I was born in Gioia del Colle on the 20th October 1976 and I grew up with football at home because my father loves this sport, therefore he passed this down to me.
Having the skills and making the most of them, in 1994 I got into the professional youth team in Bari, where my career began. After the first years in C19, with the Pistoiese and Prato teams, I was bought by Chievo; subsequently I was lent to the Reggiana team and then to Modena, with whom I won the C1 championship. After the success of Modena, I went back to Verona, in serie A and so, with a little patience, I got to play in the "football Olympus", thanks to God. In fact, during the two seasons in Chievo I was the protagonist, so that Mr Giovanni Trapattoni called me to the national team.
I was then bought by Juventus, where I still play today. (When he wrote this he was still playing for Juventus, he was then bought by Milan who won the NDT trophy).
I was raised in a Christian home, my mother always took me to church and so I always received the Word of God as a seed. All this however was not enough, because you need to have a personal experience with God, even though, I have to admit the teaching I received as a young boy was like a lifesaver (considering the world we live in) and it helped me, throughout many years of uncertainties, to reflect on the real meaning of life, and that is: to serve God who sent His son to give Himself for me.
Playing for Juventus and getting to play at a national level was a huge feeling. Especially when in the first match - in the national team - I scored an important goal: the equaliser! My dream had come true! The one I always had as a little boy. In those moments I thought about my family and the most important people in my life, but also about the goodness of God because He had given me something unimaginable. It wasn't long though, until I had some dark moments in my life. God had given me everything, and what was I doing in return? I had forgotten the teachings in His Word and I had given myself over to the pleasures of this world. And that I did until all sorts happened to me: physical problems, problems with the team, problems with my girlfriend, and therefore I was no longer happy.
Life in this world is not easy. The world offers a lot of pleasures and many opportunities to satisfy the cravings of the flesh; and let's say that being young and vulnerable, I let myself be attracted to them, as I was weak and not yet mature in various areas. But in January 2006 God put a dear friend on my path: Tomàs Guzmàn. I really needed someone in my life as a footballer (I was playing for Siena that year) who would help me draw near to God. Speaking little but doing a lot, Tomàs became an example of how to live, and little by little I recalled all the teachings I received from my mother, helping me to draw near to Jesus, who changed my life. In fact it was Guzmàn himself who fed my love for Jesus. He not only knew the Bible, but he meditated on it, he studied it, and above all, he put it into practice! It was just like a person who is in love and can't wait to find out everything about the one he loves, I started to read and devour the Word of God. I had lots of questions and was trying to find the answers, moved by this great love which I still feel for Jesus Christ. I couldn't wait to find out new things about Jesus: what He had said and done, but also to know what I had to do to please Him. Before knowing Jesus, I spent whole nights in discos, searching for pleasure and fleeting sexual adventures. Now I live my life for a completely different relationship: a relationship with Jesus.
Now I am happy and I am very well, especially from a spiritual point of view; I serve the Lord in the best way possible, I could never be perfect, and despite thousands of attempts I ask God to make me stable, unwavering and always faithful to Him.
I use the time I have free from football activities to serve Him, even though I serve Him from the pitch too. I often find myself attending public gatherings and/or participating in television programmes, with just one aim: to tell everyone of the great things that God has done in my life, to explain how my life in the past, full of successes and 'happiness' was really empty and inconsistent, whereas today it is full, thanks to the faith I have in the Creator of the universe who gave Himself for me.
In Jesus I have a faithful friend (despite my failings) I can turn to, and an example, a perfect model to imitate.
Dear friend, I had everything in life: money, women, fame etc.. but until I opened up my heart to God, and He took full control of my life, I was a man full of doubts, never happy. He, on the other hand, has filled my life with His love, changing it radically.
I can tell you that when you know Jesus, you become a new creation.
9 Today: First division