Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini will retire from international football after the European champions’ friendly against Argentina at Wembley in June 2022.The 37-year-old Juventus centre-back has made 116 appearances for the Azzurri but was the captain of the squad that failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.Mamma mia! European Champions are missing the second World Cup in a row”I’ll say goodbye to the national team at Wembley, where I experienced the pinnacle of my career, winning the Euros,” Chiellini told DAZN after Juventus’ 2-1 win at Sassuolo.The impeccable defender who made his Italy debut back in 2004, was a crucial player in the team that beat England on penalties in last summer’s European Championship final.The curse of ‘Kiricocho’: Did decades-long superstition tarnish England title hopes?”I’d like to say goodbye to the Azzurri with a nice memory. That will certainly be my last game with Italy,” he added.Chiellini, also a Euros runner-up in 2012, is joint fifth in the list of Italy’s most-capped players alongside Andrea Pirlo. Only Daniele de Rossi, Paolo Maldini, Fabio Cannavaro and Gianluigi Buffon have made more appearances.The veteran centre-back has not decided whether to prolong his club career beyond this season.”My love affair with Juventus is not ending. It will never end,” said Chiellini. What’s ‘wrong’ with Chiellini?! (VIDEO)”Of course, from now to the end of the season, I do have to evaluate everything and talk to my family about what is best.WED: 21.15: (8.50) BOLOGNA (4.50) INTER (1.40)”Let’s reach fourth place [in Serie A] first and win the Coppa Italia, and then we’ll sit down with my two families – at home and Juventus – to figure out what is best for everyone.”It was the same last summer. I took time and didn’t sign the new contract until after the Euros. At my age, you can’t look too far into the long-term, but that’s only natural. It’s all fine, ” concluded Chiellini.
