GRAEME SOUNESS broke down in tears while paying tribute to his friend Gianluca Vialli.
The popular Italian died of cancer this morning aged 58.
Vialli was a legendary figure at Chelsea and a much loved man around football.
Souness, 69, was a team-mate of his at Sampdoria in the 1980s and was visibly devastated by the news.
Speaking to Sky Sports just moments after Vialli’s death was confirmed, the Scot said: “Sorry, I’ve only had the news ten minutes ago and I can’t tell you how good a guy he was.
“Forget football for a minute, he was just a gorgeous soul. He was a truly nice human being.
“I went to Italy when I was 31-years-old. He was 20 and he was just fabulous to be around.
“Such a fun loving guy, he was full of mischief. He was such a warm individual and a fabulous player.
“But I don’t want to talk about his footballing, I want to talk about him as a human being.
“Because I don’t remember when I hear his name, and I’m going to hear a lot of his name, correctly so and people paying plaudits to him, magnificent things about his playing ability… yeah – but what a human being – above all that, what a human being.
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“And my condolences go to his family and his wife and they’ve been blessed that their paths crossed. The kids were blessed they had a dad like that, his wife was blessed to have a man like that.”
Souness went on to add: “I’m no doctor really but when I looked at him I thought I saw a man who was still in the fight when he was here during the Euros and they managed to win it.
“I think it’s so typical of him that he kept it very private, very personal and he took it on as I’d expect him to take it on.
“It was his fight, wanted to deal with it himself, didn’t want to burden other people with it.”
In a heartbreaking scene, Souness then broke down in tears – with Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen thanking him for bravely paying tribute to his friend.
Vialli and Souness played together at Sampdoria for two years between 1984 and 1986.
They remained friends long after their stint as team-mates, also going on to appear as pundits together on Sky Sports.
Vialli has already received plenty of tributes from around the game.
Former club Chelsea, who he played for and then managed between 1996 and 2000, wrote: “You’ll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football.
“Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli.”
Alongside a picture of the pair following Vialli’s 1996 Stamford Bridge arrival, Ruud Gullit wrote on Instagram: “RIP, Gianluca Vialli. We will miss you.”
Former England and Liverpool striker Peter Crouch paid his own touching tribute to the late Vialli, tweeting: “I’m genuinely gutted about this.
“I had Sampdoria home and away shirts because of him.
“I tried to replicate his volleys In the park and [he was] such a lovely man when I met him. RIP.”
Broadcaster Chris Kamara said: “Devastated to hear the news
“RIP Luca – a fabulous career and a great fella. A wonderful life has been cut short. I am well and truly gutted.
“Gianluca Vialli it was an honour to have known you.”
Veteran Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler said: “To have known him was a privilege.”
Vialli won 13 major trophies during his time as a player – including Serie A, the Champions League, the FA Cup and League Cup.
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As a manager, he guided Chelsea to FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield glory.
He worked as delegation chief for the Italian national team, helping them to Euro 2020 victory, before stepping down from his role in December 2021 upon the return of his pancreatic cancer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
