Vialli died, the flowers in front of the London hospital: “Thank you for the emotions you gave us” – Football
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LONDON – A few days ago, during the Christmas holidays here at Royal Marsden of Londonsome supporters had come Sampdoria, and they had hung up a banner: “Come on Luca!”. Today that banner is gone, like Gianluca Vialli, who passed away this morning at the age of 58, forever. But a scarf from Sampdoria remained, hanging from the railing. A few weeks ago he returned to this hospital, where he was happy to be treated: “They’re very good, it’s an excellent facility”, he commented some time ago.
The Royal Marsden is a cutting-edge center in the fight against cancer which is located right in the neighborhood of Gianluca’s English life and career: Chelsea, where Vialli lived in London with his wife Cathryn White-Cooper and their two daughters Olivia and Sofia, where he walked his dog and where the unforgettable English striker enchanted the Londoners and the Premier League in the Chelsea of the Italians with Zola and Di Matteo. Here the head physician of the oncology department is David Cunningham, world luminary, friend of Gianluca and fan of Chelsea. But even he was able to do little against the pancreatic cancer that has afflicted Gianluca since 2017.
The Chelsea his former striker on Instagram thus recalls: “Many people will miss you. A legend for us and for all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli”. On social networks, there is a flood of memories and messages for the deceased Italian champion: star, legend, our hero. While at the nearby Stamford Bridge stadium, the procession of English fans begins, who since this morning have placed flowers around the plaque dedicated to the Cremona striker. Vialli had returned here to Marsden at the end of last year just to start a new period of treatment after the worsening of the tumor and the consequent abandonment of Roberto Mancini’s national team. His 87-year-old mother Maria Teresa and his brother had also arrived inside this historic Georgian building in West London.
The first two fans arrive outside the hospital to honor Gianluca’s memory. They are a couple from Naples, but from Juventus, Francesco and Paola: “We were on holiday in London, we are leaving today, but before leaving we had to come here to pay homage to Gianluca. It is a very sad thing. He was one of the greatest in Italian football “. Francesco and Paola leave a bouquet of flowers next to the Sampdoria scarf tied to the gate and a note: “Thank you for the emotions you gave us Gianluca, from all sports lovers. You have always been great”. Then comes Stefano, a Genoese manager of a casino in the centre: “I’ve lived in London for 10 years but I’ve been a Sampdorian for a lifetime. But when I was 10, my father and I came here to watch the 1992 Champions Cup final against Barcelona . Out of disappointment I never wanted to see her again. But I will never forget that chorus “Gianluca Vialli we don’t love you, we adore you, you are better than Pelè. And now they’re both gone”. Thanks Gianluca.
Gianluca Vialli: all the lives of a boy who liked to laugh
by Maurizio Crosetti
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