Giorgio Chiellini will say goodbye to the Italian national team this summer. Whether the 37-year-old will also draw a line at Juventus Turin is still open.
When Giorgio Chiellini made his first appearance for the Italian national team in November 2004, 1. FC Kaiserslautern were level with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga table, Werder Bremen were reigning double winners and Jürgen Klinsmann had replaced Rudi Völler as national coach a few months earlier.
Now, almost two decades later, Chiellini has announced he will end his career with the Squadra Azzurra. “I will say goodbye to the national team at Wembley Stadium, where I experienced the highlight of my career by winning the European Championship,” the 37-year-old told DAZN on Monday evening.
In London, Chiellini won the European Championship title against England last July, and he returns with Italy in June for the “Finalissima” against Argentina, the clash between European champions and Copa America winners. “I would like to say goodbye with a nice memory,” the centre-back said after coming on as a second-half substitute in Juventus’ 2-1 defeat to Sassuolo on Monday.
Chiellini: “My love for Juventus does not end “
Chiellini left it open whether he will continue to play for the Bianconeri in the future. “My love for Juventus doesn’t end, it will never end,” Chiellini said, but also stressed that he would have to “weigh everything up until the end of the season”. His contract runs until 2023, but a decision on whether he will fulfil it will only be made after the Coppa Italia final on 11 May against Inter Milan.
