Barzagli To Retire At The End Of The Season

By Max Wise

Veteran Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has announced his intention to retire from football at the end of the season.

The 37-year-old is a member of Juventus’ famed ‘BBC’ defense comprising himself, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, but he has been on the fringes of the Bianconeri first team recently, making just six Serie A appearances all season.

Barzagli was given a rare start against SPAL on Saturday in a much changed Juventus set-up, as the league leaders failed to wrap up the title early in a 2-1 defeat, and the former Italy international admitted afterwards that this season was going to be his last.

“I've thought about it[retirement] a lot, Barzagli told Sky Sport Italia after the game.

“When you're a footballer you have trouble thinking about the aftermath but because of injuries you have to think about it.

“I am attracted to everything and will evaluate my options in the coming months.

“Manager, coach or columnist? I have to understand what I could be good at and what could interest me.

“I have to find something that gives me great enthusiasm.”

Barzagli has won the Italian Serie A title in each of his seven seasons with Juventus after joining from German side Wolfsburg in January 2011, where he also won a Bundesliga title.

Barzagli was also a member of the Italian side that won the FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006.