Massimo Ambrosini believes AC Milan lost a unique player in Andrea Pirlo, who joined Juventus last month, and said the Italy international is irreplaceable.

Pirlo, 31, left the the club after a decade at San Siro to join the Turin giants as his contract at the club expired.

Milan appeared reluctant to renew his deal, and Juve snapped him up on a free transfer and offered the midfielder a three-year contract.

Ambrosini, Milan's captain, feels Pirlo's loss is regrettable and he claims his club will struggle to replace him.

"We need a midfielder because Pirlo left us and someone like him is impossible to replace," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Juve have made a big deal as his absence will weigh heavily on the pitch and in the dressing room.

"There are players who can transform ordinary teams into successful sides, and Andrea is one of these players.

"I have known him for a long time. He is unique."

On the upcoming season, Ambrosini said: "I hope we start where we left off by winning and I hope to have less injuries."

The Serie A champions have been linked with Napoli's Marek Hamsik but Ambrosini recognises that the club are unlikely to relinquish their prize asset.

On this, the captain added: "He is a great player, but I don't think Napoli will let him go easily."

source: http://www.goal.com