Giorgio Chiellini Announces He Will Retire From the Italian National Team After Argentina Friendly

• Chiellini to call it quits from the national team after the Argentina friendly in June
• The centre back has amassed over 100 appearances for the national team since making his debut in 2004
• He is yet to decide whether or not he will prolong his stay with Juventus past this season

Giorgio Chiellini has announced that he will retire from the international stage in June. Chiellini will play his last game for Italy when they face Argentina in a friendly match at the Wembley Stadium.

The veteran defender has been a mainstay in national team colours, racking up 116 appearances in the process. He made his debut in 2004 and has since won the Euro 2020 and was also a runner up in the same competition in 2012.

He is the fifth most-capped Italian player. He is tied with former midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo. Daniele de Rossi, Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro and Paolo Maldini are the only players to have made more appearances than him.

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The 37-year old has also been part of the squad that has failed to make it to back to back World Cups. The Azzuri were eliminated by North Macedonia in the World Cup play-offs in what was a shock result.

Italy will play Argentina in June in a match organized by the European football body and their South American counterparts. Argentina are the reigning COPA America champions. Unlike their opponents, the Albiceleste have qualified for this year’s World Cup to be staged in Qatar.

Speaking to DAZN after Juventus’ 2-1 win over Sassuolo, Chiellini quipped that the Argentina match will be his chance to bid farewell to the national team.

I’ll say goodbye to the national team at Wembley, which is where I experienced the pinnacle of my career winning the Euros.

I’d like to say goodbye to the Azzurri with a nice memory. That will certainly be my last game with Italy.

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The Bianconeri skipper was also quick to note that he is yet to decide on his club future. Rumours have been swirling around that he could be on his way to the United States to see out his glorious career. But Chiellini is at the moment focused on finishing the season strongly.

The Old Lady will for the second successive year miss out on the Serie A title. They are however hunting down a Champions League spot. They are in a good position given that they are in fourth place, eight points clear of fifth-place AS Roma.

Juventus will also have a chance to claim silverware when they play Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia final next month.