Sydney FC aims to extend Del Piero's A-League stay

Sydney FC says it will shortly open negotiations aimed at keeping Alessandro Del Piero in Australian football's A-League for another year. Speculation arose

Alessandro Del Piero and Sydney FC are in last place in the A-League :: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Sydney FC says it will shortly open negotiations aimed at keeping Alessandro Del Piero in Australian football's A-League for another year.

Speculation arose that the 37-year-old former Juventus star might leave the A-League after only one season when Sydney made no apparent move to activate the second year of his two-year contract.

Sydney chairman Scott Barlow said in a statement Tuesday: "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.''

Barlow said the club would also begin discussions about opportunities beyond 2014. "There are a number of details yet to be worked through with Alessandro's management regarding next season and these discussions will take place over the coming weeks'.'