Alessandro del Piero could make a shock move to the Hungarian league after Budapest club Honved FC confirmed they are negotiating a deal with the Italian star's agent and brother, Stefano.
The former Sydney FC marquee player is being enticed to the Hungarian capital with the opportunity of leaving another legacy in a country that was a former world football powerhouse as well as becoming the first player since the late Ferenc Puskas to wear the Honved No.10 jersey. Honved's director of sport, Fabio Cordella, confirmed the club is in talks with Del Piero for a potential move that will be partially funded by a private sponsor as well as the government.
Marquee impact: Alessandro del Piero.Credit: Getty Images
"It's true, for the last 15-20 days we have been talking to Stefano, who is Alessandro's brother and agent," Cordella told GianlucaDiMarzio.com. "Our club is not economically up to the standard of these names, but the technical sponsor immediately accepted our idea and is ready to give us a big hand."
Del Piero has also been linked with a move to the MLS in the United States as well as the Indian Super League which has already attracted veteran stars David Trezeguet, Robert Pires and runs from October until December. Honved are hoping to bring Del Piero to boost the profile of their league just as the little artist did in Sydney.
"We'll see what happens. It would be wonderful to bring him to Budapest. Until an hour ago everyone thought it was a made-up story. Instead we really are trying for Del Piero," Cordella said. "The Hungarian population deserves him, because real football has been missing here for a few years. The State [government] is helping [expand football], as there are at least seven or eight new stadiums and soon we'll start building our own too."