"I remember the mistake, the tears, and Chiellini telling me, 'Don't worry, we're going to win.'" Locatelli gets emotional.

From childhood to winning the European Championship to becoming Juventus ' captain: Manuel Locatelli opened up in a lengthy interview retracing his entire career. The midfielder once again emphasized his family's strong Juventus roots and his pride in wearing the black and white jersey. A dream that began with his first Serie A goal against the Old Lady in 2016, while still at AC Milan . A brief moment of highs before the difficulties and subsequent resurgence, which the 1998-born player spoke about, even revealing his dreams for the future with Juventus and the national team, including a possible first appearance at the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder began the interview by talking about his childhood: "When I was a kid, I was a youth worker at the oratory, and I remember having great relationships with the kids. I enjoyed playing with them and teaching them things. They saw me as a fairly important figure because I was already playing in the AC Milan youth academy. Before going to the oratory, there was that time when we finished eating, and while we waited, we'd watch 'Murder, She Wrote' with my brother, trying to solve crimes. Galbiate is my adolescence. I remember so many times when I went to the oratory with my friends or with my brother and my father to play football. When I come back, I take my son to my parents' house because they still live there. It's a different atmosphere, like home. I try to disconnect, but then obviously I have to go on a tour of relatives I have to visit. I'm lucky to have grown up in such a situation because I was calm, my parents let me take my time, and we all knew each other. I think that for a kid, It's important to have the opportunity to go out, feel at ease, and have fun with old friends."

Locatelli then delved into his relationship with his father and brother: "My father was my first coach, while with my brother, I've nurtured this dream since I was little. My sister was also passionate about it, and my mother and I would play two-on-two matches, and I'd get annoyed because I'd say that when the others shot, my mother wouldn't save (because she was in goal). They were my obsessions. It's a dream we nurtured together, everyone was always on my side. The biggest blessing I've had is that they never put pressure on me."

On the Juventus spirit that permeates my family: "The thing I'm most proud of is that my entire family is Juventus. Now I'm at Juve and I've become captain. I think this is the greatest satisfaction, and it's clear that I don't want to stop and always want to improve. But seeing our family name and their son play with the captain's armband is a dream come true for them too." Then on the meaning of this armband: "I was captain when I was called up to the Under-15 national team for the first time, and now I find myself doing it at Juve. I think it's a natural thing; my character helps me have this kind of leadership, even if I don't like to define myself alone; I think others should do it. It's definitely a role of responsibility that I take on and must take on. I've had great captains, like Magnanelli at Sassuolo, Giorgio ( Chiellini , ed.) and Leo ( Bonucci , ed.) at Juve, who have very different personalities."

Locatelli returned to his first Serie A goal, scored against Juve in 2016, when he was still wearing the AC Milan jersey: "The day I scored against Buffon changed my life. I think it was a good thing, it was an incredible goal in an incredible match. But it was also a bad thing because it created huge expectations that I wasn't able to handle. I also thought I was that player who was ready, but I wasn't. I probably left something behind also in the training aspect, it was difficult. A lot was expected of me, me too, but I wasn't ready to make that leap. I have to be grateful to AC Milan, but the move to Sassuolo was fundamental. I also changed a lot as a person. At AC Milan I was always the kid from the Primavera who had risen up, who had scored against Buffon but then had faded a bit. So I had to leave with a coach who changed my life, De Zerbi . My luck and strength was the courage to leave AC Milan and go to Sassuolo for "relaunch myself" .

Space for the Azzurri, with the victory of the 2021 European Championship : "I think the European Championship victory is one of the best parts of my career and I think it will always be that way. When you win something with the national team , it's indescribable and takes on even more meaning as the years go by. Maybe at 23 I didn't even realize what we had done, while now I know it was something incredible. It changed me because I was lucky to win it so early and from a footballing point of view afterward I went to Juve . My career has taken a higher level. When I think back to the European Championship victory, two images come to mind: the first is my first goal, running, I don't understand anything and I dedicate it to my wife. The second is the embrace with Giorgio Chiellini after missing the penalty, he's there, he holds me and says: 'Manu, don't worry, we're winning'. That is a chilling image, it's difficult to convey what he and I felt. I was crying and I couldn't even watching who took the penalty. These are emotions I struggle to explain, they are epic moments, just like the victory when Gigione saved... Incredible moments!" Then on Italy 's current situation with World Cup qualification hanging in the balance: "It's definitely a goal we have. I was there in the previous situation and I think that's what killed us. We also need to be honest with each other. It shouldn't be seen as an obsession, in the sense that we need to do things calmly, calmly, decisively, determinedly, taking one step at a time and without making too many calculations."

Locatelli revealed his biggest dreams in football: "Definitely lifting some trophies with Juventus , trying to play in the World Cup , and maybe even winning something else with the national team . Personal goals? Being a good father, a role model for my son. Being a good husband. Our second child is born in September, and when I go home, I'm carefree. I can talk about other things. Home should be a refuge; this is essential for me." Finally, the midfielder concluded his long interview with Vivo Azzurro TV by talking about his passions: "Bespoke tailoring is definitely one of my greatest passions. I think it's also helped me diversify my interests in recent years. Tailor-made clothing is something I enjoy; it makes me feel good. My father works in a bank, and I always saw him go out well-dressed. I'd like to open a bespoke tailoring business in the future, or even become a coach, but we'll see. I'll definitely open something of my own."