Chiellini commits to Old Lady

Chiellini commits to Old Lady
Thursday 26 June, 2008

Giorgio Chiellini has renewed his contract with Juventus and set his sights on the captain’s armband.

After enjoying a revelatory 2007-08 campaign with the Old Lady, Chiellini was one of few Italy players to emerge from Euro 2008 with plaudits.

And the Turin giants have shown their faith in the Pisa native by offering him a contact extension that will tie him to the club until 2013.

“My hope is that I will be able to be Juventus captain,” Chiellini enthused.

“At the moment there is Alessandro Del Piero and after him Gigi Buffon. As long as Gigi is playing he will be captain, but in the future it would be a great pleasure to follow him.”

Chiellini was nearly sold to Manchester City last summer, but he demonstrated his importance to the Bianconeri when he took advantage of an injury crisis caused by the serious blow to Jorge Andrade.

“I showed that I deserve an important role for this team,” he said. “I want to thank the club, Claudio Ranieri and my teammates for all the help I have received.

“Negotiations for a renewal of my contract have been going on since the winter. We had a basic agreement, but we wanted to meet after the European Championship.

“It was a year to remember, but what happened to the national side was a shame. I would have preferred to be in Vienna right now and I thought we could win Euro 2008.

“It was an almost perfect season, but for me it is something to build on. Now the Champions League is something to look forward to.”

With the arrival of Swedish stopper Olof Mellberg and the possible signature of Dario Knezevic, there will be more competition for places in Juve’s defence next term.

“We will be playing so many games that there will be space for everyone,” Chiellini claimed.

“Mellberg is an experienced defender and will give us a real hand. The important thing is to have a big squad available and then whoever is in form can play.

“I can still improve in so many ways, especially in terms of speed and marking and the relationship with the other defenders is also important.

“I think that I have done well in taking my chances for Juve and Italy,” he continued.

“You need a little fortune and I have helped things by being able to change positions – I can play in the middle or as a wing-back.

“I don’t want to choose between the League and the Champions League for next season because I’m hoping we can go far in both.”

Chiellini finished by giving his view on the closing stages of Euro 2008.

“My favourites are Germany,” he said. “They are a great group with such determination.

“As for the Azzurri, we will start work in August. Some things will change but we will be the same group and whoever is in charge will make his decisions.”

*channel4