Chiellini To Leave Juventus After 17 Years
Giorgio Chiellini has announced he will leave Juventus at the end of this season after 17 years at the club.
Chiellini made the revelation after Juventus were beaten 4-2 by Inter Milan after extra-time in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old featured for 83 minutes but could not win a 21st major title with the Old Lady.
Chiellini won nine Serie A titles with Juventus, five Coppa Italias, the Italian Super Cup five times and the Serie B on one occasion. He also finished runners up in the UEFA Champions League twice.
Chiellini still had a year remaining on his Juventus contract and it is still unclear whether he will continue playing, having been linked with a late swansong in America's Major League Soccer.
Chiellini will say goodbye to the Juventus fans when they host Lazio in Serie A on Monday before completing their season at his former club Fiorentina.
"We had these 10 magnificent years, it's up to the lads to continue now," Chiellini said after the defeat to the Nerazurri.
"I did everything I could, I hope that I left something. On Monday I will say goodbye to my Juventus Stadium, then if I've still got something in the tank might have a run-out in Florence [against Fiorentina].
"It is my choice 100 per cent, I am happy to leave at such a high level, because for many years I've said I didn't want to finish struggling and not being able to play at my level.
"I gave it my all, soon I will be the biggest Juventus fan from the outside. After so many years within this club, you cannot shake it off."
Reflecting on the defeat to Inter, Chiellini added: "It’s disappointing, especially as Inter certainly had more of the ball, but we had more than enough chances."
"Mattia Perin basically didn't have to make a save, we conceded two fantastic goals and two penalties.
"Inter proved throughout the season they are stronger in all the head-to-head clashes, so that means something. I hope the anger of losing three out of four games against Inter will fire us up for next season.
"We know that you don't win a Scudetto just in the big games, but every day. It's a pity to end the season without trophies after a decade, but we need to use it as fuel for next season."
Chiellini will also call time on his international career next month when Italy play Argentina in a specially arranged game dubbed 'Finalissima' at Wembley.
