Graeme Souness has broken down in tears while paying tribute to his friend and former team mate Gianluca Vialli.
The Italian legend died of cancer on Thursday aged 58. Vialli was a Chelsea icon and a much-loved figure in the larger footballing world. He played with Souness, 69, at Sampdoria in the 1980s.
Speaking to Sky Sports just moments after Vialli's passing was announced, the tearful Scot said: "I've only had the news ten minutes ago... 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.
"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."
The ex-Rangers manager added: "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."
Sky Sports News presenter Hayley McQueen was then forced to cut the interview as Souness became even more emotional, but thanked him for taking the time to share his memories of his dear pal with viewers.
Souness and Vialli played together at Sampdoria for two years between 1984 and 1986. They remained life-long friends and went on to appear as as pundits together on Sky Sports.
Tributes have poured in from other sportspeople across the globe, including former club Chelsea, who Vialli played for and then managed between 1996 and 2000. A spokesperson said: "You’ll be missed by so many. A legend to us and to all of football. Rest in peace, Gianluca Vialli."
Ruud Gullit wrote on Instagram: "RIP, Gianluca Vialli. We will miss you." His sentiment was accompanied by a photo of the duo following Vialli's 1996 Stamford Bridge arrival.
Peter Crouch, former England and Liverpool striker, expressed his sadness at the loss of a football great. He tweeted: "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."
Martin Tyler, veteran Sky Sports commentator, simply commented: "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 - and brought Chelsea FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield glory as a manager.
He worked as delegation chief for the Italian national team, who won Euro 2020, but left his role in December 2021 due to his pancreatic cancer having returned.
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