Chiellini reflects on Juventus project and Ibrahimovic's Milan role
Giorgio Chiellini, the former Juventus captain turned Director of Football Strategy, has outlined the club's ongoing project while also reflecting on the contrasting post-playing roles of himself and his old teammate and rival, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In an interview, Chiellini emphasised the importance of balancing long-term planning with immediate objectives, citing the development of young talents like Kenan Yildiz as evidence of a successful strategy. He also confirmed his personal role in the decision to renew manager Luciano Spalletti's contract, praising the coach's man-management skills and his fit with a responsible squad.
Chiellini's comments come as he prepares to face Ibrahimovic in a new capacity, with the Sweder serving as an official advisor to AC Milan's owners, RedBird Capital. While both hold influential positions off the pitch, their operational roles differ significantly. According to sources close to the club, Ibrahimovic, who is first and foremost a RedBird representative, has taken a less central role in day-to-day affairs since the Milan management structure was strengthened with other key figures, a move that was not seen as a surprise within the organisation.
The pair share a history dating back to 2005, when a 21-year-old Chiellini and a 24-year-old Ibrahimovic were teammates at Juventus. Their careers have since intersected repeatedly as adversaries, most notably during Ibrahimovic's spells with Inter Milan and AC Milan. Chiellini offered a pragmatic analysis of the current Milan side under Stefano Pioli, suggesting their realistic goal was always Champions League qualification, with the title challenge fading as Inter maintained their dominance, aside from the exceptional rise of Como.
For Juventus, Chiellini's influence appears more directly hands-on. His advocacy for Spalletti underscores a belief in stability and gradual growth, a philosophy he described as essential in modern football where long-term projects must be punctuated by short-term successes. The club's strategy now clearly revolves around developing its existing core of young, responsible players while aiming for consistent top-four finishes, a blueprint Chiellini seems integral to implementing. This sets up an intriguing backdrop for future encounters between the two clubs, with the former defenders now shaping their fortunes from the boardroom.
