Given how he and Leonardo Bonucci expertly barred Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar from getting anywhere close to Gianluigi Buffon's goal over the course of 180 perfectly defended minutes recently, it's hard to believe any striker has ever caused Giorgio Chiellini many problems.
However, the Juventus centre-half has revealed that one man in particular gave him more than a few headaches during his time in Serie A.
In a recent interview with France Football, the Italian defender named currently injured Manchester United goal machine Zlatan Ibrahimovic as his most 'formidable' opponent.
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"I have always liked to play against the great ones.
"Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the most formidable striker that I have come across. I often played against him in Serie A, where there was both sunny days and rainy days.
"Ibra is the best. He has always made a difference wherever he has gone."
The pair have met at club and international level several times. Image: PA
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Chiellini has also played on the same team as Ibrahimovic, with the pair sharing a dressing room during the 2005/06 season at Juventus, before the club were relegated to Serie B for their part in the Calciopoli match fixing scandal.
Ibrahimovic would go onto lift Serie A titles with Juve's rivals Inter and AC Milan, although Chiellini has also lifted five consecutive Scudettos since 2012 and is well placed alongside the rest of his current Juventus teammates to make it six, later this month with the 'Bianconeri' sitting nine points clear of second placed Roma with just four games remaining.
"None shall pass" - Chiellini and Bonucci shut out Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Images: PA
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The former Livorno man has made 430 appearances for 'The Old Lady' since arriving in Turin 12 years ago. He has also amassed 90 caps for the Italian national team, scoring seven goals in the process.
(H/T The Mirror)
Topics: Football, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juventus, Giorgio Chiellini