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When the calendar flipped from June to July, it meant that Giorgio Chiellini became a free agent. But, unlike the man he took over as captain for, we’ve known for weeks now that the 36-year-old Chiellini isn’t going to be heading anywhere for preseason training other than Continassa.
Translation: A new contract, especially with Max Allegri back, has been in the works, and it was just a matter of when Juve’s captain was going to sign it.
Well, now we have an apparent idea of when that will be.
According to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano, it is just a matter of days before Chiellini officially signs on for the 2021-22 season. As Romano put it, Chiellini will sign his contract at some point next week, with Chiellini wrapping up his international duty with the Italian national team in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final against England. Upon Italy’s return from London, one could surmise that one of Chiellini’s first stops after unpacking will be to Juventus’ headquarters to sign his new deal.
Giorgio Chiellini will sign his new contract with Juventus until June 2022 next week. Confirmed and done. ⚪️⚫️ #Juventus https://t.co/Iv202N99fp
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 10, 2021
Chiellini was rumored to potentially be exploring new opportunities toward the end of the 2020-21 season, but Allegri’s return to Juventus was the clear tipping point in the veteran defender deciding to stay on for another season. It was, as has been reported, essentially a request of Allegri for Chiellini to stay another season, which will obviously keep a key locker room presence around during the transition to a new (yet familiar) manager.
Chiellini, as he’s shown during Italy’s run to the Euro 2020 final, still has something left in the tank. As always, it’s always going to be about how healthy he can stay to be a consistent contributor. And with Allegri coming back, it will be interesting to see just how much he will lean on Chiellini to play regularly or if Matthijs de Ligt and Leonardo Bonucci will be Juve’s two starting center-backs.
No matter what his role may be, we know Chiellini is going to be around for another season, and that’s never going to be a bad thing. And if he plays like he has this summer, then even better.