Former Italian international Gianluca Vialli, who has been battling pancreatic cancer for several years, announced this Wednesday the cessation of his activities in the Italy national football team to fight “a new phase of the disease”.
Vialli, head of the delegation of the Italian national team, explains that “after a long and difficult discussion with the great team of oncologists” he has decided to suspend his current and future professional commitments.
“The goal is to use all my physical and mental energy to help my body through this stage of the disease so that I can take part in new adventures as soon as possible and share them with you all”added Gianluca Vialli.
Gabriela Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), recalled that “Vialli was a top player” and said she was “confident that he will return soon”.
At the end of his career, he briefly coached Chelsea, through Watford, before becoming manager of the Italy national team from 2019, when he was already battling pancreatic cancer.
In a 2021 documentary, Vialli describes his illness as “an unwanted traveling companion, but you have to move on and wait until he gets tired”.
Source: DN
