Alessandro Fagioli, the brother of breakout Juventus talent Nicolo, revealed which clubs he previously turned down and his special relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 21-year-old Italian midfielder recently broke into the Bianconeri first team under Massimiliano Allegri, scoring in back to back games against Lecce and Inter. Fagioli now looks set to become a mainstay in the Juventus first team, being a successful product of their youth system.
Speaking to Tuttosport, Alessandro Fagioli first discussed his brother’s situation at Juventus before his breakthrough game against Lecce.
“He was used very little, despite the fact that the opportunities to include him were there, at least in appearance. Nicolo’s merit was that he did not stop believing, he was very good at waiting for his moment.
“Before that match his phone calls were sad, he wasn’t playing and couldn’t give himself an explanation, he was discouraged.”
He commented on the changes experienced by his brother since his breakthrough.
“The match against Lecce showed how much talent Nicolò is capable of putting at the service of the team. The goal made us burst with joy, my mother, father and I followed the game in different places.
“But when he scored it was a liberating moment. We knew from Nicolò on the eve of the match that he would play from the start, then suddenly we saw Soulé as a starter. So when he came on and scored, the happiness was indescribable.”
Fagioli spoke about the praise of Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero.
“Receiving his compliments was a very strong emotion, even just listening to his words for Nicolò meant a lot. Even the phone call from his great friend Alvaro Morata was beautiful.”
He touched on the summer transfer window and if Fagioli was really close to leaving the Bianconeri.
“We never got in the way of the work of Andrea D’Amico, his agent. We knew all along that Nicolò’s intention was to stay at Juve, but he risked finding little space.
“Staying was a choice shared with the club. In the last days of the market, Cremonese and Sampdoria had come forward, but in the end Nicolò stayed. And all parties agreed on this move, the club, the coach and himself.”
Fagioli spoke about his brother’s relationship with coach Allegri and former forward Ronaldo.
“Very professional, in recent weeks he has told him many times that he had to remain calm. He stood by him, promising him that the right moment would come, it did.
“In the past Nicolò also clung on to the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo in the locker room, they had a wonderful bond, CR7 always confessed to him that he saw great talent in him. So he advised him to work twice as hard, to never give up.”
He discussed his brother’s call up to the Italian national team.
“I found out on social media, the call from Italy was a surprise for us too. Mancini wants to put the foundations in place for the World Cup, Nicolò knows he is a player held in high esteem by the coach.”
He reflected on Nicolo’s battle with benign cardiac arrhythmia back in 2019.
“It was a big shock, it was a problem he had been carrying around for a long time. At a certain point, the Juventus medical staff proposed the operation, which Nicolò underwent.
“The club’s management was exceptional. He preferred to postpone his debut with the first team to avoid taking risks in the future.”
Fagioli discussed Juventus’ acquisition of the Italian midfielder back in 2015.
“Nicolò is a mama’s boy, he never liked distance. When he was in Cremonese’s youth system he said no to Manchester United, he didn’t feel ready to leave Italy.
“And for Juve he preferred to turn down interest from Inter, with whom he had a trial, Milan and Atalanta. Nicolò’s Bianconeri faith prevailed over everything.”
Finally, Alessandro Fagioli discussed a decisive person in his brother’s life.
“Without a doubt Gigi Milani, he followed him step by step in his growth. Juve has always been a family.
“The stage with Next Gen was also fundamental, an opportunity that allowed him to become great quickly. And then Andrea D’Amico, his advice was decisive. we will thank him for life.”
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