Giorgio Chiellini reveals he wanted to play basketball as a child, but then tried to emulate “idol” Paolo Maldini.
The Juventus” data-scaytid=”3″>Juventus and Italy defender spoke to Vivo Azzurro ahead of tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Croatia.
Giorgio Chiellini reveals he wanted to play basketball as a child, but then tried to emulate “idol” Paolo Maldini.
The Juventus and Italy defender spoke to Vivo Azzurro ahead of tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Croatia.
“As a kid I wanted to play basketball and often did with my school friends, but then I was too short to continue. Fortunately I started playing football instead.
“Kobe Bryant is my hero in basketball, while in football I grew up watching my idol Paolo Maldini.”
Chiello looked back over his career, starting from Livorno on to Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”8″>Fiorentina and Juventus in 2005.
“Livorno is my hometown, so of course I had the biggest emotional moments there. I was really just a youngster at the time.
“Fiorentina represented an important year in my growth process, as for the first time I left home and got to know so many friends.
“Turin has become my city now after 10 years. I adore everything, from the club to the fans. Playing for the Nazionale is the dream of every child who starts playing football, so I know I’m very lucky.”
The 30-year-old defender also explained he would’ve taken a very different path.
“If I had not made my mark as a player, I think I would’ve studied medicine.”
Italy (probable): Buffon; Darmian, Ranocchia, Chiellini; De Sciglio, Candreva, De Rossi, Marchisio, Pasqual; Zaza, Immobile
Italy bench: Sirigu, Perin, Moretti, Rugani, Parolo, Bonaventura, Bertolacci, Soriano, El Shaarawy, Cerci, Pellè, Giovinco
Croatia (probable): Subasic; Srna, Corluka, Vida, Pranjic; Brozovic, Modric; Rakitic, Olic, Perisic; Mandzukic
Croatia bench: Kalinic, Vargic, Vrsaljko, Jedvaj, Lovren, Leovac, Halilovic, Badelj, Kovacic, Sharbini, Cop, Kramaric