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.
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 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