“It was not an easy decision,” Andrea Pirlo wrote this week. “It’s time to start a new adventure, but that does not mean that I’ll ever forget the relationship I have with these colours.” He was of course saying goodbye to Juventus, calling time on his four year stint in Turin as he announced he would be moving to New York City FC with immediate effect.

The 36 year old was also drawing an end to a career in Italy which began with Brescia before his incredible talent was recognised by Inter. Yet they never gave him a chance in the first team, loaning him back to their Lombard neighbours and ignoring the way he shone alongside the legendary Roberto Baggio. Moved from his previous position behind the strikers by Coach Carlo Mazzone, he blossomed in the deep-lying playmaker role he has since made his own and drew attention to himself for the first time.

Milan would not make the same mistake as their cross-town cousins, signing Pirlo in 2001 and placing him at the heart of Carlo Ancelotti’s midfield. His time with the Rossoneri needs no introduction; the world looked on as he developed into the greatest passer the peninsula has ever seen, winning two Serie A titles and the same number of Champions League crowns, while also helping Italy to lift the World Cup in 2006.

Despite a decade of brilliance – punctuated with incredible accuracy from free-kicks – Milan and Pirlo decided to go their separate ways in the summer of 2011. This time there was no heart-warming tribute video to tug at the heartstrings or emotional social media posts however, and the manner of his exit stung Pirlo. The club’s Vice President instead handed the star a Cartier pen with the Milan logo embossed on one side.

“A lovely pen, but still a pen. Filled with banal blue ink,” Pirlo wrote in his autobiography ‘I think, therefore I play,’ before revealing that Galliani quipped “just don’t use it to sign for Juventus!” Yet he would indeed join the Bianconeri, with the grand Old Lady of Italian football in the process of a complete overhaul of the side as they moved to their brand new stadium. Antonio Conte had arrived as coach, while the likes of Stephan Lichtsteiner and Arturo Vidal had also been brought in to resurrect the fortunes of the ailing giant.

After two consecutive seventh-place finishes, the opening game at Juventus Stadium would see the home side thrash Parma 4-1 on their way to recording an undefeated season, with the arena’s first ever goal coming courtesy of a glorious, trademark pass from Pirlo. He picked out the run of Lichtstiener with a perfectly lofted ball over the defence, the Swiss international netting easily as he found himself one-on-one with a stranded goalkeeper thanks to the vision of the midfield genius.

As time ran out, Juventus conceded a penalty, and who stepped up to net the consolation goal? None other than TFC’s own Sebastian Giovinco, in the midst of his two-year spell with the visitors and determined to prove the Bianconeri had made a mistake in allowing him to move away from Turin. It would be the striker’s fourth goal in three games against his parent club, and at the end of the season they would recall him, meaning he would be teammates with Pirlo for the first time at club level.

Both men owe a debt of gratitude to former Juve boss Antonio Conte, as he challenged each to deliver his best in the club’s famous black and white striped jerseys. Their journeys to Turin could not have been more different, but each became important figures under the coach as he led the team during three incredibly successful seasons.

Pirlo of course was at the heart of each triumph, controlling the tempo of games the way he always had, but spurred on by Milan’s lack of faith in him. He was instantly adored by Juve supporters, while Giovinco often struggled with the weight of expectation that came with representing his hometown club. He was once booed from the field, only for Conte to put an arm around him and silence the crowd, his unwavering support undoubtedly behind Giovinco’s resurgence, leading to his recall to the Italian national team and, ultimately, his move to Toronto.

As Seba began to shine in MLS, Pirlo was helping Juventus reach their first Champions League final since 2003, and as the full time whistle blew to confirm defeat at the hands of Barcelona, he broke down in tears as his last chance to win European football’s ultimate prize was lost. It seemed that he was ready to say goodbye to the Old Lady, and Giovinco told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that his former team-mate had already reached out to discuss life in North America:

“Some time ago he asked me how things were going for me. I told him it was a good experience, something worth trying. I don't think I was the one who convinced him but I hope to see him playing against us.
“The level of football here is not comparable to the European one. But I'm convinced it can turn into an increasingly important championship over the years.”

Teammates both with Juventus and Italy, Giovinco benefitted from playing alongside Pirlo, the bearded genius creating four goals for the striker during their time together, including a neat set-piece effort against Siena. All too often however, he would be sat on the bench watching the midfielder run the show, opportunities to showcase his own talent growing all too rare and prompting him to take up TFC’s offer.

Those roles will be reversed on Sunday however, with Pirlo expected to be in the stands watching as TFC travel to Yankee Stadium to face his new side. Giovinco – already in the top five for both goals and assists this season – will be looking to put on a show for his former Juventus running mate, while NYCFC continue their bid to climb the Eastern Conference standings.

“I had four fantastic years where we started from scratch and built a winning team which achieved tremendous success,” Pirlo said this week as he reflected on his time at Juventus, and unlike Milan, the Bianconeri thanked him properly. President Andrea Agnelli expressed “the immense fondness I have for the man and player,” at a press conference on Monday, going on to sum up Pirlo’s time at the club perfectly. “We’ve enjoyed four unforgettable years with Andrea and he’ll always be made to feel at home here,” Agnelli continued. “We wish him all the best with his new adventure in America.”

Before 2015, the career paths of the two Italian stars could not be more different, and now it is Andrea Pirlo looking to follow in the footsteps of the ‘Atomic Ant’ as he prepares to embark on the latest chapter of a stellar career.

Follow Adam Digby on Twitter and check out his book Juventus: A History In Black And White