Demetrio Albertini believes AC Milan's decision to let Andrea Pirlo slip through their fingers and join Juventus could backfire when the teams meet in Serie A on Sunday if he plays.

Pirlo left the champions at the end of last season following an illustrious 10-year career at San Siro and moved to Turin on a free deal.

But Albertini, a former Milan midfielder and current vice president of the Italian FA (FIGC) believes his old club could regret their decision not to keep him on board.

"Milan taught me that you can make mistakes when you buy players, not sell them. What a mistake, getting rid of Pirlo," Albertini told Tuttosport.

"We are talking about a unique and irreplaceable player in Pirlo."

Massimiliano Allegri's men signed Alberto Aquilani on loan from Liverpool with a view to making it a permanent deal as Pirlo's substitute.

However, the Italian feels what the former Inter ace brought to the champions has dried up, regardless of replacements.

"Mark Van Bommel, Alberto Aquilani and Massimo Ambrosini are all different players," he said.

The Serie A showdown kicks-off at Juventus Arena in Turin at 19:45 (CET).

Pirlo, 32, is in doubt for the game after picking up a knock to his knee in Saturday's training session, but he was not excluded from the squad.

i believe that no one made a mistake here::::

AC MILAN has strikers with huge creativity and ball control and they didn't exactly need PIRLO too much or else they would not let him go...

its IBRA, PATO, CASSANO, ROBINHO, SEEDORF: 5 of them who create chances and also the side back support; so they sacrificed PIRLO to use that position to fill some defensive qualities to play AMBROSINI or BOMEL

on other side JUVENTUS have not enough creative players last season only KRASIC was creating chances his own::: and PIRLO arrive raised the attacking qualities

so this move was not a mistake from all:::

AC MILAN are using that position to fill more defensive qualities

JUVENTUS are happy with the improve of attacking qualities

PIRLO is happy because he feels more important player here over being one of 6 creative players; PIRLO, SEEDORF, CASSANO, PATO, IBRAHIMOVIC, ROBINHO

so now Strikers >Midfield>Defenders ....?? no way bro

DeviAngel wrote:so now Strikers >Midfield>Defenders ....?? no way bro

Devi my opinion is that strikers are the most important players because:::

its the strikers who almost always win the balon door

its the strikers who has the highest wages and highest buy out prices

its the strikers who force you to play defensive minded and make you mark them with two or even three players ::: and even thinking about covering

===============

I believe that I don't mind if you don't agree :::

getting rid of Pirlo was a great decision,the bad part is that we never got a replacement for him.or at least a decent replacement.

Ganso wrote:getting rid of Pirlo was a great decision,the bad part is that we never got a replacement for him.or at least a decent replacement.

How exactly is getting rid of one of the greatest midfield maestros in football history a GREAT decision??

You may be able to compensate in terms of having strikers with playmaking ability (i.e. Cassano and Ibra), but getting rid of Pirlo who obviously can still play at a high level is a huge mistake. Aquilani was obviously brought in to try and compensate for the loss of Pirlo, but we all know Aquilani can't even hold Pirlo's jockstrap when it comes to running an attack...

juve_gigi wrote:

Ganso wrote:getting rid of Pirlo was a great decision,the bad part is that we never got a replacement for him.or at least a decent replacement.

How exactly is getting rid of one of the greatest midfield maestros in football history a GREAT decision??

You may be able to compensate in terms of having strikers with playmaking ability (i.e. Cassano and Ibra), but getting rid of Pirlo who obviously can still play at a high level is a huge mistake. Aquilani was obviously brought in to try and compensate for the loss of Pirlo, but we all know Aquilani can't even hold Pirlo's jockstrap when it comes to running an attack...

letting go of pirlo obviously was a step back.. but allegri never saw pirlo as a part of his plans.. i personally would take pirlo over aqua man any day.. he played great on the left before he got injured against roma.. i never thought he didnt fit in allegris plan.. cox he did..