These days, Riccardo Prisciantelli works in the food business. He deals primarily with fish. For a time, though, he looked after wolves. Well, one lone wolf, anyway.
Back then he was sporting director for Hellas Verona in Italy's third tier. But money was tight so alongside recruitment, responsibilities included housing and the occasional hand-out, too.
In late 2007, one scrawny teenager was particularly in need. Then only 15, he had arrived from Brazil carrying nothing but a dream. Tonight, Jorginho will walk out at Wembley, the beating heart of Italy's reawakening.
Jorginho spent some of his early days in Italy living in an ancient monastery from the age of 15
The 29-year-old has been a key ingredient of arguably the best midfield at Euro 2020
'Other managers said that on the pitch, he was a tiger, or a lion,' said Prisciantelli. 'But to me, he was a wolf. Because tigers and lions, you can find them at the circus. Wolves? No. They remain to fight until the end. Like he does.'
Like he had to. From Brazil's south coast to the Azzurri, via Verona and the confines of an ancient monastery — where Jorginho spent some of his early days in Italy.
'I am ashamed to have sent him to live with the monks, life was very hard for him,' said Prisciantelli. 'Jorginho has made his suffering his strength.'
These are the foundations England must topple. Prisciantelli eventually turned his back on football. Fortunately, that boy never gave up.
'I have never known a guy who in life has ever suffered as much as Jorginho,' said Prisciantelli.
'Another guy would have given up, 100 per cent. He had already decided in his heart that he would become a footballer. He has immense willpower.'
Earlier this year, the 29-year-old helped Chelsea win the Champions League, club football's greatest prize.
Tonight, more European glory beckons. Jorginho secured Italy's spot at Wembley with a nerveless penalty against Spain.
Two nations held their breath in the split-second when he hovered over the ball, Unai Simon toppled to his right and the midfielder did not waver, stroking the ball to the goalkeeper's left. What pressure?
The ex-Napoli man tasted Champions League glory in May when Chelsea beat Manchester City
Jorginho's 14-year journey to this point began in Imbituba. He flew to Sao Paulo, to Frankfurt and finally to Italy.
Europe had long been a dream — it was the home of his great-great-grandfather. But a first attempt to retrace those roots ended in problems with his paperwork and a teary phone call home.
So at 14, Jorginho joined an academy project in Brusque, where he felt the rough edge of football's vast underbelly.
Occasionally the food
