GIANLUCA VIALLI’S mother rushed to London from Italy to be by her son’s side after his condition worsened this week, Italian reports claim.
The former Chelsea and Italy striker is claimed to be receiving treatment in hospital as he battles pancreatic cancer.
Vialli, 58, recently stepped away from his role with the Italian national team to focus on his fight against the illness.
He was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 before being given the all-clear in 2020.
His cancer returned in 2021, and Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera claim his condition has worsened recently.
Vialli’s mum Maria Teresa, 87, and his brother flew to London to visit him in hospital as he could not travel back for Christmas.
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They are reported to have flown to the UK on Monday before returning home to Cremona, near Milan, on Tuesday.
Corriere Della Sera claim Vialli’s condition is “serious” as he receives treatment for cancer.
In a statement last week Vialli confirmed that he was stepping away from his position with the Italian team, but hoped it would only be temporary.
He said: “At the end of a long and difficult ‘negotiation’ with my wonderful team of oncologists I have decided to suspend, I hope temporarily, my present and future professional commitments.
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“The goal is to use all the psycho-physical energies to help my body overcome this phase of the disease, so that I will be able as soon as possible to face new adventures and share them with all of you.”
Chelsea legend John Terry sent his will wishes to Vialli following the news that he had stepped away from his role with Italy.
Vialli spent time in charge of the Blues and handed Terry his professional debut.
Terry wrote on Twitter: “Sending my Love and Best Wishes to Gianluca Vialli.
“The man that gave me my debut and believed in me.”
As well as his spell with Chelsea, Vialli also played for Cremonese, Sampdoria, and Juventus.
He was capped 59 times by Italy.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
