It’s the end of an era for Juventus as longtime captain Giorgio Chiellini confirms he will be leaving the club after 17 years. In a battle built to face the European and Copa América champions, Giorgio Chiellini confirmed that he would wear the colours of the Italian national team for the last time after making his international debut nearly 18 years ago. Longtime captain Giorgio Chiellini will play in Juventus’ final two matches of the Serie A season but has not yet confirmed if he will continue to play.
Juventus veteran Giorgio Chiellini remained with Juventus throughout relegation due to the match-fixing scandal, returned to Serie A with the club and dominated Serie A as one of Italy’s top defenders in the following years. The sacking will end a nearly two-decade partnership with Juventus, during which Giorgio Chiellini has become one of the most iconic players in Juventus and Azzurri history. Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini has won nine Serie A titles and five Coppa Italia since joining Juventus from Fiorentina in 2005. Giorgio Chiellini’s departure will mark the end of an era, with the current Juventus captain representing the Old Lady crest in more than 550 appearances in all competitions. Giorgio Chiellini will be off the national radar due to an increase in persistent injuries in recent years and will leave Juventus this summer before his contract expires in June 2023 one year.
Chiellini, 37, is no longer the elite talent he once was, but he is still an excellent centre-back and should be a valuable addition to the MLS. He spent 18 seasons in the Italian top flight, including 17 with Juventus, where he made a total of 423 Serie A appearances. Chiellini began his professional career with AS Livorno in 2000 before joining Fiorentina in 2004. A year later, he joined Serie A heavyweights Juventus, becoming one of the club’s finest renowned players. His 559th appearance for Juventus came in the Coppa Italia versus Inter. Combined with his approaching retirement from Italy duty – having guided Italy to Euro 2020 victory last year before struggling to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup in Qatar 2022 – he leaves behind such a legacy that few others can equal as he plans for his next steps.
The 37-year-international old’s career would come to an end this summer when Italy plays Argentina in the ‘Finalissima’ match at Wembley, where he won Euro 2020 with Italy in July. At the post-match interview, he said, “It is my choice 100 per cent. I am happy to leave at such a high level because for many years. I have said I didn’t want to finish struggling and not being able to play at my level. I gave it my all; soon, I will be the biggest Juventus fan from the outside. After so many years within this club, you cannot shake it off.”
