Chiellini: My dream is to mark Messi in the Champions League final

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has revealed that his dream for this season is to end up marking Barcelona star Lionel Messi in the final of the Champions League.

After a two-year absence, the Bianconeri will make their return to the most prestigious club competition in world football in September, and the Italy international is already thinking about going all the way to Wembley.

"My dream is the Champions League final against Messi," Chiellini is quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

The versatile centre-back's immediate concern, though, is being fit for the start of the new Serie A season, as he continues his recovery from the calf strain he suffered in the Azzurri's Euro 2012 final defeat by Spain.

The injury has ruled Chiellini out of the Italian Super Cup clash with Napoli in China on August 11, and he has admitted that he is desperately disappointed to be missing out on the opportunity to play before a big crowd in Beijing.

"It's nice to hear that Italian football has many supporters in Asia," the 27-year-old confessed. "There's definitely a mutual interest [between the two nations], with big names like Marcello Lippi, who now works in China."

Serie A fixtures for the new season are released on Thursday evening, with the campaign set to get underway on the weekend of August 26.