Former Inter forward Giampaolo Pazzini announced his retirement from professional football in a post on his Instagram page yesterday.
The 36-year-old Italian striker has been without a club since his contract expired with Hellas Verona at the start of September.
The player started his career in the Atalanta youth system, spending two years at the club professionally before moving to Fiorentina in 2005, scoring 15 goals in the process.
With the Viola, he scored 34 goals in 135 appearances, but mostly featured in a backup role. As such, he moved to Sampdoria in 2009.
There, Pazzini spent two seasons, scoring 48 goals in 87 games, showing his prowess in front of goal.
The strong performances earnt him a move to Inter in 2011, but he struggled to settle in Milan, only scoring 19 goals in 60 appearances and again being a backup player.
Three seasons at AC Milan followed, where Pazzini netted 24 times.
He ended his career with Hellas Verona, where he spent five seasons, including a short loan spell in Spain with Levante.
Pazzini announced his retirement on Instagram, saying:
“Hello Football,
“More than 30 years have passed since we met…
“I was a child the first time I held a ball in my hands and since then it has become an ‘inseparable friend’ to me.
“I was a kid like many others, with a life in front of me and a thousand dreams in the drawer that hoped one day to become a Serie A footballer.
“I watched the great champions on TV and with them I dreamed of wearing the national team’s blue shirt, the magic of stadiums full of fans and the Champions League.
“But I never thought that one day all this would become reality and that thanks to you I could live so many emotions.
“That child gradually grew up and thanks to you he realized all his dreams one by one and you know what I say to you, “everything was even more amazing than I imagined!
“But now we have arrived at our conclusion and it’s time to let you rest, I think it’s right.
“I could have gone on living a little longer those feelings and emotions that only you can give me, maybe I can.
“The child inside me would have liked to go on doing so, but the man tells me that it’s time to say goodbye because I already know that I will miss all this even in 20, 30, 40 years, so thank you for everything!
“It was a crazy ride.”
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