Juventus have confirmed the contract extension of Giorgio Chiellini until 2023.
Rumours emerged towards the backend of 2020/21 that the stalwart defender would retire at the end of the season, but Chiellini, whose contract expired this summer, made it clear that he was keen to continue playing.
The 36-year-old enjoyed a fine end to the season before helping Italy to Euro 2020 glory last month. He was one of the best defenders at the tournament, proving that he’s got more than enough left in the tank.
Thus, Juventus were convinced to offer Chiellini an extension until 2023 which will see him play in Turin beyond his 38th birthday and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
It’s understood that Chiellini will €2.5m per season under his new contract.
Club statement
OFFICIAL | @chiellini has renewed his Juventus contract! Ⓒ✍️⚪️⚫️ #Chiellini2023
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) August 2, 2021
Regarding Chiellini’s extension, Juve said in a statement: “Giorgio Chiellini embodies everything that Juventus stands for, and it is through his commitment and excellent displays over the course of last 16 years that has earned him a contract renewal.
“There is an overlap in Giorgio’s DNA and that of Juve’s. He forms a big part of Juve’s history, yet also the present and the future. He is grit and passion; he is heart and focus. Giorgio is a thousand figures, a thousand numbers, many records and trophies, but he’s also made up of 11 elements…”
The club’s impassioned statement continued with the using of his surname to list out what makes the centre-half so imperative to Juventus. Captain, hero and infinite were three of the nine mentioned.
“TOGETHER. ONCE AGAIN. #CHIELLINI2023,” Juve concluded.
Chiellini interview
The Italian veteran spoke to Juventus TV after penning his extension, saying he hopes to “give my contribution and help this team to win more titles, which as we know here is the most important thing.”
The defender has won 14 pieces of silverware at the club, including nine Scudetti on the spin, since joining in 2004 and, should his body hold up, is set to play a key role at the start of Massimiliano Allegri’s second project at the club.
Chiellini said he’s “happy to see him again” and is “convinced” the Italian pragmatist is the “right man” to return Juventus to the promised land. The club claimed five Serie A titles under Allegri and reached a pair of Champions League finals.
The 36-year-old then ended the interview rather philosophically: “I always want to enjoy every moment and to think of the present,” he said.
“I’ve learned over the last few years that the only secret is to live in the moment and without thinking of faraway objectives.
“Now we need to get the engine going again after these few weeks when I needed time to recover, then we’ll take it one week at a time, game by game, and see where we end up,” he finished.