Juventus to miss Chiellini in Berlin final
Juventus' French midfielder Labile Paul Pogba (left) celebrates with his teammate defender Giorgio Chiellini after scoring during their Italian Serie A football match against Chievo Verona at the Juventus Stadium in Turin on January 25, 2015. PHOTO | MARCO BERTORELLO |
What you need to know:
- Asked on Monday if he would shake Suarez's hand before the game, Chiellini replied: "Of course I will!"
- Chiellini had to leave training on Wednesday and scans on Thursday confirmed the bad news for the Italian champions.
MILAN
Juventus on Thursday ruled key defender Giorgio Chiellini out of the Champions League final against Barcelona after suffering a muscle tear in training.
Chiellini had to leave training on Wednesday and scans on Thursday confirmed the bad news for the Italian champions.
"The scan revealed a first grade tear of the soleus muscle in his left leg, meaning the defender will miss Saturday's final with Barcelona," said a Juventus statement.
It was to be Chiellini's first Champions League final and his place will now be taken by Andrea Barzagli, who returned to training on Wednesday following his own, recent injury knock.
Chiellini's absence has robbed fans of watching him come up against Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who was sent off and banned for four months after biting the Italian on the shoulder during a Italy v Uruguay group fixture at last summer's World Cup.
Asked on Monday if he would shake Suarez's hand before the game, Chiellini replied: "Of course I will!"
