Evelina Christillin, a devoted Juventus fan, president of the Egyptian Museum in Turin, and UEFA member of the FIFA Council, opens up in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Your experience with FIFA and UEFA ends on April 4th. Why didn’t you run for re-election?
“I could have served a third term, but I’m getting too old, and I had thyroid cancer, which made me decide to slow down.”
Let’s go back to UEFA and FIFA. Did the Agnelli family play a role in your decision to resign at the end of your term?
“I won’t deny it. The Super League affair was very painful for me.”
Lapo Elkann called her ungrateful: “She is grotesque, soulless and without dignity, a social climber.”
“That statement triggered very aggressive reactions from the fans. For three months, I had to have a police escort. I couldn’t set foot in the stadium anymore. It hurt me because I held Lapo in my arms when he was just born; I used to pick him up from Russian catechism in Paris, secretly taking him out early to buy him ice cream.”
Do you hear from John?
“No, but we live close by. If we run into each other, we say hello.”
Did you go back to the stadium afterwards?
“No, but I went back to see Juve in Bruges. Very privately, with four friends. We have a chat group called Super Gobbi, which also includes Stefano Bonaccini and Andrea Gnassi, former president of the Tourism Commission of Emilia Romagna.”
Who is the best Juventus coach of all time?
“Difficult… Lippi and Conte.”
And the best player?
“Platini, definitely.”
Would you become the president?
“No, that’s enough. I experience Juve as a happy fan, despite everything that has happened. Because the only thing you can’t change in life is your football team.”
What did ‘The Lawyer’ (Avvocato – Gianni Agnelli) mean to you?
“Something between a teacher and a friend. A mentor, too, although he wouldn’t have liked that definition. Much of what I’ve achieved in the world of sports is thanks to him.”
What made you think of calling Thohir “a chubby doll with almond eyes”?
“Inexperience. I wanted to be witty, thinking of my daughter’s doll. I immediately apologized.”