Genoa – «Luca leaves no legacy because people like him never leave. Luca is here with us.” Dribbling and assist for the goal twin: Roberto Mancini unleashes the applause of Carlo Felice. “My name is Luca. Ballad for Vialli”: Genoa experiences a special, unique evening. In the name of the bomber. Paola Turci breaks the ice with “The football draft of the class of '68”. Excite Neri Marcoré, with the words of Theodore Roosevelt, chosen by Vialli to motivate the Azzurri before the European final won at Wembley. And then it arrives Mancio, connecting from Qatar, which opens the hearts of the packed room: «I only have one regret, Luca dreamed of becoming president of Sampdoria, it would have been the best. Go Samp and a kiss to Luca.”
The charity event organized by “Vialli and Mauro Foundation” with the support of the Liguria Region it keeps its promises and turns out to be a party, a mix of football, music, art, to retrace the life of the champion. «Because Luca is not commemorated, he is celebrated – reiterates Mauro – he was an extraordinary person, even before his illness».
All for Luca. From London here his wife Cathryn, with their daughters Olivia and Sofia. There is the “Cremonese” family. And the Sampdoria team, with their Sampd'Oro teammates. Everyone took to the stage, with their “Viallesque” anecdotes. From the President Lannagreeted by thunderous applause, to Mannini, Vierchowod, Ivano Bonetti, Pellegrini, Pari, Dossena, Pagliuca.
«The last time we saw Luca – recalls the Tsar – was for the presentation of “La Bella Season”: he was ill, it was his farewell, touching, but nice to still have him with us. In our Sampdoria he was a great mediator.” In the room too Francesca, Enrico and Ludovica Mantovani. And Edoardo Garrone.
From the Doria of the past, to the present. The owner Matteo Manfredi promises: «We want to learn from what he left us, to experience Sampdoria, football and sport like he did. For Vialli, Sampdoria must be a party every Sunday, remembering his energy in every match. Dedicate something to Vialli as a club? We are working on it, we have many ideas. Our project is ambitious, we ask the fans for a little patience but we thank them for their warmth. Ours will be a market of opportunities, let's work to avoid the many obstacles.”
The packed room of the Carlo Felice theater to greet and remember the bomber Gianluca Vialli (photo Arveda)
A little further away there are the sporting directors Andrea Mancini. And the mister, Andrea Pirlo: «Vialli represented a lot for me, he was a great player, I followed Sampdoria, I grew up with his and Mancini's myth. Very strong, an example, also with Juventus and the national team. I was lucky enough to meet him in person in the golf competitions organized by his foundation. As a child I tried his overhead kicks, an innate gesture that made him score great goals but I had other skills. Modern striker, he would also be perfect in today's football. He and Sinisa are the history of Sampdoriawe should win every match for them too.”
Former teammates and rivals are here, united for Luca. Bergomi is there, who reveals: «Once there was the possibility that Luca would become coach of the national team. He called me secretly to tell me that he wanted me as deputy. This makes the relationship clear. As rivals he told me “Uncle, don't elbow me in the back”. In Nazionale made us laugh out loud, but he was a perfectionist, forced me to train extra. And I want to underline his human growth, how he has always evolved over the years.”
Genoa, Carlo Felice's embrace of the champion Gianluca Vialli
Human depth that Vialli showed with everyone. As Luca Marchegiani: «In the national team we played little together. But I remember an Italy-Switzerland match in which I did badly. At the end of the match he cheered me up: “Sunday. Next Sunday's match is the one that counts: the important thing is to get up straight away.” A lesson that has helped me throughout my career.”
Funny and touching stories follow one another before the start. We leave at 9pm. The governor opens the dance Giovanni Toti and the mayor Marco Bucci. «Vialli said that the important thing is not to win but to think in a winning way – Toti's words – we are proud, thanks to the commitment of the Vialli and Mauro foundation, to support research into the fight against ALS and cancer. The doors of Liguria are always open to remember Vialli.”
«As soon as the Waterfront is ready – assures Bucci – we will dedicate a road to Vialli in that beautiful area. Life takes courage, Vialli taught us this, beyond colours. Genoa will always be close to him.” After the intro, the show curated by Elastica, directed by Ilaria D'Amico and Tommaso Labate, starts. Sportsmen, artists, journalists, commentators follow one another. Buffon, Brunori, the cellist Brunello, Fedez with the testimony of Vialli's closeness in his illness. Referee Collina. Ferrara reads a rhyming poem that Luca had dedicated to him. Di Canio revives the English Vialli. And Guardiola is there, connecting: «Vialli had a unique charisma, I met him while playing golf. He was an extraordinary center forward, typical Italian, capable of inventing goals on his own.”
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