- Jermain Defoe is one of the highest scorers in history of the Premier League
- The striker also earned 57 caps for England during an impressive playing career
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is England’s squad good enough to win the World Cup?
Jermain Defoe has claimed that he came close to joining a star-studded Juventus team boasting the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Del Piero.
The former Premier League striker spend the majority of his career in the English top flight, scoring an impressive 162 goals.
But Defoe, best remembered for spells with Tottenham, Portsmouth and West Ham, has revealed that his career could have panned out very differently in 2009.
Prior to his January that year from Fratton Park back to Spurs, the 57-cap England forward was informed of interest from the Italian champions. He had left White Hart Lane the previous January after nearly four years at the club and enjoyed a productive spell on the south coast.
A record of 18 goals and five assists in 36 matches attracted interest from Juventus scouts and head coach Claudio Ranieri, according to Defoe, who also revealed that his agent told him the Old Lady were keen on adding him to their all-star roster.
‘I got a phone call before I went back to Tottenham in I think 2008,’ he told WhoScored. ‘I remember my agent phoned me and said to me Juventus are interested.
Jermain Defoe has revealed that he came close to joining a star-studded Juventus team in the late 2000s
The Old Lady, then managed by Claudio Ranieri, were reportedly interested in the striker after his impressive year with Portsmouth
Defoe was particularly interested in linking up with legendary Italian forward Alessandro Del Piero
‘If Tottenham doesn’t get over the line would you want to come to Juventus?’
In addition to Buffon, Chiellini and Del Piero, Juve’s squad also included midfield maestro Claudio Marchisio, David Trezeguet and Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved.
But it was the prospect of linking up with Juve skipper and World Cup winner Del Piero that particularly piqued Defoe’s interest.
He added: ‘Imagine. You talk about forwards you’d love to play with, but actually, he played in Soccer Aid last year, and it was just like—wow. As a young centre-forward, growing up watching players like that, an iconic figure.’
More than a decade ago, Serie A still boasted some of the world’s best players and even Juve with their embarrassment of riches were unable to best eventual league winner Inter Milan in the 2008-09 season.
Defoe, meanwhile, completed a move back to Spurs and remained for another five years until his move to the MLS to play for Toronto in February 2014.
He did return to the UK in the following winter transfer window to play for Sunderland, AFC Bournemouth and Rangers.
