Former Italy midfielder Giuliano Giannichedda admits that Everton tried to lure him to the Premier League during his time at Serie A giants Juventus, speaking to Football News 24.
The problem was, as Everton would discover, Italy’s top flight was perhaps ‘the most coveted league in the world’ around the mid-2000s. As such, convincing Giannichedda to up sticks and head for England was easier said than done.
Everton, the three-time Italy international admits, showed an ‘interest’ in him during his time at Juventus. In the end, the tough-tackling midfielder would see out the remainder of his professional career on home soil, eventually retiring after a spell at Livorno at the age of 34.
Everton tried to sign former Italy international Giuliano Giannichedda from Juventus
“When I was playing for Juventus, at a certain point there was an interest from Everton. I was pleased and I thought about it. But, in the end, nothing materialised,” explains Giannichedda, who joined Fabio Capello’s Juve from Lazio in 2005.
“With Lazio and Juventus there was certainly a leap in quality. My team-mates were very strong and I started playing in the Champions League. The difference is in the mentality of the teams. (Teams who are) used to winning and playing at the highest level even in Europe.
“The football I played was another football. Serie A was the most coveted league in the world. Today, in England as well as in Spain and partly in the USA, there has been an evolution of revenue. And, therefore, the gap that once was today has been bridged a lot.”
Giannichedda eventually played around 50 games for Juventus between 2005 and 2007, helping the club bounce back from the Calciopoli scandal by winning the Serie B title in his second season in black-and-white.
He is now hoping to make a name for himself in management. GIannichedda has spent the last three years in charge of Serie D outfit Rappresentativa.
“I’m very fascinated by English football and often watch a few Premier League matches,” Giannichedda adds. “I really like (Pep) Guardiola’s game and his ideas.
“I think Manchester City today is a team that, regardless of the results, plays concrete and modern football.”
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