The Juventus story [book] as something to hold in your hands, and something to keep.
In my periphery, I noticed these two guys with film crews on either side of my goalposts, who were showing up for some key matches during the 2011—2012 season. It was at the end of that “invincible” season in our training ground in Vinovo that I first met the twins from New York, Marco and Mauro La Villa. I had to wonder, What will two Italian-New Yorkers have to say about Juventus? But when they showed up, two things were evident: They are real Juventini. They came prepared (and even surprised me with some of their questions, as these were not the typical queries I was used to being asked). Aside from participating in an in-depth filmed story session, Marco and Mauro pitched their film to me and to my surprise it wasn’t at all about the history of the team. This is a story created to reveal why Juventus is Juventus—the great, record-breaking football club from Turin. It is a story that reveals the extraordinary Bianconeri character as it is tested to its limits in a hellish ride that nobody could have predicted or ever made up—not even in Hollywood.
I later saw them again during a rather tragic Coppa Italia final in Roma (this time I was behind the goal lines alongside the La Villa brothers, cheering on my teammates while they captured more footage).
After that, years went by before I found myself yet again behind their lens at Vinovo, this time for the very last shot of the movie—“the Martini” as it’s known in the film world—and I was wearing a special team jersey that featured a certain gold star that is very meaningful in their story.
I have lived—and am still living at the moment—a good part of this “Black and White” story within these pages. Wonderful moments like when I faced the great Umberto Agnelli during my signing; fielded Gianni Agnelli’s inquisitive six a.m. phone calls; witnessed firsthand the family’s incredible generational transition from father to son in the case of our president Andrea Agnelli, and from grandfather to grandson in the case of John Elkann as our new fan number one; had Lapo Elkann cheer us on and inspire us when many others had all but given up hope.
The heartbreaking defeats and the euphoric triumphs.
On the personal level, like the movie, this book will repeatedly draw me into the moments when I was tested both on the pitch and in my heart. Football-related challenges along with even more difficult life choices: these are some of the character-defining moments that this story highlights with its entertaining texts and stunning visuals. The heartbreaking defeats and the euphoric triumphs; suffering through the 2006 Calciopoli scandal; an incredible season in Serie B, of all places; rebuilding from the ashes; looking into my heart when faced with the decision of whether to stay or go; climbing and clawing my way back to the top alongside some of the most inspiring champions ever, such as Del Piero, Nedved, Chiellini, Bonucci, Pirlo, Pogba, Dybala, Pessotto, Conte, Angelo Alessio, and Allegri, to name but a few.
Of course, the “Black and White” stories are endless, but the story you have here is Marco and Mauro’s, and it’s a unique “keeper” that unlike the film, you can reach for and hold in your hands. As a Bianconero who knows a thing or two about “keeping” and who is the only team member on the pitch allowed to use his hands, it is very apt that I introduce this book, in which a wonderfully laid-out Juventus adventure awaits you.