In a candid interview, Nicolò Fagioli revealed the emotional toll of departing Juventus after 11 years with the club. The Italian midfielder, who joined Fiorentina in the winter transfer window, spoke about the difficulties of leaving his long-time team and the positive impact of his move to Florence.

“When I decided to leave Juventus at the end of December, I felt a sense of relief. However, when the moment came to say goodbye, I was overcome with emotion. I cried without even realizing it,” Fagioli admitted. “It was then that I understood a significant chapter of my life was ending. Leaving behind familiar places, teammates, and daily routines was traumatic.”

Fagioli emphasized the intense pressure at Juventus, stating, “At Juve, you can’t even enjoy your victories. You win a game, and immediately you have to forget about it and move on. If you don’t win, you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Wearing that jersey is not easy.”

The midfielder also touched on the challenges young players face at Juventus: “At Juve, we were always seen as the ones from the youth academy, from NextGen, and treated as such. It was a burden we had to bear. If you make mistakes, you’re out. And if you’re young, you’re the first to be substituted, and no one questions it.”

Reflecting on his move to Fiorentina, Fagioli expressed a newfound sense of freedom and joy: “Florence has given me back the joy and the lightness. ‘Fagiolino’ is dead—today, I am Nicolò. I’m having fun, and fun is the foundation of everything. I also feel the weight of responsibility, and, believe me, it’s wonderful.”

Fagioli concluded by sharing his aspirations to return to the national team: “I hope to return to the national team as soon as possible. I can’t help but consider it a goal.”