INTERVIEW: Giorgio Chiellini talks about the business of football

Christopher Tan (0:05)

You're listening to SBS News.

Giorgio Chiellini, thank you so much for joining SBS News today. How are you reflecting on your time in Australia so far?

Giorgio Chiellini (0:17)

Thank you for having me. We enjoyed our time in Australia. I've been here in Sydney in 2014

Spasskent and Tyne is a different place, but the sense of quietness and really good style of life is the first thing that we had here in Perth when we arrived. I think it's a good time for the players preparing the new season, for the club and for us to connect with our fans.

Christopher Tan (0:47)

Besides this interview, of course, what has been your favourite memory of your time here in Perth?

Giorgio Chiellini (0:53)

The Australian football game yesterday was really exciting. I've never watched any Australian football game live, just a few clips and images.

It was really nice.

Christopher Tan (1:04)

Not many people in Australia anyway know that you are actually referred to as Dr. Giorgio Chiellini after graduating with a Master of Business Administration. I mean, obviously, you received the highest mark of your class. You even wrote a thesis about Juventus' business model in an international context. Now, this puts you as a bit of an expert to answer this question. But can you explain to us a bit about the sort of the financial gap between the Serie A and the Premier League, and why is the English League generating more than over two times the revenue of the Italian League?

Giorgio Chiellini (1:36)

In defense of TV rights, international TV rights and Premier League has the lunch and work on the international TV rights much earlier than anyone else, and they are now having this type of advantage compared to all the other leagues.

The Spanish clubs are competing a bit more because of Barcelona and Real Madrid. They are two iconic clubs that are following all over the world.

Christopher Tan (2:06)

How do you sort of turn that attention from people in Australia anyway, who have watched the Premier League a lot, to now also try and watch the Serie A? And does having all these events and the business and the networking here in Perfidou help sort of close that gap?

Giorgio Chiellini (2:20)

The gap is getting bigger and bigger, and it's not easy now to challenge with that. I think that Serie A is really attractive and nice to watch, nothing compared to the Premier League. It's a different league. It's not better or worse. It's a different style of play. Of course, that they have some very nice game. We have something to show. The league is very competitive.

Of course, the Italian as a place, as a country, as a value, we have a lot to share all over the world.

Christopher Tan (2:59)

Can you talk to us about the purpose of visits like these? It's not just bringing these massive games to Australia, but what sort of benefit for the club?

Giorgio Chiellini (3:08)

About connecting with fans is about start to understand what is the favorite content and things that really the fans could appreciate here. It's not just having the preseason as a sport in the brand. It's create a relationship all over the world.

We have been a lot of times in the US in the last years, and it was so much time that we didn't come here in the east part of the world. It's a long trip, but here we can find really a good weather and good infrastructure in order to train well and prepare the season in the best way possible. I felt a really great connection with the Australian community, not just the Italian heritage, but also the Australian community in general. I hope that we can really create a good feel, a pattern, relationship, and partnership with Australia now in port and we'll see what's going to happen in the future.

Christopher Tan (4:10)

Often the topic about the Premier League versus Serie A is all about numbers, revenue numbers, and obviously as a guy of economics, you would appreciate the numbers as well. But do you think that often there is that misconception of comparing the numbers rather than defining the value of the football product in the first place? As you say, like the history, the culture, identity of Italian football, and some of the old stadiums in Italy.

Giorgio Chiellini (4:33)

The history also and the culture that is beyond these numbers are very different. And that's what we can show to Australia and to every other part in the world. We have a very long history. Our rivalries are very nice. And yeah, probably it's the first time that all the three big clubs, Italian big clubs are together in the same place here in Australia to compete each other.