Mattia De Sciglio, now a free agent at 33, has no intention of ending his career. In a candid interview with Corriere della Sera, the former Milan and Juventus defender reflected on his journey, from his early days at San Siro to his years in Turin, revealing both regrets and proud moments.
“I train every day to stay in shape. I have no plans to stop — I feel good and can still give a lot. I can’t wait to get back on the pitch,” De Sciglio said, determined to continue his career.
From Milan Darling to Scapegoat
De Sciglio’s story began at Milan, the club he supported as a child. “I was living a dream. I was a Milan fan wearing the red-and-black shirt, and Maldini was my idol,” he recalled. Ironically, Inter had also shown interest when he was young, “but they dropped me because I was too small. Soon after, Milan called — and the rest was history.”
However, the dream gradually turned sour. Injuries and disappointing results led to growing tension with fans. “Some supporters and parts of the media blamed me for everything. They were waiting for any mistake to criticize me. My social media pages were full of insults. I couldn’t understand it. I had always behaved professionally.”
The Final Year at Milan
His last season with the club was his hardest, shadowed by speculation about a move to Juventus. “I actually hadn’t spoken to anyone yet,” De Sciglio explained. “But those rumors only made things worse.” Despite being team captain, he struggled emotionally: “That childhood dream became a nightmare. The captain’s armband just gave people another reason to attack me. Thankfully, some fans still supported me.”
Choosing Juventus Over Liverpool
When his Milan chapter ended, De Sciglio had several suitors — including one of England’s biggest clubs. “Liverpool wanted me, too, but I chose Juventus,” he revealed. “Allegri was there, the team was strong, and joining a squad full of champions felt like a real comeback after a tough time.”
“I Was Never Allegri’s Protégé”
At Juventus, De Sciglio reunited with Massimiliano Allegri, under whom he won titles. He also addressed the long-standing label of being Allegri’s “favorite.” “That term doesn’t fit,” he insisted. “Sure, I’m closest to him because he gave me my debut and supported me through hard times. But I earned everything myself. There were never any favors — if anything, he demanded more from me than from others. He used to call me ‘Eat and sleep,’ because all I thought about was football.”
The End of His Juventus Journey
De Sciglio also opened up about the turbulent final months of his time in Turin. “We had gone through two very tough seasons. The coach carried all the pressure to protect us, and you could see it all come out in that Coppa Italia final,” he said, referencing Allegri’s departure.
Then came a new chapter — and an unexpected exclusion. “After recovering from a torn ACL, Thiago Motta arrived. I was hopeful, especially since we’d played together for Italy. But I wasn’t even allowed to attend preseason camp. They just told me, ‘You’re not part of the project,’ without any explanation. I had two options: find another club or spend the year out of the squad. I had hoped to end my time at Juventus differently.”
