Liverpool's hope of offloading Alberto Aquilani to Juventus look to have been scuppered by the Italian side’s signing of Andrea Pirlo.
After a disappointing first season in the Premier League following his £17million switch from Roma in 2009, Aquilani was jettisoned from Anfield by former boss Roy Hodgson who sent him back to his homeland to join Juventus in a season-long loan deal.
The previously injury-plagued 26-year-old became a regular for Juve last season, playing 33 times and scoring twice.
As part of the agreement, Juventus had an option to sign Aquilani once his temporary spell was up but they are unwilling to pay the set price and have been unable to haggle the Reds down to a lower offer.
With the situation still at stalemate, Juve, who like Liverpool, have missed out on European qualification for next season, have swooped to sign veteran Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo, 32, who last night passed a medical to end his 10-year association with Serie A rivals Milan.
A Juve statement read: “Andrea Pirlo is officially a Juventus player. The signed contract will run from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2014.”
Pirlo has been one of Milan’s most consistent performers for the past decade, helping them win two Champions League titles and he also won the World Cup in 2006.
However, he struggled with injuries and form this season and made just 12 Serie A starts as Milan won the title.
Pirlo’s arrival is likely to move down any potential pursuit of Aquilani down Juve’s list of priorities and with the team under new management next term their interest could cool completely.
Reds boss Kenny Dalglish has already admitted that Aquilani could be forced to return to Anfield later this summer.
He said: “There’s a distinct possibility he could be back here. He’s a quality player.
“He got off to a bad start here with his injuries and never really got going after missing pre-season.
“He went out on loan and has done very well over there. If he was to come back here, for me that would be like a new face coming in.”
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