Mattia Caldara has opened up about the biggest regret of his career, admitting that ignoring advice from Giorgio Chiellini and leaving Juventus in 2018 remains a painful mistake. In an interview with the “Centrocampo” podcast (as quoted by JuveOggi), the former defender, who retired only a few months ago, revisited a decisive turning point in his journey and described that decision as the greatest error he ever made.
“I Made A Big Mistake”
At the heart of Caldara’s regret is a conversation with Chiellini, then captain and now a club director. Having just returned to Juventus after his spell at Atalanta, Caldara was urged by Chiellini to stay in Turin, even if it meant limited game time, in order to learn from the champions around him.
“I made a mistake, I was completely wrong. It is the biggest regret of my life,” Caldara admitted, calling his choice a sign of a lack of mental strength. “Not listening to him is as if I had betrayed one of my idols,” he added, stressing that he should have stayed, been patient and taken advantage of the chance to grow in a winning environment.
The Move To Milan
In the summer of 2018, Juventus and Milan completed a high-profile swap deal that saw Leonardo Bonucci return to Turin and Caldara head to the Rossoneri. Tempted by the prestige of Milan and the prospect of more regular playing time in a team under reconstruction, the defender chose to leave.
“Milan is Milan,” he admitted, acknowledging how the allure of the club influenced his decision. However, the move did not unfold as hoped. A series of serious injuries derailed his progress and heavily conditioned his spell in Milan, ultimately contributing to a premature end to his playing career. Today, that ignored piece of advice from Chiellini remains a constant “what if” in Caldara’s mind, a reminder of how his football story might have taken a very different path had he decided to stay at Juventus.
