New revelations have surfaced in the ongoing investigation into illegal betting activities involving Serie A players, with Nicolò Fagioli’s statements shedding light on the extent of the network. According to case documents, Fagioli admitted to receiving incentives for recruiting fellow players into illicit gambling operations.
Fagioli’s Role in the Scandal
The former Juventus midfielder, now at Fiorentina, disclosed in statements from October 2023 and February 2024 that he purchased “fifteen watches from a Milan jewellery store,” some valued at €15,000-€20,000 each, with inflated prices used to settle gambling debts. He confirmed that creditors collected “four or five” of these watches.
Fagioli also revealed that gambling organizers offered him “advantages” if he brought in other bettors. Tommaso De Giacomo, the alleged ringleader currently facing house arrest, reportedly pressured Fagioli to recruit more players. Chat logs from 2022 show De Giacomo instructing Fagioli: “Good job, reel him in… work for me… and of course, I’ll give you a gift.”
Players Allegedly Recruited
Investigators found evidence that Fagioli successfully brought in Atalanta defender Raoul Bellanova and attempted to involve Juventus players Carlo Pinsoglio and Federico Gatti—though the latter two are not under investigation. In one exchange, De Giacomo joked about Bellanova’s losses: “He took two or three beatings in a row.” Fagioli responded: “I’m laughing by myself… what’s my cut?”
Weston McKennie was also reportedly targeted. On December 27, 2022, De Giacomo messaged Fagioli: “Good old Weston… why don’t you get him into other games? Are you sleeping on this?”
Organized Poker Groups
Chat records indicate that Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin provided access to a new betting site and distributed login credentials. Several WhatsApp groups were used to organize private poker games, involving players including Sandro Tonali, Nicolò Zaniolo, McKennie, Leandro Paredes, Samuele Ricci, and others.
Legal Implications
While Fagioli has already served a seven-month ban for gambling on football, these new details could lead to further scrutiny. The Milan Prosecutor’s Office continues to examine financial transactions, including luxury watch purchases used to disguise debt payments.
