Edwin van der Sar’s Choice: Juventus Over Liverpool

Dutch football legend Edwin van der Sar has revealed that he opted for Juventus instead of Liverpool when he departed from Ajax.

Reflecting on His Time in Turin

The former Manchester United goalkeeper, who won the Champions League, reminisced about his experiences with the Italian giants.

In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he shared, “I had two options: Liverpool or Juventus. After discussions with both clubs, my heart led me to Italy. At that time, Serie A was considered the top league, and Juventus was a prestigious team that had previously defeated us in the 1996 Champions League final.”

A New Challenge

Van der Sar noted, “I was drawn to the iconic black and white jersey and intrigued by the prospect of playing for a club where a legendary goalkeeper like Dino Zoff made history.”

He further explained, “At Juventus, I encountered many differences from my time at Ajax, along with various challenges. My performance wasn’t as stellar as I’d hoped, but I harbor no regrets. Just as a striker faces scrutiny for not scoring, a goalkeeper must also accept criticism when goals are conceded. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience to live and compete in Italy.”

Fond Memories of Teamwork

Van der Sar reminisced about his Juventus teammates, stating, “During my first summer at the club, my teammates—including Ferrara, Iuliano, Zidane, Inzaghi, Zambrotta, and Davids—took me out for dinner. The culinary delights in Turin were exceptional. Even though I always attempted to cover the bill at the end of the meal, I never managed to pay.”