Giorgio Chiellini’s rise from promising youngster to one of the best defenders in world football has been as explosively fast as a Usain Bolt 100m sprint.
Fifteen or so months ago, with Juventus just having returned to Serie A following their Calciopoli-imposed exile, the 24-year-old was still playing in his natural left back position. Then, a host of injuries and other problems in the Bianconeri backline forced coach Claudio Ranieri to try Chiellini in a central defensive role, alongside forgotten man Nicola Legrottaglie.