number of occasions.

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AC Milan have again delayed opening discussions with star players whose contracts run out in June, with Andrea Pirlo one of those most likely to leave.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Rossoneri vice president Adriano Galliani has put off talks until April for some of his star players, as they are yet to accept the offers on the table – which feature a significant pay cut.

Wages are no such issue at Chelsea, and Carlo Ancelotti is believed to desire a reunion with his former charge, after seeing his midfield stifled against Liverpool.

John Obi Mikel has proven decent in spells, but does not possess the vision from the deep-lying midfield position that Pirlo does, and his experience could prove key in tight matches – as Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs have repeatedly shown for Manchester United.

Pirlo’s club colleagues in a similar position at the San Siro include Alessandro Nesta and Filippo Inzaghi, and both veterans could surely still perform a job at the highest level.

Could that be the Premier League?

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England’s manager has been searching for the right candidate for the so-called “Makelele” role, allowing Steven Gerrard to push on.

Gareth Barry struggled in the anchor position while Owen Hargreaves, the most naturally suited, seems permanently lost to injury.

“Hargreaves played this position very, very well every game,” said Capello. “But after the knee problem, he was never back.

“I put different players in there but they’d never played in this position. Barry with Aston Villa never played this position. He started to play there only with me [and now with Manchester City]. But I saw Wilshere play every game in this position.”

Almost. Wilshere plays a slightly different game with Arsenal as Alex Song operates as the deepest lying. Capello sees Wilshere as much as an upmarket distribution point as ball-winner.

“Wilshere is better technically than Makelele. He’s slower than Makelele but when he receives the ball he is more dangerous than Makelele.”

“Not like Pirlo. Wilshere’s too young.” Capello paused. The difference, he argued, was not in the quality but in the approach of their clubs.

“Probably Wilshere can be better but the styles are different. The style of AC Milan was to play long ball sometimes. The style of Arsenal is a lot of passes.

“Wilshere wins back the ball, he passes, he turns, dribbles, goes and shoots. I saw everything. The style of Arsenal is touch, touch, touch, touch. Like Barcelona.

“Wilshere is the best young player. He now plays all the time with Arsenal. If you play with Arsenal, you are a really good player because Arsène Wenger likes good players.

“I want to put him in this position in front of the back four. I have to decide because he’s so young, he would stay alone in midfield and that can be dangerous.

“I think he’s mature enough to play this role. He’s a really interesting player. When he started, in some moments he played without big confidence. He was timid, shy. Now every game he improves a lot, he plays with confidence, without fear and he tackles to win.”

SOURCE: Daily Telegraph

It is of course pleasing to read that England manager Fabio Capello recognises the prodigious talent of Jack Wilshere – but it seems plain to see he is no Claude Makelele.

Makelele made his name by being the best reader of the game in deep lying midfield; always in the right place to make interceptions and tackles.

When he got the ball, he looked for the easy pass to a team-mate.

Makelele wasn’t a creator, and relied on other players to perform that role, but Wilshere possesses a different skill set.

The Arsenal teenager can dribble past opponents, and has a vision lacking in most English players.

He is not a spoiler who thrives on breaking up opposition attacks, and though he plays alongside Alexander Song in a double pivot of the Arsenal midfield, rarely do they go into a game looking to contain opposition.

Wilshere and Song both look to break forward for the Gunners, but should he play in that area for England he will be expected to maintain position with far more discipline.

Has Capello seen something in Jack Wilshere that could help him realise his true potential as a great holding midfielder, or is he merely stifling the talent of an exciting prospect?

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Chelsea will look to nab Ac Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo for free this summer. Carlo Ancelotti will look to bring in the Italian who he managed during his stint at the San Siro as he looks to strengthen his midfield.

As yet 31 year old Pirlo has not been agreed a new deal and the set piece specialist may be keen on one last big move and after almost a decade at the Serie A side a move to the Premier League may well appeal to the stylish midfielder.

Whilst Chelsea will be looking to drive down the ageing nature of their Stamford Bridge squad a move to capture such a talented player for nothing appears to good an opportunity to turn down. Pirlo has been a pivotal part of Ac Milan’s resurgence this term but as yet boss Massimiliano Allegri has not made an offer which has appealed to the Italian international.

Pirlo’s best years came under the guidance of Ancelotti who was in charge at the Italian giants when the intelligent performer clinched two Champions League triumphs as well as a Serie A crown, the last AC Milan secured, in 2004.

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FIFA have revealed the 55 man shortlist for the prestigious FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 award, and Tottenham Hotspur’s flying winger Gareth Bale is on it.

Although Bale upped his game enormously in the second half of last season, it is surely his stellar performances in the UEFA Champions League – particularly those against Inter Milan – that impressed the judges.

Nevertheless, the most likely to feature in the XI for the award will be probably be amongst those players who performed well at the World Cup in South Africa.

Members of the triumphant Spain team, such as Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Villa will certainly be in the running, while Wesley Sneijder won everything going for his club Inter Milan – only missing out at international level in the final for the Netherlands.

Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to dazzle and will be in the running too, but the inclusion of players such as Ronaldinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a surprise, while Wayne Rooney hasn’t been particularly amazing since around March.

Even more ridiculously though, Real Madrid defender Pepe didn’t even play any first team football in 2010 until September. He must have had an insanely good two months.

What do you think?

The shortlist in full:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus FC), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea FC), Julio Cesar (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Edwin Van Der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United FC)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Olympique Lyonnais), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United FC), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Lucio (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Gerard Pique (Spain, FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Walter Samuel (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), John Terry (England, Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United FC), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale)

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea FC), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal FC), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC), Andres Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea FC), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid C.F.), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United FC), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea FC), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, F.C. Internazionale), Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real Madrid C.F.), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City FC), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool FC), David Villa (Spain, FC Barcelona)

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Andrea Pirlo is one of those players who appears to have been around for an age and whilst the Ac Milan man is nearing his 31st birthday he is still more than able of making his mark at the World Cup this summer. The talented midfielder was a big part of the 2006 World Cup winning side and Marcello Lippi will hope that the San Siro legend will once again be ready to make an impact.

Pirlo has been as consistent as ever this season as he has helped Leonardo’s side become genuine title challengers. His trademark long raking passes, his ability to move the ball around swiftly within tight spaces and of course those trademark set-pieces make him a hugely attractive player to witness, a player with masses of intelligence and with the agility to make something out of nothing.

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