NAPOLI manager Gennaro Gattuso’s sister Francesca has tragically died at the age of 37.
She had been placed in intensive care four months ago while suffering from an “illness”, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport reported.
Gattuso has been hit with the devastating personal news that his sister has died just weeks before Serie A is to returnCredit: AFP
Gattuso raced to his sister’s side and missed the pre-match press conference after his team beat Sampdoria 4-2 in early February.
According to Il Mattino, Gattuso was notified by his wife Monica that his sister had fallen ill.
Francesca, who worked as a secretary for AC Milan, was reported to have required “urgent surgery”.
She was rushed to a hospital in Busto Arsizio, a town around 20 miles west of Milan in northern Italy.
Francesca was believed to have lived in Gallarate, in the Italian province of Varese, where former AC Milan star Gattuso, 42, also has a home.
Gattuso was reported to have been at Napoli’s Castel Volturno training ground when he learned of her passing.
A tweet from AC Milan’s official account read: “Francesca Gattuso faced her illness with the same strength and energy she brought to Milanello and AC Milan every day.
“Rino, the immense pain you and your family are feeling is also ours. Rest in peace, dear Francesca.”
The news comes less than three weeks before Serie A is set to restart following the coronavirus break.
Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora confirmed action is to get back underway on June 20.
A ball was last kicked in the Italian top-flight on March 9, when Sassuolo beat Brescia 3-0.
Napoli currently sit sixth in the table and were on a three-game winning streak before the action was halted.
Gattuso has previously revealed how Andrea Pirlo once played a practical joke on him involving his sister.
When the pair were at AC Milan, Pirlo sent a text offering Gattuso’s sister to the club’s vice president Adriano Galliani.
Speaking of his friendship with the former Juventus midfielder, Gattuso said: “You see him, the face of an angel but he is a son of a b****, always makes jokes, always breaks the boxes, does not stand still.
“One day I was eating at Milanello, I had the bright idea to leave my phone on the table, and he sent a text message to Galliani and [sports manager Ariedo] Braida offering them my sister.”
This week’s Maverick Monday is AC Milan legend Gennaro Gattuso
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
