Claudio Marchisio has opened up on his Juventus past, his identity as a player, and the club’s present in a wide-ranging interview with DAZN.
The former Juventus midfielder reflected on the origin of his famous nickname. “I smiled, it worked out well — there are worse nicknames. Federico Balzaretti gave it to me in the dressing room when I was coming through from the youth team. I used to arrive in a shirt or dressed smartly; I’ve always been like that. Even at primary school I went in wearing a shirt. Do people see me as perfect? That’s just my character. But the nickname needs context: I was elegant and polite on the pitch, but without the ball I’d take the suit off. When I chased opponents, I was happy to get dirty. Technically, though, I was always clean. I’ve always been a bit vain, even as a child.”
He also spoke about the challenge of living under constant scrutiny. “When you’re a professional and the spotlight is on you, it’s not easy to step out of that persona. People see you as you are on the pitch and expect you to be the same off it. It weighed on my family too, because you’re always being watched. Even at a party, if you’ve got a beer or a glass of wine in your hand, you look around before taking a sip to see who’s watching.”
On Andrea Pirlo, Marchisio revealed a lighter side to the legendary playmaker. “Pirlo is genuinely funny. On the pitch he looked like he never felt pressure, but he always had a joke ready. He felt everything, but his comments were sharp and very amusing.”
Career moments, regrets and Juventus today
Discussing what it means to be a Juventus “flag-bearer”, he said: “It wasn’t easy to understand at first. I was born in Turin, came through the academy, even worked as a ball boy — I felt like a fan inside Juventus. Once, Alex Sandro read about my story and asked if I ever wanted a change, a different environment. But for me it was natural. I always found the energy to earn that dream. It was a responsibility, for me and for the fans, because I’d wanted it so much.
“Being a symbol isn’t about staying for many years — it’s about what you give every day. I use Tevez as an example: he stayed a short time but was a leader. As a team-mate, and even as a fan, you could see it in how he behaved. Anyone can become a symbol.”
He shared a behind-the-scenes moment involving Paulo Dybala. “After the Champions League final in Berlin, we were travelling back and Dybala was with us, about to join the club. He looked a bit intimidated. I went over to welcome him and told him it was true we’d lost, but we’d try again the following year.”
On Cristiano Ronaldo, Marchisio was clear about the standard he set. “If young players want an example of a great professional, it’s Cristiano Ronaldo. You need enormous mental strength to do what he does. What impresses me is his consistency — in training and even in his free time.”
Looking beyond football, he explained how he prepared for life after the game. “We play football from the age of five or six until the moment we stop. At 27 I opened my first communication and marketing agency, so I’d finish training and go straight to the office. I’ll always miss the pitch. Even now, when I’m at the side of it watching players warm up, I think I’d love to put my boots on and join them.”
His biggest regret remains in Europe. “My greatest regret? I wish I’d won at least one of the two Champions League finals. Those are scars that stay with you. Even now I rewatch the full matches and wonder if I could have done more.”
“Me at Juventus? Why not — we’ll see.”
Marchisio also revisited his time under Antonio Conte. “In the year of the first Scudetto, when Del Piero got his standing ovation, I asked Conte if I could come on for him. I wanted to become like Alex. I was on the bench that day, but for tactical reasons it didn’t happen.
“Once in Miami on tour, Conte gave us a night off but with a strict return time. The next morning, Vidal and I were late. I was terrified — I knew the manager would make me pay. Arturo was laughing. That day some players were sick: he made us run until we were throwing up. Arturo just kept running non-stop.”
On Juventus today, he admitted surprise at one absence in particular. “I’m surprised not to see Del Piero at the club, for the person he is and what he could offer. Me at Juventus? Why not — we’ll see.”
He also assessed the current team and management. “Spalletti arrived at a difficult moment. Historically, Juventus don’t change coaches this early in a season. You can see his influence, but sometimes that’s not enough. From now until the end of the season I hope Juve get back into the Champions League, and in the summer build something solid with him — something serious, competitive and credible.
“What’s missing are top players. Wearing an important shirt isn’t enough. To build a strong team you need money, but you also need to know how to spend it.”
Finally, he spoke about his relationship with former president Andrea Agnelli. “We speak every week. Recently we talked after some defeats, but only to revisit the victories of the past. I think Juventus will always be something he misses.”
