Giorgio Chiellini is mulling retirement from soccer, as he admitted after LAFC’s loss to the Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup that he may have played his final game.
Chiellini refused to rule out the possibility before the match and remained undecided after.
‘One of the two [teams] has to lose unfortunately… it was a beautiful journey,’ he said.
‘It could be my last game.’
The defender indicated that he would take a couple of days to speak with his family before coming to a final decision.
The 39-year-old added that, ‘I’m happy to be a part of this league. I hope that I could remain close to this league.’
Giorgio Chiellini may have played his final game of professional soccer on Saturday
Chiellini consoles forward Carlos Vela (10) after they lost the 2023 MLS Cup in Columbus
Cucho Hernandez of the Columbus Crew controls the ball while defended by Chiellini
LAFC’s loss in Columbus represents its third defeat this year in a final, with the team falling at the final hurdles of the Campeones Cup and CONCACAF Champions League as well.
Still, Chiellini said, ‘The club, the organization, has to be proud.’
On Thursday, the Italian provided some context to his looming decision.
‘I still have doubt,’ he said. ‘I have to understand what I have to follow – if it’s my head, if it’s my heart, if it’s my leg. And many different calls arrived in the last weeks.’
‘I arrived last year with a lot of dreams and hopes,’ he continued. ‘But I never could dream what [I’ve lived] in these 18 months. It’s something that has come into my heart, into my blood.’
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