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Gianluca Vialli, «Not a gray farewell, but a cheerful funeral»

“A merry funeral.” That is how Gianluca Vialli, who died on January 6 in London, asked his family to say goodbye. Not “a gray farewell”, a request that reflects the personality of the former footballer who for the entire period of the disease, pancreatic cancer, has placed himself with a positive attitude, like a true champion.

With the anticipation of Serie A Fiorentina-Sassuolo, there was the first minute of silence in his memory, amid applause and emotion, while the scoreboards of the stadium showed the image of Vialli at the time of Sampdoria. An intense moment that is repeated on all football pitches also on Sunday 8 January during the 17th day of the championship.

The date of the funeral has not been disclosed, which will be held privately in London, where close friend Roberto Mancini will certainly not be missing. «Gianluca was like a son to meobviously without taking anything away from his mother who is suffering so much at the moment », he told al Corriere della Sera Marianna Puolo, mother of Mancini. «Everyone knows of the strong bond that has always united my son to Gianluca. The pain we have inside is immense and I dare not imagine what his family members are feeling. We have followed Gianluca together with Roberto since his days at Sampdoria, we have seen him grow, at the moment it is also difficult to find the words».

Monday 9 January, at 18, Cremona he greets his Gianluca, certainly accompanied by a huge crowd, with a mass in the parish of Christ the King. There where Vialli began to kick the ball first. His city is thinking of dedicating the stadium to him which is currently named after Giovanni Zini, the goalkeeper who died in the Great War.

Meanwhile, the wave of affection towards the champion and his family continues. Lots of messages on social media from well-known characters. Among them the singer Cesare Cremonini who, publishing some images of Vialli’s historic bicycle kick, wrote: “I dream of a generation like Vialli”. A dream of all of us.

More stories from Vanity Fair that may interest you:

-Goodbye to Gianluca Vialli, the touching social messages of famous people

-Gianluca Vialli has died: that hug forever

-Fedez remembers Gianluca Vialli moved: «We knew the same pain, it helped me a lot»

Source: Vanity Fair

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