Juventus and Chelsea legend Vialli reveals cancer

26 nov 2018

Former Chelsea and Juventus star Gianluca Vialli spoke with Il Corriere della Sera about his life and career. The Italian will soon publish his autobiography where he reveals his fight against cancer: “It would be better not to write it but it wasn’t possible. It was a part of my life that I had to live with bravery, and I’ve learned something from it. I knew it was hard and difficult to say to my family. You don’t want to see people that love you suffer. You feel shame, you feel like the whole situation is your fault. I used to wear a sweater under my shirt so that people would notice nothing. I want people to see the usual Vialli. After a while, I’ve decided to say everything and write my story in the book.”

“It all happened a year ago but I am feeling well now. I still don’t know how it’s going to end up, I hope my story will be useful for people who are facing a crossroad in their lives. I hope my book will help people somehow. The 10% of life is made of what happens, the 90% is made of how we face what happens. I hope my story will be useful to help people who are fighting. I’d like to meet someone who tells me: ‘I didn’t give up because of you’”.

CAREER - “Cremonese is the team of my heart. When I was a kid I used to support Inter. Juventus wanted me but I wasn’t ready yet. President Mantovani explained me the project of Sampdoria. Berlusconi tried to sign me too. I remained for a few years at Sampdoria because I loved [Samp president] Mantovani. Each time I spoke to him in his office, he used to tell me that he wanted to overturn the hierarchies of football. I loved him, I loved the environment and I loved Sampdoria.”

JUVE – “Moggi always put you in the conditions to do your best. Calciopoli? Juventus were so strong they could win 6 or 7 Serie A titles out of 10. They tried to win them all and they didn’t respect the rules.”

DOPING – “I could live that situation more serenely, like other colleagues did. I didn’t do it. It was unfair. Did I use creatine? For a few months, lawfully, like everybody else."