Alessandro Del Piero says he would not sell Paul Pogba if he were the one to make that decision at Juventus.
Del Piero, 40, spent most of his playing career with the Bianconeri and saw how the sale of Zinedine Zidane for a then world-record 75 million euros did not necessarily weaken them as the money was invested well.
Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram and Pavel Nedved were bought back in 2001 and they went on to win back-to-back scudettos. However, times have changed and Del Piero says Juve must resist the temptation to cash in on a player they signed for free just two and a half years ago, even if he is rated at 100 million.
"In Sydney last year I go to play against Paul and he made a great impression on me for the way he combined strength and technical ability," Del Piero told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "The fans don't like losing their champions either so I would keep hold of Pogba, also because he's quality, he's well-mannered and you can grow fond of him.
"The two situations cannot be compared either. Now it would be difficult to re-invest 100 million with the same efficiency with which Zidane was replaced when he was the best player in the world back then."
Del Piero says he has no regrets about not having had the chance to play in the same side as Pogba, having left Juve at the same time the Frenchman arrived from Manchester United, although he says he would not have any qualms about being given that opportunity belatedly.
"I'd just like to remind people that I am a free agent, even for Juve -- if they want me," said Del Piero, who is still on the search for a new club after his participation in the Indian Super League came to an end.
Even AC Milan, Juve's opponents this Saturday night, would be a perfect address for Del Piero to end his career at officially.
"They tried to sign me in 1992, before I joined Juve," Del Piero said. "But Padova's sporting director [Piero] Agradi asked for a lot of money for me and Juve came in. But I would say one thing to [Milan president Silvio] Berlusconi: now I'm a free agent and if he wants me, I'm here.
"Joking aside, I'm delighted by the appreciation he showed me. For football and for Milan, Berlusconi has been very important."