Giorgio Chiellini has admitted to "cursing" Bukayo Saka before the 19-year-old soccer star missed the penalty that resulted in Italy winning Euros 2020.
Chiellini, Italy's captain, is known for doing pretty much anything to win decisive matches - including dragging down teenage soccer player and England star Bukayo Saka to stop him racing away with the ball.
Now, the 36-year-old Italian defender has revealed that he laid a "curse" on Saka by uttering the word "Kiricocho" right when the English player went over to take his penalty.
Slow-motion footage of the Italian players watching as Saka took the final penalty saw Chiellini mouthing the supposed curse a moment before Italy's goalkeeper Donnarumma saved the goal that won his team the trophy.
Check it out here:Per the Daily Mail, "Kiricocho", a term which translates into English as "curse you" or "jinx", originates from South America.
According to the paper, the curse is inspired by a supporter of Argentian football club Estudiantes de La Plata - whose name was Kiricocho.
In the 1980s, the fan would attend training but during his appearances, the team's players would often sustain injuries.
The club's manager, Carlos Bilardo - a superstitious man - then decided to enlist the help of the fan by having him attend the team's games in order to "hex" their opponents.
From that point on, the club supposedly lost just one time that season, which was the only time the fan did not attend the match.
What's more, Chiellini actually admitted to using the curse when asked by an ESPN Argentina reporter. Smiling, the gleeful caption said: "Ciao, Cristiano. I confirm everything to you. Kiricocho!"
Check it out here:Italy, of course, won the Euros 2020 following a tense match that ended 1-1 following extra time and ultimately resulted in England's defeat during penalties.
Gareth Southgate, manager of the England national team, has been widely criticized by a number of England fans for allowing 19-year-old Saka to shoulder the responsibility of taking the decisive penalty, which led to Italy winning the match and the competition overall, per The Mirror.