The agent of former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has revealed that he recently turned down a mammoth offer from AC Milan in favour of finishing his career in Turin, which ultimately didn’t happen.
Having came through the club’s youth system, first starting out as a ballboy before eventually graduating to the first team of his boyhood heroes, the Azzurri international always made it clear that he wanted to see out his career with the Bianconeri.
However, a difficult relationship with Massimiliano Allegri and the club in recent years resulted in him departing for Zenit, although he did have very lucrative offers from within Serie A.
“There are no regrets about what has happened. Three years ago, Claudio could have left to earn more money. In 2017, he said no to Milan despite an offer to double his salary,” his agent and father Stefano Marchisio told Tuttosport.
“That was because he wanted to end his career with Juve, the team he loves. Things change in football though and I understand the decision of the Juventus management to rejuvenate the team.”
Despite how things turned out for Marchisio with the Italian champions, his father insisted that there is no ill will whatsoever towards the club and in fact, it is quite the opposite.
“It is strange that he isn’t at the club anymore, if he was still there, he’d probably be the happiest man on Earth. My son and I remain the biggest supporters of Juve though and we never miss a game,” he added.
“We hope to watch them lift the Champions League this season the same way we did in 1996: as fans. On August 17, I received a call from Claudio to explain the situation and I rushed to make things happen.
“It is odd not to see him in black and white anymore but he has five appearances and a goal in the last month at Zenit, which is what he would have managed in a year at Juventus. I do hope the sides play against each other, it would be nice to return.”
