Mattia De Sciglio’s career hasn’t hit the heights it may have done in recent years. At one point, he had Liverpool trying to seal his signature and was in a position he felt he could turns the Reds down.
The revelation comes from the defender himself, who was sought-after in Italy during his time at AC Milan.
He was 24 at the end of the 2016/17 season and his contract at the Rossoneri was running out at the end of the campaign. There was uncertainty about his future and the Italian has spoken to Corriere della Sera about that point of his career.
He made it clear that Liverpool wanted him on a free transfer but he picked Juventus as his destination.
The 33-year-old told the newspaper: “Liverpool also wanted me, but I chose Turin. Allegri was on the bench, and the team was really strong.
“And finding myself in a dressing room full of champions, after having also played a key role in a European Championship, was a great revenge after the difficult period I’d been through.”
He also reflected on winning the Scudetto with Juventus after a period where he was often booed by Milan supporters.
“An enormous satisfaction. A goal I’d been chasing for a long time. A feeling difficult to put into words, winning a championship and celebrating it with an entire city.”
The newspaper also asked De Sciglio about his relationship with Max Allegri, who managed him for many years at both clubs.
“Of course, he’s the coach I’m closest to. He launched me at Milan, and in the toughest moments, he helped me stay positive.”
“Everything I did, however, I earned. There was never any favouritism. In fact, he always demanded more from me than he did from many others.”
Worked out well for Liverpool
The defender has no regrets about picking the Bianconeri over Liverpool.
At the time, Liverpool were yet to see Trent Alexander-Arnold emerge as a key player. De Sciglio could have been the solution to their issues in that position before the Englishman really rose to the top.
Considering how the defender never really met expectations, Liverpool not signing him may have been a stroke of luck. Besides, De Sciglio faced multiple injury issues constantly after he joined Juve. That also played a role in his career fading away.
That is perhaps why he remains without a club, having spent last season at Empoli.