If Sopranos creator David Chase is on the look out for a new take on the Mafia story then he could do no worse than ponder a series around the colourful life of Giorgio Chinaglia.
Tony Soprano actor, James Gandolfini, is already a dead-ringer for the larger-than-life Chinaglia who by even Italian standards is at the centre of an incredible story concerning a plot by the Napoli branch of ItalyâÂÂs crime family to buy Lazio.
All the elements are there for another hit show: characteristic lead character, shady underworld, intimidation, flight from the law, all set against the irresistible backdrop of Rome, with Naples and New York, and Hungary, thrown in for good measure.
Giorgio Chinaglia, or is it Tony Soprano?
A police operation âÂÂBroken Wingâ â in honour of LazioâÂÂs eagle crest - has revealed that Chinaglia or âÂÂLong Johnâ as he is known, was the frontman for the exotically-named Casalesi ClanâÂÂs move to take over the Roman club in 2006.
The clan were looking for a way to launder some of their ill-gotten gains and targeted ailing Lazio and their president Claudio Lotito as an easy touch.
An offer Lotito couldnâÂÂt refuse amounted to Chinaglia claiming he represented an Hungarian pharmaceuticals company in their bid to obtain a controlling interest in Lazio while members of the irriducibili ultras allegedly hung around the ownerâÂÂs house looking mean and moody.
Just so Lotito knew they meant business, he received a letter threatening his wife and abusive messages were left on his voice-mail.
Chinaglia skipped town, leaving everyone to shake their heads and laugh the whole thing off as the big manâÂÂs over-sized ego got the better of him until an arrest warrant was issued for extortion and insider-trading on Lazio shares.
Anyone who has read âÂÂOnce in a Lifetimeâ or seen the documentary of the same name, on the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos, will be familiar with Chinaglia.
He was their brash top goalscorer, opinionated headline grabber and the man who once made Pele cry with his constant complaining.
Scoring for New York Cosmos vs Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 1980
Brought up in South Wales no less, the powerfully-built striker (think of a young Christian Vieri) was the hero of LazioâÂÂs title-winning side in 1974, scoring 193 goals in seven years in the Eternal City.
The team was made up of some eccentric characters, not least Luciano Re Cecconi, who wound up dead when he entered a friendâÂÂs jewellery shop brandishing a fake gun and was shot on the spot.
A Tony Soprano-like temperament got Chinaglia into no end of trouble, most notoriously when he told Italy coach Ferruccio Valcareggi where to go after being substituted against Haiti during the âÂÂ74 World Cup.
A love of all things American, including apparently carrying a Magnium.44, took him across the Atlantic in 1976 although it doesnâÂÂt look like he will be making a trip in the opposite direction very soon.
As he told Sky Italia in a phone interview on Tuesday: âÂÂI havenâÂÂt a clue whatâÂÂs going on. I donâÂÂt know any of the people involved and thereâÂÂs no way I am coming back to end up in prison for something I never did.âÂÂ
Best buds: Chinaglia and Pele, 1976
ItâÂÂs not the first time Chinaglia has been involved in a takeover bid for Lazio.
Back in 1983 he was asked by a group of American-Italian businessmen from New Jersey to lead a bid for the club which he successfully did â no questions asked then.
A three-year tenure in charge ended with relegation and near-bankruptcy so this time around Lazio have gotten off lightly.
By the by, itâÂÂs not as if Giorgio, who is an American citizen, is on the lam as he can be reached at the Sirius Satellite Radio Station in New York where he hosts The Football Show every Wednesday.
ThereâÂÂs even an e-mail address although donâÂÂt expect a reply if you are from the Italian authorities.
