Samuele Dalla Bona had a four-year-long spell at Chelsea between 1998 and 2002.
He also spent some time with the Blues’ youth side, having arrived at Stamford Bridge from Atalanta at the age of only 17. The former midfielder played 73 times for Chelsea before departing for AC Milan.
He has now spoken to Gazzeta dello Sport about his time at the London club.
Dalla Bona revealed he ran from boarding school to seal the transfer with the help of Gianluca Vialli.
He said, relayed by [Calciomercato](https://www.calciomercato.com/liste/dalla-bona-inzaghi-e-shevchenko-al-milan-litigarono-prima-della-finale-di-champions-contro-la-juventus/blt0d990a20f42da617#cs6b0ca2e040ca0fa3): _“I was in Scotland for the Under-16 European Championship in May 1998. I played like a god. After losing the final, I found_ _Vialli next to the bus. ‘What does he want now?’ I thought.”_
Dalla Bona stated it was the Italian legend who convinced himm about the transfer.
_“I was 16. He told me Chelsea were looking for talented young players and that he wanted me to join him. A huge scandal broke out. I ran away from boarding school on the night of August 15th to go and sign in London.”_
The former midfielder looked back on support from Vialli and Claudio Ranieri that helped him in his early years.
_“I made my debut under Vialli in 2000, but it was Ranieri who gave me his faith. I was eighteen, surrounded by people like Hasselbaink, Desailly, Zola, Di Matteo, my friend Cudicini, Wise, Terry__.”_
_“Sometimes people would look at me and think, “Who is this guy?” In two years, I never heard him say “well done,” but Ranieri was fundamental, a mentor. And Vialli too.”_
Dalla Bona also spoke about his regret after leaving Chelsea and England, believing he should’ve stayed at Stamford Bridge forever.
_“It was a different kind of football, freer, without pressure. Panucci and Ranieri had warned me not to return to Italy._
_“However, in 2001 I turned down an offer from Venezia and the club dropped me from the squad. After two months Claudio reinstated me, but at the end of the season I left._ _I still think about it today. I should have stayed there forever.”_
Dalla Bona could only play 16 times for Milan. He had a spell at Napoli but played regularly only for one season.
At Chelsea, he came through the academy and played some major games across two seasons, scoring four times in the 2001/02 campaign.