Milan coach Stefano Pioli spent three years at Juventus, but when he left Parma in 1984, he was destined to join Inter, his favourite club at that time…
The 56-year-old was one of Italy’s most promising defenders in the 80s. Pioli had scored the winner in a decisive Serie D clash between Parma and Sanremo in 1984 helping the Ducali earn promotion to Serie C1.
As recounted by La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Parma had agreed to sell Pioli to Inter, but during the trip to Milan, the current Milan coach was informed that the destination had changed and that he would join Juventus.
Giovanni Trapattoni and Giampiero Boniperti strongly wanted Pioli and made a better offer to the club, leaving the player disappointed as he had dreamed of joining Inter, being a Nerazzurri fan at that time.
The day Pioli left Parma to join Inter, he travelled to Milan by car along with his father Pasqualino and the Ducali’s sporting director Riccardo Sogliano. The latter stopped at a gas station close to Fiorenzuola, saying that he needed to make a phone call.
When he returned to the car from the phone booth, he had a big smile on his face and informed the Piolis that Juventus had offered Parma almost 1b Italian Lira, so the destination changed.
Pioli and his father were so upset that they didn’t say a word during the trip to Turin, but the Rossoneri coach went on to play three years in Turin and had the pleasure of sharing the dressing room with some of the best players at that time, from Paolo Rossi to Michel Platini.
Pioli was 19 when he joined Juventus. He left Turin three years later, moving to Verona, after winning one Serie A title, one Champions League, one UEFA SuperCup and a Club’s World Cup at Juventus.