The former goalkeeper opens up: “I was sick, and the club covered it up. At Genoa, I had the worst coach I’ve ever seen; he humiliated us and hated Italians. I nearly died; a miracle saved me.”
Federico Marchetti has always been guided by his faith—both between the posts and in his life choices. He fell, recovered, fell again, and got back up once more. Today he is happy, aware of the journey he has taken. “I don’t regret anything, though those negotiations with Milan… I would have liked to play for a top club.” But the former goalkeeper isn’t the type to look back. He overcame depression, darkness, and the fear of never seeing the light again. Faith intervened there too, essential for breaking free and punching every ghost into a corner. “I had lost myself; I couldn’t even dive anymore.”
Federico Marchetti, let’s start here. Faith has always been part of your life.

“I could give you many examples of how it saved me, but I’ll mention just one. When I was twenty, I was in a car with two teammates and a truck veered into our lane. I looked death in the face. Then there was a flash of light and we were saved… It was divine intervention. We were in the middle of the flames, but unharmed.“

Ten years later, you went through a difficult period. Was faith important in getting through that as well?

”Fundamental, absolutely. I was depressed; I’m not ashamed to say it. I had lost myself; I couldn’t even bring myself to dive between the posts anymore.“

Is it true that you refused to take the field?

”I was unwell; I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to play. I told the goalkeeper coach, ‘I don’t feel up to it.’ It wasn’t understood. I was playing for Lazio and the club covered it all up: they just announced that I was injured. In reality, I needed support, not to be left alone. Depression is an illness; it must be treated seriously.“

Let’s start with Cagliari. Your relationship with Cellino was complicated…

”I was subjected to subtle bullying. I was training with the first team, but I was never called up. I came back from the World Cup in South Africa, where I even made two appearances, and I was blamed for saying that I’d like to play in the Champions League. That’s all. From there, a never-ending war began. Just think, I showed up in court wearing a purple suit to rile Cellino: his eyes were wide with shock.”

Were there any negotiations that summer? He was, after all, the goalkeeper for the Italian national team.

“A lot of teams wanted me, yes. During the World Cup, there were talks with Sampdoria, then Roma and Milan. Allegri, with whom I have an excellent relationship, wanted to bring me along. But you know… the president turned down every offer, so it was hard to make a move.”

After a year on the bench, Lazio signed you. With the Biancocelesti, you won the derby in the Coppa Italia final. What memories do you have?

“Magical ones. Even today, I sometimes run into people on the street who stop me and tell their kids: ‘He was the goalkeeper in the 2013 final.’ We became immortal with that victory.“

Even at Lazio, after so many successful seasons, you lost your spot and ended up out of the squad. Was that partly Marchetti’s fault?

”Well, honestly, no. Rome is a complicated place; make one mistake and they crucify you. I remember the comments: ‘Now he’s getting depressed again.’ Then there were rumors about me going out at night and having certain vices: all lies. But I understand that someone who uses cocaine gets more clicks than someone who’s depressed.“

The tears under the North Stand, though, speak of a true bond.

”Absolutely, Rome is my home. I still live there. Those tears were a necessary gesture, even though I was wearing a different jersey at the time. It was my first time back at the Olimpico. The Rossoblù fans didn’t take it well; they called me a Lazio fan.”

In 2018, you ended up at Genoa. Was that a mistake?

“You bet. I was supposed to go to Napoli to replace Meret. Instead, I went to Genoa and never played. Ridiculous management by questionable characters…“

Are you referring to Blessin, in particular?

”You’ve already read what I think on Instagram. He’s the worst coach I’ve ever seen. He treated us like s*** and humiliated us constantly, even individually.”

Tell us more.

“He’d pick on players and insult them. He hated Italians. Calafiori tore into him, calling him an ‘Italian bastard.’ He had it out for me, Criscito, and Behrami. In fact, it’s no coincidence that Pandev chose to join Parma in Serie B just to get away.”

Did you take it out on him too?

“Does it seem normal to you that a guy who’s won everything in Italy and Europe ends up taking shots with the kids at the end of practice? Blessin humiliated him constantly. He left before he laid a hand on him.”

Do you have any regrets?

“Yes, I missed out on a top club. Even though I’m happy with the path I’ve taken. I felt bad for Genoa; it was a situation handled terribly…”

Even without playing for a top club, you still managed to become a regular on the national team. You’ve participated in a World Cup, a Confederations Cup, and a European Championship.
“Yes, I just have to thank Lippi, Prandelli, and Conte for their trust. Of course, it must be said that for many, I was always ‘the guy from Cagliari.’ Even after the World Cup, the criticism was that I played for a smaller team. If I’d been Milan’s goalkeeper, it would have been a different story.”