The former defender between past and future. "After the playoff against Sweden, I didn't sleep for nights. The strongest attacker? Ibra. Bastoni is extremely strong. And let's give Calafiori and Buongiorno some time..."
Giorgio Chiellini has chosen to tell his story in an interview with Vivo Azzurro tv, the national team's channel. Among the topics he has talked about, it's impossible not to bring up the old days in defense with Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli. Not to mention the European Championship won in 2021, of which, he says, "I keep indelible memories. An insane satisfaction, shared with all my teammates."
The beginnings of a great champion
"I've played for practically all the national youth teams," Chiellini says. "As a boy, it seemed like a dream to wear the Under-15 or Under-16 jerseys." His professional debut came in the early 2000s, in Serie C1, with Livorno. The 2004-05 season, his only one at Fiorentina, marked his debut in Serie A.
The following year saw the beginning of a very long stint at Juventus (2005-2022), where he is currently a manager: "I consider it a sort of second family; Turin has become my city. I've given so much to this club: I've sacrificed part of my personal life, but I've been repaid with extraordinary sporting successes and the affection of millions of fans." It's been a magnificent journey, shared with great teammates and facing great opponents. "The strongest striker I've faced? Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who I also played with when he arrived in Italy: a truly remarkable figure. The teammate who taught me the most was Cristiano Ronaldo."
A look back: the warrior
"If I look back," Chiellini emphasizes, "I think back to some youthful mistakes, some early career excesses. The 'warrior' icon is a part of me, but in those years it was as if I needed an enemy. I worked on this aspect: it was just wasted energy. I would add that the birth of my first daughter contributed to this maturation process." Italy and the triumph at Wembley—a maturation that led him to be, for a long time, one of the national team's leaders.
BBC: A golden era, but be aware of the giants
The former Juventus defender continued: "The 'BBC', Barzagli-Bonucci-Chiellini, is a combination that is still remembered today. Was it the strongest Azzurri defense in history? No, although there's no doubt that, with my friends Andrea and Leo, to whom I'd add Buffon, we marked a period in Italian football. However, if I think of Baresi, Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro... Well, I certainly don't consider myself stronger than them. Looking at today, I can say that, for example, Bastoni is very strong. And then there are Calafiori, Buongiorno, who it's right to follow their path without too much pressure. Thinking about the next World Cup, I say that our boys 'must' qualify to give this joy to the many children who haven't even seen Italy participate yet. I dream of a final between Italy and Brazil coached by Ancelotti, with whom, among other things, I played. I'm sorry I've never worked. It would be a historic match."