Midfielder Andrea Pirlo is widely known to calcio fans for his exploits in Serie A and with the Azzurri.
The 34-year-old has been in brilliant form for Juventus ever since arriving on a Bosman back in the summer of 2011.
And this season has not been any different, as the midfield maestro has scored six goals so far for the Bianconeri--all from free kicks, and several of them being the goal that earned his side a win.
Now the usually reserved footballer has revealed some interesting thoughts in the English-language version of his book (Penso Quindi Gioco) translated as "I think, therefore I play" that has come out today.
Among things on the menu: that famous penalty at the EURO 2012 versus England...
Cool as ice: Pirlo chips Three Lions keeper Joe Hart to fire his side into the semi-finals
...and the darkest moment of his football career, where he actually considered retiring following Milan's defeat to Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League final.
He usually makes his penalties, but not this time: That fateful miss in the 2005 UCL final in Istanbul
Disappointment: So close, yet so far--Pirlo trudges past the trophy, which was won by Liverpool
The veteran Azzurri midfielder also has high praise for former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson, branding the Scot as the "one who turned Manchester United into a battleship."
He also pokes fun at English national team boss Roy Hodgson, who managed him at Inter back in 1999, notably the Englishman's inability to correctly pronounce his name.
Finally, this is something that Rossoneri fans are certainly familiar with--questionable decisions made by the club's management.
According to Pirlo, he was en route to Stamford Bridge to link up with former boss Carlo Ancelotti in August 2009...only to have president Silvio Berlusconi pull the plug on the deal due to the sale of Kaka that same summer and the club's fear of losing another key player.
Ironically, the 2006 World Cup winner would be allowed to leave on a free to Juventus just two years later, where he has won two Scudetti and looks on course to win another.
What could have been? A photoshopped image of Pirlo alongside John Terry
