Ex-Italy, Juventus, and AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo once, according to Corriere della Sera, blocked his son Nicolò’s bank account after finding out junior had racked up a €30,000 ($33,950) debt via illegal online betting.
News emerged Monday that as his son’s legal guardian, Pirlo had the authority to freeze Nicolò’s bank account after discovering his gambling debt in 2022 when his son was 17.
The story was given fresh impetus this week as a result of a new investigation into illegal online betting, with emerging evidence including Fiorentina midfielder Nicolò Fagioli’s text messages with Serie D referee Pietro Marinoni.
Marinoni is suspected of masterminding the illegal online gambling activity that embroiled Pirlo junior and Newcastle United midfield maestro Sandro Tonali.
Having a €30,000 debt at 17 is something else.”
Corriere cited a WhatsApp chat in which Fagioli described Pirlo’s son to Marinoni as “one of us.” The midfielder was struck by the amount of the teen’s gambling spend, remarking to Marinoni: “Having a €30,000 debt at 17 is something else.”
Fagioli added that young Pirlo “went into debit recovery, but his father found out and blocked his bank account until he’s 18.”
Tonali and Fagioli have already served bans as punishment for their involvement, with their testimonies contributing to the fresh probe.
