Del Piero set to bow out at Coppa Italia final

The 37-year-old Juventus captain is a hero in Turin, having scored 290 goals in 704 games, but the board has not renewed his contract and is likely to head to the United States next term.

Over 19 years, Del Piero has won six Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, one Champions League and an Intercontinental Cup, as well as the 2006 World Cup with Italy.

That same year as the Azzurri's triumph in Berlin, he took a step down to Serie B - Italian football's second tier - after Juve were relegated following a match-fixing scandal.

After being substituted in the second half, he accepted the invitation to stand in front of the Juventus Stadium's Curva Sud and the applause of teary-eyed ultra supporters, before heading over to the other side of the ground and receiving a similar ovation.

"I've never seen such a thing before. Let's say that the fans won us another title," said the number 10 after his tribute.

"What happened today is something incredibly beautiful, the bond with these people goes beyond anything else."

For opponents Napoli it would be their fourth cup triumph, the first since 1987 and first silverware since their 1990 Serie A title and Italian Supercoppa win, back in Diego Maradona's heyday.

"If I were De Laurentiis I would make a good transfer, if Inter Milan offer lots of money," said Maradona.

"This is the right moment to sell him, but Inter have to pay like they did for Ronaldo."