On the outskirts of Turin, 35 children played on two pitches fully refurbished in honour of Gianluca Vialli.
Italy international Federico Chiesa, a host of Juventus legends and Riccardo Vialli, Luca’s nephew, opened the facility at FCD Spazio Talent Sports Centre.
Memories of goals, friendship and Luca's legacy brought tears from those in attendance following a bittersweet year of remembrance for a player not only loved in Italy, but in London as well.
Riccardo Vialli couldn't quite believe the outpouring of love and support his family have received this year, with Juventus and EA Sports the latest to pay tribute.
“All these tributes in memory of Luca are really meaningful and touching,” he said.
“We are really proud of him even though we have always been. Watching the love of Juventus and Chelsea towards him, it’s really beyond words.
“We always try to support the most interesting project that Luca would have liked the most.”
Chelsea filled Stamford Bridge for a legends match against Bayern Munich in Vialli’s honour in September.
The proceeds went to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, where Luca had been treated for the illness for several years before his eventual passing in January, aged just 58.
Fighting back the tears, Riccardo said of his beloved uncle: “Luca was really an example, we could see it even during the illness when he found the courage to write a book.
“Even though he was tired and was suffering, he always tried to make sure he was an example for people.
“He always used to say, life is 20 per cent what happens to you and 80 per cent how you react to it. I always have this sentence in my mind.
“Even when he was sick, he was always able to spread calmness and confidence to the people surrounding him.”
"Even though Luca was tired and was suffering, he always tried to make sure he was an example for people"
FCD Spazio now have state-of-the-art pitches but were also given kits and equipment. 35 children were selected for free coaching by Turin’s social services and will end their season with a four-week summer camp at Juventus’s academy.
Similar pitches have been built by EA Sports for Ian Wright in London, Zinedine Zidane in France and Sam Kerr in Australia, but this might be the most poignant story through the brand.
“We knew through conversations with his family how deeply he cared about his clubs and the communities that were part of those clubs,” said James Salmon, EA Sports's senior director brand.
Vialli won four trophies at Chelsea, as both a player and manager, lifted Juventus’s last Champions League title and secured a famous Scudetto success at Sampdoria.
He was also more recently part of Roberto Mancini's Italy staff that won Euro 2020 against England at Wembley as he wrestled with his illness.
The year of remembrance and charitable work has just added to a long list of achievements that his family can be proud of.
“I believe he is watching us from up there and Luca is smiling and is really happy about what we did with this project. If he sees these images then I am quite sure he is happy,” Riccardo added.
