ROME – Best known for his aggressive defending on the soccer field, Giorgio Chiellini is proving to be an effective negotiator in the board room, too.
The Juventus captain — who has a master’s degree in business administration — was the main go-between for millionaire teammates like Cristiano Ronaldo and management when the squad agreed to forgo 90 million euros ($100 million) in wages to help the club during the coronavirus crisis.
The first agreement of its kind in Serie A since play was halted last month set the precedent that other clubs are preparing to follow. “Chiellini first spoke with (club president Andrea Agnelli), then with us,” Juventus forward Paulo Dybala said. “We discussed it in a chat and there were different opinions.