«Vialli and the silence in the Magical Nights chat, in December: there we understood»- Corriere.it

Riccardo Ferri, 59 years old, one more than Vialli, shared the blue shirt with Gianluca for nine years. From the lightheartedness of the Under 21 to the awareness of the senior national team, a journey that began in ’83 and ended in ’92.

«I remember the first meeting, he had curls and a mischievous smile that I would never forget. I had arrived a year earlier, in ’82, but he integrated right away. A formidable team, which went down in history even if in ’86 they lost the final of the European Championship in Valladolid against Luisito Suarez’s Spain».

Then together, again with Vicini as coach, you went to the national team of the greats…
«We were Azeglio’s boys. Vialli quickly became the leader of that group. I was struck by his sense of responsibility at the 1990 World Cup, which he started as a starter before making way for Baggio and Schillaci. Even off the bench, Luca continued to make suggestions and encourage everyone. He had the sense of the group ».

Who was Vialli?
«One of the strongest strikers of his generation. As a defender, marking him was very complicated. Not only did he have an eye for goal and he didn’t wait for the ball in the center of the area, but he went looking for it. Always on the go and ready to rip you off. He and Ravanelli have contributed to making the role modern, erasing the concept of static point. It can be said that Vialli marked an era».

And the man?
«Serious and joker at the same time. If he pranked you, that was trouble. But also courageous, loyal, tenacious. It is enough to see how he faced evil: with his head held high ».

Did you hear often?
“Not so much. Life has separated us, as it often does. But we were united in the titled chat Magic Nights which I had created when Neighbors was missing. There was so much of our life in those messages. We spoke for greetings or when there was an event, even a personal one, to remember. Luca last wrote on November 27 for Mancio’s birthday. On 22 December, when there was that of uncle Bergomi, instead he remained silent and there we understood … ».

Were you prepared…
«We are never faced with these things. I’m in training camp with Inter, but my heart and mind always go to Luca. I’ve been trying all day to stay away from the television and failing. We will miss him, he will be missed by Italian football. I think there is a lot of Vialli in the national team’s victory at the 2021 European Championship. Reviewing the strong and spontaneous embrace with Mancini, I couldn’t help but be moved. He wanted to bring his daughters to the altar, but I’m sure that he will have left great teachings to his girls. It is not true that death is the same for everyone. His smile and a piece of life that will never come back will remain with me.’