Skip to main content

'I Was A Fool To Turn Down Arsenal' - Juventus Star Chiellini Reveals Gunners Regret


The Italy international defender had the opportunity to join the Premier League side at 16 but turned down their advances to stay in his home country

Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini has admitted that he regrets turning down the chance to join Arsenal when they attempted to sign him at the age of 16.

Chiellini, who joined Juve in 2005, has become synonymous with the Italian champions, winning nine Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia trophies, as well as reaching the final of the Champions League twice.

However, the 36-year-old central defender has revealed that 20 years ago he had the opportunity to sign for Arsene Wenger's Gunners, but turned them down because he did not want to leave boyhood club Livorno - a decision he now regrets.

In an interview with French magazine So Foot, Chiellini says: "In hindsight, I was a fool to decline that offer. I was 16, I played in Serie C, I got a huge offer.

"I didn't feel ready. If I had accepted, it would have given the impression of betraying Livorno."

Chiellini is now into his 16th season with Juventus, but remained a player of interest for Arsenal long after their failed attempts to recruit him as a teenager.

Former Gunners striker Robin van Persie revealed in December 2020 that he had tried to persuade Wenger to return for the now-established Italy international, in order to boost Arsenal's ultimately futile attempts to win the Premier League title.

Van Persie said: "At a given moment I felt called upon to say what Arsenal could do better in order to win the league. I felt we lacked a winning mentality, and asked Arsene Wenger to sign Giorgio Chiellini.


"I have played against him a few times, and he is a genuine winner. 

"He is 36 years old, but he'll dish out nine elbows every game with a smile on his face. He'll keep smiling and never get a yellow card. You need those types of winners and killers in your side. I felt we should get him.”

In his So Foot interview, Chiellini also revealed the respect he holds for AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, calling him the "best enemy" he has had in his career.

Chiellini said: "I respect Zlatan a lot, we respect each other. We were team-mates, in my first season at Juve. I was never afraid to face him, never took a step back in front of him. He already had extraordinary physical strength.

"Ater that he became the absolute enemy, when he moved. The best enemy of my career is Ibrahimovic, without a doubt." 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Arsenal Fans Convinced Gabriel Magalhaes Transfer Is Imminent After Latest Instagram Post

Arsenal fans are convinced Gabriel Magalhaes is in north London and could sign for the club today. It is believed that the Gunners could complete a deal to sign Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes today, despite a late bid from Manchester United. That’s according to multiple reports on Saturday morning, that claim the Gunners have made an “intriguing offer” to Lille. United made a late move for the Brazilian centre-back, but Arsenal matched Napoli’s offer of €26m plus €4m add-ons, according to the reports. This means Magalhaes is now very close to joining the Gunners, and bar a late bid from United, the deal could be completed over the weekend. And now Arsenal fans are convinced Gabriel’s transfer is imminent following his latest Instagram post. One supporter posted a tongue-in-cheek picture with joke annotations to signify why Gabriel could be in London. Lille's president Gerard Lopez confirmed last weekend that several clubs had met their asking price for the Brazilian. "He [Ga...
Post a Comment
Read more

OBA GHA TOH KPERE!! Oba Of Benin, Ewuare II Welcomes First Child On The Throne After Three Years Of Installation

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Ewuare II, on Monday announced the arrival of a newborn baby into the royal house. The traditional ruler, who was installed on October 20, 2016, welomed a baby boy with his second wife Princess Iyayota (Obazuwa Nerie) Oba Ewuare who disclosed this at a press briefing at his palace through the Iyase of Benin, thanked God and the ancestors for the baby, noting that mother and child are alive, hale and healthy. “By the grace of the Almighty God and the benevolence of our ancestors, the Benin Traditional Council on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’ Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Oba of Benin and the Royal Palace of Benin Kingdom, joyfully wish to announce that her Royal Highness, Queen Iyayota of Benin kindgom has been delivered of a bouncing baby boy,” the statement read “The infant Prince and his mother are in excellent health and good spirits. It is our prayers that the Prince will grow in good health, excellence and grace and that h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Senate Tells Buhari - Sack NDDC IMC Now

President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to sack the Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the Nigerian senate. The lawmakers hinged their call for the sack of NDDC’s IMC on financial recklessness and also recommended that the agency should be returned to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for proper supervision. The senate which adopted the recommendations of its “Ad hoc Committee on the investigation of the alleged financial recklessness in the NDDC”, also ordered the current IMC to refund the N4.923billion it paid to staff and contractors in breach of the procurement process and approvals. Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North) who presented the report said; “In conclusion, the Committee noted that it is difficult to find a correlation between Niger Delta community development and cash invested in the zone. “Continue...
Post a Comment
Read more