Sydney FC Chair Hopes To Make 'Long-Term' Commitment With Del Piero

A-League Sydney FC's board confirmed that "it will move to secure Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero for another season," according to Ray Gatt of THE AUSTRALIAN. Sky Blues Chair Scott Barlow "ended a week of intense speculation" about Del Piero, reaffirming the club was looking at his time in Sydney as "a long-term project." The former Italy and Juventus star "had hinted in an interview last week there might have been a problem." Barlow, however, "went a long way to easing those concerns in a short, but significant statement." Barlow: "We have always viewed Alessandro Del Piero's time here at Sydney FC as a long-term project and this was reaffirmed at our monthly board meeting early this week. We would like for Alessandro to remain at Sydney FC next season and we will also begin talking to him about opportunities beyond 2014" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 12/19).

MARINERS AMBITIONS: In Sydney, Sebastian Hassett reported "the dream" of A-League Central Coast Mariners Owner Peter Turnbull is to pair Del Piero and David Beckham for its Asian Champions League tour. Having seen the interest generated by Del Piero with Sydney, and with Beckham's appeal "unmatched in the world game," the Mariners are "considering signing the duo" for its Asian Champions League campaign. If Turnbull is successful, Beckham would join the Mariners for the second half of the A-League season, and remain there for the ACL campaign. Del Piero would play out the year at Sydney before coming to the Mariners (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 12/19).