Felipe Melo, the former midfielder for Inter, Fluminense, and Juventus, recently shared candid reflections on his former clubs and the state of Italian football in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Melo did not hold back when discussing Juventus’ recent defeat to Manchester City, delivering a pointed critique of their performance and revisiting his relationship with Giorgio Chiellini.
“They Played Like a Small Team”
Reflecting on Juventus’ approach against Manchester City, Melo remarked:
“They played like a small team. Everyone was behind, only defending, no initiative. Inter, two years ago, almost beat them in the Champions League final, but Juventus didn’t. Guardiola strolled through the match. Still, in the stands, I managed to run into Chiellini.”
Making Peace with Chiellini
The interview also touched on Melo’s past tensions with Giorgio Chiellini, now Juventus’ Director of Football Strategy. The two had a well-documented falling out during their playing days, exacerbated by comments Chiellini made in his autobiography. Melo described a recent encounter with Chiellini:
“He came to me with great humility. ‘Felipe, how are you?’ We hugged, he apologized, and that was it. Back then, I was 25, a brash kid, I argued with everyone, including him. I didn’t understand certain things: I’d arrive at the training ground half an hour before practice and leave right after. Today, at 42 and as a father, I recognize I had the wrong attitude. I’m glad we cleared things up.”
