Nicolo Fagioli: Debt collectors threatened to break my legs
- Fagioli banned for seven months for admitting betting on football
- The 22-year-old midfielder reveals detail of spiralling gambling addiction
- Juventus star reveals Sandro Tonali's involvement
Nicolo Fagioli has revealed that debt collectors threatened to break his legs over money he owed thanks to gambling.
The Italian FA confirmed on Monday that the Juventus midfielder will serve a seven-month suspension after being found guilty of betting on football matches. Fagioli received a reduced ban thanks to a plea bargain and co-operation during the investigation.
During the investigation, carried out by the Turin Prosecutor's Office, the 22-year-old immediately confessed to authorities when questioned about his gambling, and admitted to betting on football matches.
Tuttosport have now published a transcription of Fagioli's interview with authorities, in which the player confirmed that Newcastle United star, and Italy international, Sandro Tonali suggested the use of an illegal website in order to hide his betting.
Fagioli also detailed the harrowing nature of his gambling addiction, admitting that he borrowed money from Juventus teammate Federico Gatti and ex-Juve teammate Radu Dragusin in order to pay off the huge debts he accumulated.
Below is the full transcript of what Fagioli said.
On Sandro Tonali involvement
“At first you bet because you have a lot of free time, you train in the morning and then you play to win to help the boredom.
"Sandro Tonali suggested that I play on an illegal site. I saw him play and asked him what he was doing, he told me I could do it too because there was no trace of betting. And he made me register via an account at the site in question. The first bets are placed on tennis and then football events. I made bets on irregular sites."
On gambling addiction
“I was betting on both football games, casino and tennis. I started in the summer of 2021. I did not ask myself the problem if these sites were regular or not, for me the difference between the legal and the illegal one lies in the fact that in the illegal one you can play without anticipating sums, on credit.
"It was fun, a pastime. First mainly on tennis for a year, then from January 2022 when I arrived in Turin I was in a state of stress due to the accumulated debts. I had stopped sleeping at night."
On gambling debts
"The more time passed, the more the debt haunted me. The money I had to have kept increasing and I thought I was playing just to try to recover. I'll break your legs, these debt collectors told me.
“I had already accumulated a huge debt of €250,000 in September 2022 and pressure began from the owners of illegal sites to get me to repay the amounts. Every now and then, to return at least part of these sums, I bought valuable watches from a jewellery store. I used to pay by bank transfer. I delivered the watches a few times.
“I've never talked about my bets with the Juventus management and/or footballers and/or coaches because I didn't trust anyone, I also never placed any bets on Juventus or Cremonese."
On receiving loans from Gatti and Dragusin
“I asked for loans to pay gambling debts and so I decided to ask for money from some friends to whom I asked €40,000 telling them that I needed them to buy a watch and that my mother had blocked my accounts. Gatti lent me the money that I haven't returned yet and that he still asks for it back. Another loan was made to me by Dragusin and some friends from Piacenza.
“I want to point out that it is my intention to pay off all the loans received from my friends and comrades who were unaware of the real reasons why I asked for the money. With illegal platforms it is not my intention to pay anything both because I have already delivered a lot of money, and because they are void bets as they violate Italian law.”
On crying during Juventus clash with Sassuolo
“I had the worst period between March and April 2023, when I was so stressed and scared that during the Sassuolo vs Juventus game I made a mistake and was replaced.
"As soon as I got out of the pitch I started crying in front of the cameras, thinking about my problems related to betting debts.
"I specify that I have stopped betting and that I intend to continue the path of care.”
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