«That night playing in the street with Venditti and Tardelli»- Corriere.it

Two memories, two moments that unite forever. Paolo Rossi and Gianni Minà, a balloon that connects to dinners, laughter, stories. This is how Federica Cappelletti, Pablito’s wife, greeted Minà, who died on 27 March in Rome: «Hi Gianni, I remember with affection and nostalgia the last meeting in your Roman home, your joy in embracing Paolo again. His joy.”

There is a fairly recent photo of Rossi and Minà. Embrace each other, smile. Federica goes back to July 1982, immediately after the Mundial won by Bearzot’s Azzurri. «You were united by so many memories, evenings, broadcasts, interviews and the night of your return from the 1982 World Cup in Spain – she reads in the post on Instagram —, when Paolo, just crowned top scorer of the World Cup and world champion, before arriving at your home he stopped on the street with Venditti and Tardelli to play football, to the astonishment of passers-by. A story that I have heard many times and which is part of a repertoire of incredible emotions».

Paolo Rossi, just crowned world champion, who finds a ball, with Tardelli and Venditti, starts playing on the street: it’s difficult to imagine a similar scene today with Messi or Lautaro. Federica also adds other details: «They were all in the car together and were going to Minà’s house. Suddenly they stopped and did some ball shooting in the street. They had just become world champions…. Happy, young, with life in hand ».

After that magical World Cup Minà interviews Pablito in his Mixer broadcast, a chat that has become famous: «You have strengthened yourself inside – jokes Minà -. Rossi weighs less than he weighed in the championship, before he always crashed … now he doesn’t crash anymore. What happened?”. And again: «Paolo you have to explain to us how from the match against Cameroon you moved on to the one against Argentina and then against Brazil, becoming a “bolt of war”».

A true friendship. «You have been a friend of Paolo and of our family, a giant in life – adds Pablito’s wife -. Safe travels dear Gianni, Paradise is always more crowded!».