26 October 2023
It's called the “Wall of Dreams”, a special corridor at Vinovo that connects the area dedicated to the Youth Sector with that of the Next Gen.
Why does it have this name? Along this corridor hang the shirts of players from the Juventus youth teams who have played at least 50 matches in the major professional leagues and in UEFA competitions. These names include Mattia Cassani, Claudio Marchisio, Paolo De Ceglie, Antonio Mirante, Domenico Criscito, Antonio Nocerino, Sebastian Giovinco, Lorenzo Ariaudo, Luca Marrone, Ciro Immobile, Federico Mattiello, Moise Kean, Emil Audero.
From 26 October 2023, another name has been added to this list, namely Fabio Miretti, who has made 55 appearances for the Juventus First Team, between the league (41), Italian Cup (4), Champions League (6) and Europa League (4).
It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon of celebration at Vinovo, as Fabio unveiled his shirt, in the presence of his family and a large delegation from the Club (made up of Massimiliano Allegri, Francesco Calvo, Federico Cherubini, Cristiano Giuntoli , Giovanni Manna, Claudio Chiellini, Massimiliano Scaglia, Gianluca Pessotto, Luigi Milani and Paolo Morganti) along with many players from the Juventus youth sector, from Under-10 to Under-19, to celebrate his achievement. A moment in which, in addition to welcoming him enthusiastically, the kids had the opportunity to talk to Fabio, or rather, "Ciko", to share the special moment with him and listen to his experiences.
FABIO’S WORDS
Fabio spoke about various topics following the unveiling, serving as inspiration for the youth academy players present.
FROM THE YOUTH SECTOR TO THE FIRST TEAM
“The pace, the speed of the game and the quality of the opponents are the biggest differences. Then the clashes, the physicality, there are many things. Everything becomes more difficult. The Next Gen will serve a lot to prepare you for this journey. When you arrive among the greats, you need personality and you must not be afraid of making mistakes, putting the qualities learnt during the years of the youth sector into play. When I started training with the First Team, the whole group was immediately available to me. Everyone tries to help you, but they are aware that if you are there, it is because you have quality and therefore they encourage you to always improve and show your qualities.
DEBUT
“The emotions of my debut were vast, it's difficult to describe them in words. Definitely happiness and a lot of pride, because as those who are here know, getting to play in the First Team is a dream come true. Hearing my name shouted in unison by the fans is a huge feeling. First I was on the other side shouting the players' names, when I heard mine shouted I shivered. As we grow up, emotions change, but one thing doesn't change: the desire to play football, do it well and win matches. I had this desire to win as a child and I carried this with me.
GROWTH
“When I was a kid I played for fun, then, as I grew up, what was initially a dream became a goal, so I worked hard to achieve it. Sacrifices? There are many and they are all the ones you do, too. Going to training after school, coming back late at night, maybe leaving home at a young age and staying away from your family. You will carry these sacrifices with you and they will be a source of pride for you. Difficulties are part of the journey, the difference is made by how you face these difficulties and the desire to always overcome them."
