Udinese sports chief Pietro Leonardi is delighted with the re-signing of defender Gianpiero Pinzi to a new contract.

Pinzi signed a deal through to 2012 this week and Leonardi said: "Independently from others, I find this a very important re-signing. For a very precise reason, because Pinzi for us is very important.

"He is needed here for his experience and the development of our project.

"We need Pinzi's experience and for that reason we gave him his new contract."