GIORGIO CHIELLINI is embarking on a new career venture after hanging up his boots.
The Juventus legend has invested in women’s multi-club ownership group Mercury/13.
Giorgio Chiellini is investing in women’s football after hanging up his bootsGetty
He has joined up with Mercury/13, who have former Lionesses star Eni Aluko on the booksRex
No-nonsense centre-back Chiellini enjoyed an illustrious career for both club and country.
He won the Euros with Italy in 2021 and was a nine-time Serie A champion with The Old Lady.
Chiellini retired last year after spending his final season in the US with Los Angeles FC.
His experience over the pond helped demonstrate the “potential” of women’s football to the 40-year-old.
Chiellini announced his partnership with the consortium on Wednesday.
He wrote on his Instagram page: “I’m really excited to share that I’ve joined Mercury/13 as an investor.
“It’s a multi-club ownership group focused on supporting and growing women’s football globally.
“After spending time in the USA, I saw the incredible strides women’s football is making there and how much potential it still has to unlock in Europe.
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“That experience inspired me, and I’m proud to be part of a project that’s all about creating new opportunities for female athletes and taking the sport to the next level internationally.”
Mercury/13 has pledged to invest more than £80 million into transforming women’s clubs around the world.
Former Lionesses star Eni Aluko is among those already partnered with the project.
The group recently acquired Como Women, a mid-table team in Italy’s Serie A Femminile.
They also describe investing in England and the Women’s Super League as an “absolute priority”.
Mario Malave, Mercury/13’s co-chief executive said: “I would say there’s no higher potential than women’s football today.
“If you give women’s football dedicated management, dedicated capital, and nurture it, it’s going to grow and blossom tremendously and become that sustainable business.
“It’s nonsensical to expect it to be that today, if no-one’s invested in it over the last 100 years.”