The sporting world was rocked this week when it was announced that former Italian footballer Gianluca Vialli had tragically passed away.
The Italian played for some of the world’s biggest clubs such as Juventus and Chelsea, winning the UEFA Champions League along the way.
Vialli took up management roles with Chelsea and Watford before becoming the delegation chief of the Italian National team.
The football legend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 and despite being given the all-clear in 2020, he was re-diagnosed only a year later.
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Vialli stepped away from football altogether, leaving his role with his national team before tragically passing away at the start of 2023.
“The goal is to use all my psycho-physical energies to help my body overcome this phase of the disease, in order to face new adventures as soon as possible and share them with all of you,” said the Italian on the 14thof December upon his departure from the national team.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has now paid tribute to his fellow Italian, releasing a statement via F1 Media about the loss of Vialli.
“We have lost an incredible man with the passing of Gianluca Vialli,” began the statement.
“He was an amazing talent – kind, caring and generous with a love for life. He was a friend and I will miss him hugely. Our thoughts are prayers are with his family at this very sad time.”
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The football world will now continue to mourn the loss of one of the greats of the game, after losing Brazilian icon Pelé only days before the announcement of Vialli’s passing.
Tributes to Vialli continue to flood in from all around the globe, with Sampdoria, Chelsea and Juventus all posting to social media to express their sadness at the passing of their former striker.
The thoughts of everyone at Formula1news.co.uk go out to Vialli’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.