Ex-defender reveals ‘done’ Milan deal collapsed following positive cocaine test

Former Italian defender Moris Carrozzieri reveals he had signed a five-year contract with Milan in 2009, but his transfer collapsed after he tested positive for cocaine.

Former Sampdoria and Palermo defender Carrozzieri reveals he had agreed to join Milan in the summer of 2009, but his transfer collapsed due to a failed drug test.

Carrozzieri started his career at Castel Di Sangro and Bari’s youth sectors and moved to Serie A in 2003 from Teramo.

Fabio Paratici, now a Tottenham director, was the one who spotted Carrozzieri’s talent in Serie C and brought him to Samp in 2003.

“The President of Teramo promised me that at the end of the [2002-03] season, he would sell me to a Serie A club,” Carrozzieri told Gazzetta.

“I thought he was crazy, but it was all true. It was a big jump; I had four players ahead of me, but Novellino believed in m,e and I stayed.”

After his first season at Sampdoria, he joined Milan on loan, just for a pre-season friendly.

“It ended with compliments from Ancelotti, and then I renewed my contract with Gea, the agency I had signed with. That marked the end of the relationship with Novellino,” said the defender.

“He couldn’t stand people from Gea. I don’t know why. I only played six games that season. One day, he fined me €5,000. He claimed I had gone to a nightclub, which wasn’t true. Bazzani confirmed my story, but Novellino kept insisting. At that point, I lost it and I punched him in the face. From that moment, I didn’t play anymore.”

In April 2009, Carrozzieri tested positive for cocaine.

“It came at the best moment of my career, and I was an idiot,” he admitted.

“I shouldn’t have even played in that damn game against Torino. Someone else got injured during the final training session, so I had to play. I had already signed with Milan, a five-year contract.

“I was going to join them at the end of the season. A few nights earlier, I had taken drugs, but it was the first time. A stupid, crazy night. I was 28, the deal with Milan was done, and I thought: ‘Let’s celebrate.’ I’m ashamed.”

The ex-defender was playing for Palermo and received a two-year ban.

He admitted that disappointing his family was his biggest regret back then.

“Especially my father, who died three years ago,” he added.

“I miss him every day. He was the guiding light of my life. At 14, I remained out of action for a year because of an injury. He paid 20 million Lira for rehabilitation in Bergamo, far from home. ‘First you learn to walk again, then you come back,’ he said.

“On the day of my Serie A debut, he lost his wallet on the train, but he didn’t care. Seeing him so disappointed and worried was a real blow.”

Carrozzieri also played for Atalanta and Lecce in Serie A and won the Campionato Primavera with Bari in 1999-2000.