Juventus Alessandro Del Piero drives the ball during their Serie A football match Inter Milan against Juventus at the San Ciro Stadium in Milan on October 3, 2010. PHOTO/ AFP
Former Italy and Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero will be unveiled as a Sydney FC player Wednesday, Australian media said, in a deal worth Aus$2.0 million (US$2.04 million) for a six-month contract.
The A-League club announced last week they had signed the World Cup-winning striker, only to be forced into an embarrassing U-turn on their website after a denial by Del Piero's camp.
The main sticking points were reportedly the player's business interests in Italy, where he employs as many as 40 people, and his ongoing lucrative sponsorship commitments that take up a lot of his time.
But Del Piero has now shaken hands with Sydney representatives in Turin after a week of intense negotiations and an official announcement will be made later Wednesday, The Australian newspaper said.
Both The Australian and the Sydney Morning Herald said he was expected to be paid Aus$2 million, making him the highest paid footballer of any code in Australia.
If the deal is confirmed, the Italian will become the biggest signing in A-League history.
The 37-year-old's 19-year career with Juve ended last season when the club did not offer him a new deal after they had won their first league title since 2003.
Del Piero had also been linked with Scottish champions Celtic, English Premier League new boys Southampton, Sporting Braga of Portugal and Swiss side FC Sion.
The Italian began his professional career at Padova, where he played only 14 games before being signed by Juventus in 1993.
He remained with the Turin-based club until 2012, scoring 208 goals in 513 appearances and was a member of the Italy side that beat France on penalties in the 2006 World Cup final.
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