Del Piero deal one for the ages

My thoughts on the fact that Sydney FC should also be investing in its future as well as the present are well documented and, if it does, Del Piero's impact could be leveraged to a far greater degree than the undoubted positive effect he will have for the game.

Firstly, Del Piero comes fresh from winning a scudetto in one of the world's finest leagues with Juventus, and was coveted not only by clubs in USA and the Middle East, but also UEFA Champions League clubs and Liverpool, putting to rest any speculation about what he has to offer on field.

Del Piero is still playing at a supreme level, and will add incredible quality to the club and the league, and this is fundamental to his value.

He is the largest signing in the history of Australian sport, not only by virtue of his salary, which is massive on a per game basis, but also his global appeal, a genuine international superstar with the utmost respect of the entire football globe for his professionalism, demeanour, conduct and quality.

Naturally, the Australian-Italian community will be beside itself and rightly so, this is something they could never have dreamed could happen.

Secondly, it is time the A-League allowed any Juventus or Azzurri fan to demonstrate their allegiance and passion wherever Alessandro plays, no more should we see the ridiculous situation whereby the Brazilian community was disgracefully prohibited from bringing its flags to support Juninho.

I want to see Italian and Juventus flags alongside Sydney FC, a celebration of the connection that only football can provide, between countries, cultures and continents. That's our game.

Thirdly, the benefit of such an acquisition must extend well beyond these shores, and no doubt the club is already organizing lucrative friendlies against Juventus in coming years, but also Asia.

Del Piero is a global star and the opportunity, through him, to build relationships with the major Asian clubs, as well as potential broadcast revenue into Asian markets to see him play, is considerable and a potential bonus for the entire league.

And lastly, the most important part of this move is that it has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with credibility of the A-League. Zero. Nada. Nought. Zip.

Why? Because the A-League doesn't need credibility, it has already earned it.

The past two years has seen a considerable uplift in on-field quality, as well as style of play, so that this season's matches will be very closely contested affairs with high quality football on display. 

Almost all teams will now demonstrate an ability to play out from the back, maintain the ball when appropriate, attack with a cohesive plan and cause, as well as solve, tactical problems to and from their opponents.

The football itself, the quality of which was always a key driver and therefore something we have fought very hard to raise, including being critical when necessary to force improvement, is at a highly commendable level and growing year very quickly, year on year.

The challenge is to ensure it maintains its progression by continuing to up-skill the coaches to take the game higher and higher but, right now, we are privy to some very good football, and that is all the credibility we were ever interested in.

Bringing a player to the A-League has nothing to do with credibility, but everything to do with quality.

Del Piero adds further quality to a product that we are proud of, and this is the most important part of the deal.

He is a magnificent player who will add experience and brilliance, as well a phenomenal promotional value for the club and league. Every young player should take the chance to see Del Piero every time he slips on a boot, it will be a pleasure to be savoured and something to remember many years from now.

But the A-League does not, is not, and never will again be in a search for credibility.

It already has it.