Torino, IT - In an interview with newspaper La Stampa, former Major League Soccer (MLS) midfielder Andrea Pirlo claimed that he would end a 122 year absence for Juventus in the CONCACAF Champions League by being the first head coach to lead The Old Lady into the international tournament.

“I was never able to reach this honor as a player in New York,” stated Pirlo through a translator. “It would’ve been a great honor for me and the pinnacle of my football career.”

Sources say that Pirlo’s inability to play against legendary teams like Montego Bay United incensed the long time NYCFC professional.

“He was never the same after he missed a chance to play Isidro Metapan in El Salvador,” stated one Juventus source. “It created a fire that still burns to get the first team he would coach into the tournament.”

Juventus officials wouldn’t comment on the rumors, but their travel department was seen researching flights from Italy to Costa Rica for the summer.

“I think he’s burning with a chance to finally take on Saprissa, which was of course his childhood dream,” stated our source. “And I’d bet good money that he gets it provided that he doesn’t get fired after 2 months.”

The Nutmeg News will have more on this as Pirlo claims that playing Udinese away is nowhere near as bad as flying business class from New York to Los Angeles to play a noon game against Gyasi Zardes and the LA Galaxy.