2004 plan for Del Piero

Juventus will try to keep striker Alessandro Del Piero at the club until at least 2004 as new contract negotiations start with the injured star.

Del Piero is progressing well after knee surgery last November following ligament damage after a fall in a Serie A match against Udinese. The striker had operations in Colorado to repair the damage and will begin running again late next month.

The main issue in keeping Del Piero will be the wages he is set to demand to stay in Turin. His agents intend to seek parity with Ronaldo at Internazionale. The Brazilian is on a basic wage of £4 million a year and Del Piero will seek to become the highest paid player in Juve's history with a new deal. It has long been believed that if the striker were to break from Juve at any time in his career it would be this summer but the knee injury is likely to keep him away from transfer speculation until the summer. On the market it would seem that only SS Lazio and Manchester United could afford his new wage demands and the heavy transfer fee to buy Del Piero.