Italy coach Roberto Mancini recalled his last meeting with Gianluca Vialli on December 29. On January 6, former Sampdoria forward Vialli died in London of pancreatic cancer. He was admitted to the Royal Marsden Hospital in December after resigning as assistant coach of the Squadra Azzurra.
Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli"He was powerless, with a low voice, but conscious. We talked a little about everything, he even asked me about the December meeting with the youth. He wanted to know about the development of our project.
A few days after saying goodbye to Sinisha, I lose another brother, a younger brother, as I liked to call him. We met when we were 16 and never broke up after that. All life together. Azzurri youth, national team, Sampa, joy and pain, victories and defeats. Those two nights at Wembley. Once we cried with sadness and bitterness, many years ago. Another time we wept for joy as fate brought us together before his death.
I thank the president of "Sampdoria" Gravini, who wanted to see him in the national team. He made me happy. He played a decisive role in the victory at the Euros. The players loved him. Gianluca had strength and gave us the courage we didn't even suspect he used to fight the disease, staying with us as long as he could.
Gianluca was the best of us, an impeccable striker, an ideal and courageous man. It was a privilege to be his friend and teammate in football and life," Mancini was quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Vialli and Mancini were best friends. They won Sampdoria's first and only Serie A title in the 1990/91 season, losing the following campaign's Champions League final against Barcelona (0–1) at Wembley Stadium.
