.... In the World of Football it is looking like the answer to this question is a resounding NO. Players are leaving after one season for a club that has more money or even the rivals I.e Zlatan in 06, when he left Juventus for Inter. It is rather hard for the fans, as they get used to a player and he is off by the next season. Also it can be harsh for the player as he has just started to get to know his teammates and their playing style, and in a flash he is shipped off, so the club can cash in.
Players like Maldini, Del Piero and Di Natale will surely be a thing of the past. Maldini spent 25 seasons at Milan and decided to hangup his boots at the age of 40. His prestigious career includes: 5 Champions League victories, 7 Serie A victories, 1 Coppa Italia, 5 Suppercoppa Italiano, 5 European Supercups, and 2 Intercontinental Cups, while also winning " The Best Defender" trophy at the UEFA Club football awards at age 39. He has also spent 14 years playing at International level and retired in 2002. Maldini was considered as a true leader and hence earning him the nickname " Il Capitano". Any player who aspires to command as much respect and achievement as Il Capitano, he will have to try to stay at a club for more then two seasons. Not only will you then be considered a success by your peers but also the fans. As a fan, I will respect a person that has been with the club through the ups and downs, and not just in it for the glory days.
That is why Alessandro Del Piero is so loved by the fans. His position as a striker might mean that he will have to retire sooner than Maldini but he will still have a special place in the history books and the hearts of the fans. He started his Juventus career in 1993 and is still going from strength to strength, he may not have the same pace as he once did but he has swapped it with experience and a great footballing mind. In his career he has won : 5 Serie A title, 1 Serie B title, 4 Supercoppa Italiano, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Intertoto Cup, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup and 1 Intercontinental Cup. He was also part of the 2006 Italy side that won the World Cup. Amongst his club and National achievements he also has many individual achievements including : Juventus Top Scorer, Golden Foot award in 07 and has won the award for Italian footballer of the year twice, in 1998 and 2008. Del Piero will always be loved by the fans as he was the few senior players that decided to stay when Juve got relegated to the Italian second division. He is the few footballers who will always be remembered as a great professional.
It came as no surprise when Antonio Di Natale refuse a move to Juventus in the summer. He understood and appreciated how much he was loved at Udinese. Not only is he a very important figure at Udinese but he also showed that he was smart by staying at the club. He is a regular starter at the club and his importance to the club is well documented. He has won Serie A top scorer and Best Italian Footballer in 2010 and he knew that if he decided to move to a bigger team like Juve, he would have to fight for a spot and would more likely be a benchwarmer. And considering he is 31, not many team would want him, but that's their loss ass he is still a pacy player with incredible goalscoring prowess.
So my message to all you new footballers is pretty clear; if you want to be a renowned and successful player.. maybe you should sit still for a while because you never know what could happen in the future!!
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