After playing in his native Italy for over 20 years, veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini is moving to the United States. The 37-year-old defender is third on Juventus’ all-time appearance list and fourth in all-time appearances for the Italian National Team. He recently retired from international duty, playing his last game with Italy in the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions Finalissima against Argentina. Chiellini confirmed last month that he would leave Juventus once the season concluded. He is now bound for Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC.
Chiellini joined Juventus in 2004 winning nine Serie A titles and finishing as runner-up in the UEFA Champions League twice. In addition, he’s a three-time Serie A Defender of the Year and a one-time Juventus Player of the Year. Furthermore has won both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana five times each. Last summer, he helped Italy win the UEFA European Championship. His deal with LAFC runs through December of 2023. He’s expected to arrive in Los Angeles soon.
Giorgio Chiellini has cleared out his Juventus locker 🥺 pic.twitter.com/bvKAQtZfvq
— GOAL (@goal) June 12, 2022
What does Chiellini bring to the table for LAFC?
Leadership and veteran expertise are the most important factors. His list of accomplishments speaks for itself, but his experience and knowledge of the game are a great source of mentorship for the younger players. That being said, he can do more than make an impact on the pitch.
Chiellini has struggled with countless injuries for the past few seasons. It’s unclear if he’ll be a full-time player with LAFC. According to The Athletic, because LAFC did not give Chiellini a designated player contract, the defender will receive a salary of less than $2 million. In addition, since the deal is not long-term, it’s unlikely Chiellini will play every single game as a starter.
What does Chiellini have left to offer on the pitch?
It’s clear that Chiellini is not the player he was before due to his age. His medical history is also a cause for concern. In Chiellini’s case, it would not be good for him to end his career on a bad note. Based on the nagging injuries from his final years with Juventus, Chiellini is looking for a chance to redeem himself and finish his career strong. As long as he is healthy, Chiellini can still play at the level he’s always been on.
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