When you think of club legends who have done it all for their teams, Giorgio Chiellini is up there with the greatest of all time. The Italian center-back has played 423 games for Juventus since 2004, but he has now deemed it the right time to move on.
One of the best defenders ever to grace the game, the 37-year-old is now reportedly keen on taking on a new challenge in Major League Soccer.
Chiellini Has Embodied the Spirit of the Club for so Long
Ask any Juventus fan who their favorite player is, and many will list Chiellini. The player embodies the fighting spirit of the legendary Turin-based outfit, and he plays the game in the same way you’d imagine a fan from the stands to do so.
This is exactly what soccer supporters want to see, and the Old Lady is known to have some of the most dedicated and abundant fans in the world. Indeed, according to research into passwords from ExpressVPN, Juventus is the most used password in Italy. This highlights how, for many, the club is a big part of fans’ lives.
Chiellini has plied his trade in Serie A since 2000, and most of his appearances in the competition have been for Juventus. The only occasions when he hasn’t been in the famous black and white strip were when he played for Livorno and Fiorentina early on in his career.
Chiellini’s list of honors for the club is astounding. He has won the division nine times, the Coppa Italia five times, and the Supercoppa Italiana five times. Individually, he has been named defender of the year three times, and Juventus player of the year once. He was also placed in the Juventus Greatest XI of All Time in 2017.
Rumors Suggest Defender Could be Heading to the USA
Juventus captain Chiellini played his last home game for the club against Lazio, which ended in a 2-2 draw. He was substituted off in the 17th minute, to commemorate his 17 highly successful seasons with the club.
Reports now suggest that Chiellini will likely head to the MLS, where many parties will be highly interested in the experienced and exceptional player. Fabio Capello speculated that a move across the Atlantic was on the cards, and the player did not deny the claim.
According to Football Italia, there have been several offers coming in for the player from the MLS. These include Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy, and Toronto FC. With the defender being a sought-after player, he’s likely to have a lot of freedom in choosing where he goes.
After recently winning Euro 2020 with Italy, it’s clear that Chiellini is still able to operate at the highest level and will shore up the backline of any team he joins.
Chiellini is easily one of the most revered Juventus players ever to grace the club, and he will be sorely missed. But it is time for the club to evolve, and for the 37-year-old to pursue a fresh challenge.