Ex-Juventus star Giorgio Chiellini hints at retirement from football

Ex-Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini has reportedly hinted that he wants to retire after the MLS Cup Final defeat.

Chiellini currently plays for LAFC and helped them to reach the MLS Cup Final this year. However, LAFC were beaten 2-1 by Columbus Crew on Saturday.

Chiellini’s side were hoping to win the MLS Cup for the second year in a row, but they found themselves trailing by two goals at halftime. However, they pulled one goal back, but were unable to score a equaliser.

After losing the final, the Italian defender expressed his disappointment but insisted that LAFC must be proud of their achievements.

Chiellini joined LAFC in the summer of 2022 after the end of his contract with Juventus. The Legendary defender spent 18 years in Turin, scoring 36 goals in 561 appearances with the Old Lady, winning nine consecutive Serie A titles, one Serie B title, five Coppa Italia and five Supercups.

Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini hints at retirement after MLS Cup Final defeat

After the game, Chiellini addressed the press conference and said: “It was a beautiful journey; I said yesterday that, unfortunately, one of the two teams had to lose. About me…it could be my last game. I was very focused on it.

“Now I need to enjoy the family, go back to Italy and then make a final decision. I don’t want to decide something and then change [my mind],” he said.

“It’s been a beautiful journey since the beginning. To be honest, I had a lot of dreams and I’ve realised it’s been much better than I had dreamt for me and my family.

“In my future, I see Juventus. I don’t know in which role but it is a place where I have spent almost half of my life.

“I am still very attached to the club, and I am very happy that they are having a good season. And I can’t wait to return to the stadium during the Christmas holidays.”