Italian soccer star Nicolò Fagioli will tell the story of his gambling addiction and ban from the sport in a new Amazon documentary. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Documentary release

Juventus and Italy soccer player Nicolò Fagioli has opened up about his gambling addiction and subsequent ban from the sport in a new documentary.

“Fragile—The Story of Nicolò Fagioli” will be released on Amazon Prime Italia on November 26. The documentary will show Fagioli telling his story and trying to help others with similar gambling issues.

It will be available in all Italian, English, Spanish and Portuguese language territories.

The documentary premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, and is a collaboration between Prime Video and Juventus Creator Labs. It will be available in all Italian, English, Spanish and Portuguese language territories.

Fagioli opens up

Ahead of the documentary’s release, Amazon Prime Italia has released several preview clips featuring Fagioli discussing his issues.

Discussing the beginning of his issues, Fagioli stated: “I started to bet large sums when I was with the Under-23 team. That’s where I started to bet more money than was normal.

“The truth is, I wasn’t even gambling to win money. I didn’t need it. I gambled for the adrenaline that it gave me and that was the biggest problem, really.”

I would spend 12-13 hours glued to my phone and it just flew by like a couple of hours”

Fagioli goes on to describe the depths of his addiction, and how it consumed his life outside of football, saying: “In my worst period, I would spend 12-13 hours glued to my phone and it just flew by like a couple of hours. You just did not realize what was happening.

“I felt like I was stuck in this bubble and didn’t notice anything outside of it. People would ask me questions, I’d reply, but then an hour later I’d realize none of it had sunk in and I don’t even know what they said to me.”

Familiar footsteps

Fagioli is not the only soccer player to have opened up about gambling issues this year. On August 28, Newcastle and Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali returned to Premier League action after a ten-month ban for breaching Italian gambling regulations.

As part of his ban, Tonali was required to undergo eight months of gambling rehabilitation, a journey which Fagioli has also had to embark on.

knowing and admitting these frailties becomes a gesture of maturity and growth”

Speaking on the documentary, a status from Juventus said: “Sporting genius is often accompanied by unexpected insecurities that are difficult to accept and manage. Knowing and admitting these frailties becomes a gesture of maturity and growth that can be an inspiration to those who experience, or have experienced, difficult moments in their lives.

“The documentary aims to recount this journey and delve into the personality of a boy whose fragility becomes a value on which to build himself and his career.”