Banned Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli has revealed he started gambling out of loneliness. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli received a seven-month ban from the Italian Football Federation last October for betting offences. On Tuesday, the 23-year-old met a group of students and psychologists in Turin to discuss some of his problems, and revealed how he started gambling.
He finally sought help in May after hitting rock bottom
The Piacenza native explained that his gambling began when he was only 16 years old, and that it gradually turned into an illness. He was part of Juventus’ youth team at the time and was “seeking dopamine without knowing it.” His condition worsened and he eventually sought help in May after hitting rock bottom.
When looking at the reasons that prompted him to start betting, Fagioli believes that he may have been lonely because of the distance from home. Having to step away from football during his suspension made recovery more difficult.
He is now looking forward to getting back on the field and hopes to play in his team’s last Serie A match of the season. Fagioli’s dream is to compete in the European Championships this summer in Germany for the Italian national team. He earned his only cap to date with the first team in November 2022.
