"Ours is a story of friendship, of a trio that managed to go beyond the value of individuals, and this is why we are remembered: we managed to give what we would not have been able to give individually". This is how Giorgio Chiellini opened the event dedicated to him and his teammates Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci at the Trento 2024 Sports Festival. The former Juventus defensive trio took the stage to tell their stories, from their first experiments with the three-man defense in Antonio Conte's Juventus until becoming the backbone of the Italian national team. "Undoubtedly," Barzagli commented, "we lived a long period of our career where thanks to the team we won a lot and I think we left a lot both in Italian and international soccer. It is difficult to say whether we are included among the greats or not". A humility that the room (packed with Bianconeri fans) does not "forgive" him, responding with thunderous applause for the trio that still holds the record for the most consecutive minutes without conceding a goal, 974, achieved in the 2015/16 season under the then coach Antonio Conte. The latter himself sent a video tribute aired during the event: "Usually we talk about forwards and midfielders, little about defenders, the birth of this trio must make you understand what it was for national and international soccer, a great example for everyone. I am proud that I took advantage, as a good coach does, of the characteristics of the players and making the best ones play. I realized that in the 4-2-4 we started playing with, Bonucci was sacrificed". "I remember it very well," Bonucci interjected, "during the training sessions before Napoli we tried the new module to everyone's surprise, because we had never tried it and above all it was 48 hours before the match. This decision of the coach was a joy of mine, it changed my life and career". Also participating in the video link was Gianluigi Buffon, who appeared on a monitor symbolically placed behind the trio: "One of the faults for which I played for so long is attributable to them. I told myself that with these three in front I could have another four to five years at the level". With Bonucci present on the occasion, it was impossible not to return to the goal in the 2020 European Championship final against England; "So many still thank me for the goal in the final. Scoring it and also scoring the penalty and having brought home the trophy is a source of pride”.