Heartbroken Asamoah Gyan Pays Tribute to Italy Legend Gianluca Vialli

Heartbroken Asamoah Gyan Pays Tribute to Italy Legend Gianluca Vialli

Lukman Mumuni
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:22 PM
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  • Asamoah Gyan has joined friends and family in paying tribute to Italy legend Gianluca Vialli
  • The former Italy striker has died at the age of 58 following his battle with cancer
  • Gyan idolized the former Chelsea and Juventus star during his youth days as a footballer

Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has described Gianluca Vialli as one of the best strikers in his generation.

The Italy legend sadly died aged 58 on Friday, January 6, 2023 after losing his battle with cancer.

Asamoah Gyan, Gianluca Vialli, Ghana, Italy
Asamoah Gyan has reacted to the passing of Italian football legend Luca Vialli. Credit: @Images_Image @Azzurri_En
Source: Twitter

Gyan, who looked up to Vialli during his youth football days revered the Italian, and has taken to social media to pay tribute to the ex-Chelsea star.

"We lost another Giant," he posted with emojis of heartbreak. "One of the best strikers in his generation. RIP legend," the Ghanaian football legend added.

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Vialli enjoyed a successful career, playing for Chelsea, Juventus and Sampdoria and with the Italian national team, he featured 59 times.

"Gianluca was a splendid person and he leaves a void that cannot be filled," said Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina as quoted by the BBC.
"I hoped until the end that he would be able to perform another miracle. Yet I am comforted by the certainty that what he did for Italian football and the blue shirt will never be forgotten."

His last role was with the national team, where he worked alongside Roberto Mancini as the Azurris won Euro 2020.

Italy legend Vialli dies at 58

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Former Juventus, Chelsea and Italy striker Gianluca Vialli has died of pancreatic cancer aged 58, sparking a stream of tributes to a player who was stylish on and off the pitch.

Vialli was diagnosed with cancer in 2017 but was still able to play a significant role in Italy's European Championship title-winning campaign in 2021 assisting long-time Sampdoria strike partner and national coach Roberto Mancini.

However, he announced a temporary leave from his role with the national team in December to focus on his health.

Asamoah Gyan praises Okocha

Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan is full of admiration for former Nigeria captain, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha.

Gyan was bewildered by Okocha's skills, as he watched old footage of the ex-Super Eagles star during his days in the English Premier League with Bolton Wanderers.

Reacting to old clips of the Nigerian legend, Gyan concluded Okocha is one of the greatest to ever have played the game.

Authors
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Lukman Mumuni
Lukman Abdul Mumin is a Sports Journalist based in Accra, Ghana. He has been writing for the past five years. Lukman joined Sports Brief as an Editor for the Local Desk in 2022.
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