Chiellini: ‘Caldara a CR7 sacrifice’

By Football Italia staff

Giorgio Chiellini was ‘sorry’ to see Mattia Caldara leave Juventus for Milan, describing him as a ‘sacrifice’ following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Caldara was involved in the recent ‘mega-deal’ between the Old Lady and the Rossoneri - which took him and Gonzalo Higuain to San Siro, with Leonardo Bonucci moving in the opposite direction.

It means that despite his highly promising two-year loan spell at Atalanta, the 24-year-old defender left without making an appearance for Juve’s first team.

“He was a player who could have done very well here,” admitted Chiellini. “He had everything needed to do well.

”I understand he was in a situation where it was difficult to refuse a transfer.

“And so Juventus, with a heavy heart, had to sell him.”

Chiellini added that he had high hopes for Caldara, describing him as an unfortunate but necessary ‘sacrifice’ the Serie A champions had to make after signing Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

“He was a boy we were all looking at, we had seen him and waited for him. Even last year it was all prepared for.

"The dynamics of the transfer market, however, are particular and the great signing of Ronaldo meant there were sacrifices.

“Unfortunately, Mattia came into that situation. I am sorry for it, like all of Juve, because he was a good boy and could have been here for many years.

“I hope I can help him as an opponent because he is a boy who has something more not just on the pitch, but off the pitch.”

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