Andrea Pirlo has commented on recent speculation linking him with a move away from Serie A champions Juventus in recent weeks and says he’s focused on representing the national side at next summer’s European Championships.
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The Italian legend has been tipped to end his four-year stay in Turin this summer and many thought last weekend’s Champions League final against Barcelona was to be his final game in European club football.
He has been linked with a switch to Liverpool by Mail Sport in recent weeks as manager Brendan Rodgers looks to fill the imminent void in midfield that will be left by captain Steven Gerrard, who is set to call time on his long Anfield career to join MLS outfit LA Galaxy at the start of next month.
Pirlo, who has one-year remaining on his contract with Juve, was also rumoured by Sky Sports to have agreed a deal with New York City to link up with Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard.
However the 36-year-old has moved to cool talks of an exit from Serie A:
“There are too many rumours about me leaving Juventus,” Pirlo said [via Mail Sport].
“I just want to keep playing and I will be present at Euro 2016,” he added.
Despite his advancing years, Pirlo has proven he can still be effective as he scored four goals and assisted a further five in 20 league appearances for the Old Lady in the season just gone [via WhoScored].
Given that the former AC Milan man still has his heart set on featuring regularly for his international team even at this age, it could mean that a move to the MLS would not be the best move for him at the moment, as surely competing regularly for a top European club, be it Juventus or Liverpool, would put him in better shape to stay at the level required to do the business for a top team like Italy.