Gianluca Mancini scored against Milan in the second leg of the Europa League quarter-finals at the Stadio Olimpico and broke into tears during celebrations, paying tribute to the brother of his brother-in-law, who had died on Monday at the age of 26.
Mancini was visibly emotional after scoring a goal that gave Roma the lead in the first half of the Europa League quarter-final second leg. The Italy international had already netted against the Rossoneri in the first leg at San Siro last week.
Mancini’s family was stuck by tragedy earlier this week when Mattia Giani, a 26-year-old Italian footballer, died at the Careggi hospital in Florence after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch the previous day. Giani was the brother of Mancini’s brother-in-law.
Giani had collapsed during an Eccellenza match between Castelfiorentino and Lanciotto Campi. His brother Elia, also a footballer, is the partner of Mancini’s sister.
Mancini honoured Giani after scoring against Milan on Thursday, showing a T-shirt with this message, written in Italian: ‘Farewell Mattia, forever with us.’
More must-reads: