Star with gambling addiction joins Italy's team following suspension
Nicolo Fagioli has been given the green light to play football once more. He had been suspended for seven months as a result of a betting scandal. Just a single game for Juventus Turin later, he's now been included in Italy's provisional squad for the impending European Championship in Germany. Nevertheless, his gambling problem persists.
The ghosts persist to pursue him, but Nicolo Fagioli will keep fighting. After sustaining a seven-month ban for a betting scandal, the midfielder stepped on the pitch for Juventus Turin on Monday. Following this, he managed to secure a spot within the 30-person preliminary team chosen by national coach Luciano Spalletti for the approaching European Championship in Germany. His gambling addiction remains a torment for him.
"Addictions like these are never completely defeated. I'm not lying when I say they still follow me and don't give up. It sings its tempting song once in a while," Fagioli, who is undergoing psychological treatment, told Gazzetta dello Sport, "But I've learned to tame it by considering the pain it has inflicted upon me. I'm aware there's no such thing as 'just once' with this creature since it latches onto you and never releases you."
"Gambling addiction consumed my life"
Hitherto, Fagioli was in command of his life no longer. "Gambling addiction engulfed my entire world, turning it into a nightmarish reality. I was both captivated by and suffocatingly trapped in it. No one looked at that vacuum. I was drowning, but I couldn't find a way out," he recounted.
The scandal involving fellow national player Sandro Tonali erupted in October 2023, serving as a breath of fresh air for Fagioli. "That violent gust of wind that knocked me down urged me to grow up or, at the very least, acknowledge my responsibilities. I enrolled in psychological therapy," he said: "I am on the hunt for the reasons hidden within myself in order to comprehend why I possessed no defenses against emptiness and loneliness."
Fagioli also highlighted that he only harmed himself. "I didn't interfere with any games or affect results. I made some missteps, I bet on unlawful websites and lost a great deal of money. I understand, but I knew at that time that you only lose at those games. Plus, not just monetary losses – I've felt like a fool, but I couldn't help it."
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Despite his ongoing battle with gambling addiction, Fagioli finds solace in the game he loves, often joining local soccer clubs for a pick-up game. In the midst of Italy's football scene, the presence of Juventus Turin, known for its staunch stance against gambling, served as a constant reminder of his past struggles.
Despite being a diehard Juventus Turin fan, Fagioli recalls his addiction often surfacing during high-stakes soccer matches, especially when the team faced their rivals, fuelling his desire to bet. His love for the sport and the team, however, never wavered, even in the face of his addiction.
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