Alessandro del Piero's long Juventus career almost never got started.
Speaking after the veteran signed a new contract with the Old Lady, his former youth coach Antonello Cuccureddu has claimed that Giovanni Trapattoni wanted the player to gain experience elsewhere.
"I remember that Trap was ready to send him out on loan," Cuccureddu told Stile Juventus. "It was normal to send the youngsters away to mature.
"However, after seeing him do some splendid things with the Primavera side, the Coach decided to keep him for the first team. That was the start of a legend."
Del Piero initially signed for the Turin giants in 1993 after making a name for himself with Sere B side Padova.
"I remember him as a small kid, skinny, but I was impressed by his great class," Cuccureddu continued.
"I went to watch him at Padova with Giampiero Boniperti and I was immediately impressed by him. I would have bet on him to succeed.
"It's hard to imagine a career like he has had, but there was that hope back then when you saw what he could do. Innate class, he made the difference."
