"I would have liked to change my history with the World Cup, unfortunately I did not succeed. But I have no regrets, I can define my career in one way only: unimaginable".
Scanned by the applause of the crowded Aula Magna in Coverciano, Giorgio Chiellini thus closed his last real conference as captain of the national team: he could speak again between now and Wednesday, when he faces the final against Argentina in London, at the Wembley stadium where 11 months ago he became European champion, but he will not have time to retrace his entire 18-year and 116-game blue adventure (with the next one he will reach Daniele De Rossi in 4th place who, in the staff of coach Mancini, will be on the bench ).
Chiellini was 15 years old when he crossed the gates of Coverciano for the first time, with an Under 15 team ('' I will miss all the boys, I had the pleasure of sharing the locker room with many young people over the years, they are little brothers '' '): he has since become one of the strongest defenders in the world and a point of reference for many teammates.
"I have realized the most beautiful dream I could have as a child, more than I could have imagined. Precisely for this reason I am enjoying it to the fullest and I have decided to leave at high levels. After the Italian Cup final with Inter I am preparing for weeks for the match against Argentina because I wanted to finish well. It would not have been the same, with all due respect, to finish in the Nations League with Germany ... ".
In 2006 he was not part of the Italian expedition that won the last World Cup, those of 2010 and 2014 he played but they were disappointing.
Then in March came the defeat against Macedonia, "the draws in September complicated us as well as the sub-optimal conditions with which we presented ourselves in March. Sorry because we could have had a good World Cup. Obviously it was destiny and I believe it, in football as in life, but you have to learn to know how to lose and if you can then you have more strength, I also think about the Champions League that I was unable to win with Juve. But I have no regrets, I am proud of the work I have done on myself the same all these years. And then - he winked - I experienced the European Championships as a protagonist until I won the last one ".
The armband in the national team will pass to the arm of Leonardo Bonucci with whom he has been a 'steady couple' in Juventus for years: "Before me there was Buffon, then Cannavaro, everyone has their own way of being. Leo smiles less than me ? What counts is always being yourself and support for your teammates with your own characteristics. I have always tried to convey my values, Leo will be a good captain. "
As for the heirs in his role, Chiellini has no doubts: '' Bastoni has a great future and I have been saying this for some time, he just has to play and have the chance to make mistakes, because at 23 you can't be perfect and in any case he has everything to improve and being able to spend 10-12 years with the Italy shirt ". Then he launched a proposal: '
We should put some old-fashioned defender to teach young defenders the pleasure of contact with the opponent: I was lucky because I grew up with Cannavaro, at the time the strongest in the world in his role, I always tried to steal something from him despite having different characteristics. "To those who asked him what he would do to get Italian football out of the crisis, he replied:" I love him otherwise I wouldn't have stayed that long, I would have run away sooner.
Obviously there is something to improve and change and I hope new regulations will be made to have more freedom and courage, so far ideas and people have clashed against insurmountable walls. "He appeared however confident about the future of our football and the national team:" in the meantime happy that Mancini remained as coach,
for me it is a guarantee of growth and with him we will be able to defend the European title in two years.
There will be no lack of difficulties and must be taken into account but I am sure that we will be ready for the next big events ".
A short journey into the most beautiful memories in blue: "The victory of the European Championship and the challenge on Wednesday that will bring me back to Wembley. Then obviously the debut which is always beautiful and magical".
For now, he has not prepared any particular speech to the team ("I am more a man of hugs than of words") and even his future remains shrouded in uncertainty even if one year in California, in the MLS, intrigues him: "I'll think about it. after the competition with Argentina and the trip to Disneyland with my daughters, there will be the whole month of June to decide and - he concluded with a smile - we will have to wait for my wife's ok ".