Image credit: Getty Images
Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini has revealed he came close to joining Arsenal as a teenager but turned down the move due to dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer approach. Reflecting on the decision, Chiellini admitted it was a “stupid” choice at the time but one that ultimately shaped his illustrious career.
The Italian defender was just a promising youngster at hometown club Livorno when Arsenal approached him in 2000. Despite the allure of joining Arsène Wenger’s burgeoning dynasty, Chiellini declined to leave Livorno on a free transfer, feeling it was an unjust move for his club.
“I didn’t want to leave my hometown club on a free,” Chiellini explained. “I told my manager, ‘If you find an agreement with Arsenal, I’ll go, but not in this way.’ Then Livorno asked [Arsenal] for a lot of money, and the deal didn’t happen.”
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Shortly after, Chiellini broke into Livorno’s first team, and his career trajectory soared. In 2002, he joined Roma in a co-ownership deal but was loaned back to Livorno for two seasons. A loan spell at Fiorentina followed before he signed for Juventus in 2005, a move that would define his career.
Giorgio Chiellini
Giorgio Chiellini (Image credit: Getty Images)
In Turin, Chiellini cemented his legacy, winning 20 major trophies, including nine Serie A titles. He became a stalwart of the Italian national team, earning a reputation as one of Europe’s finest and most consistent defenders.
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Despite the glittering career that followed, Chiellini has reflected on his decision to reject Arsenal with mixed emotions. “I think that if I had a son at that age, I would tell him, ‘Go [to Arsenal]. You’re in the third division, not at Juventus or AC Milan,’” he said. “It worked out for me, but it was a bad decision at that time.”
Had Chiellini joined Arsenal, he would have faced a daunting task breaking into a defence that included legends like Tony Adams and Martin Keown. By 2001, the Gunners had further strengthened their backline with Sol Campbell and Kolo Touré, which might have limited opportunities for a young Chiellini.
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