Mandas celebrates the myth: a square and a statue to remember Gigi Riva

Piazza Gigi Riva is already a pilgrimage destination for many rossoblù fans. The municipal administration of Mandas has dedicated an entire square to the legendary striker of Cagliari and the Italian national team. The inauguration was held in the presence of school children and the civil authorities of the town: after the traditional ribbon cutting by the mayor Umberto Oppus , the statue of Rombo di tuono was unveiled, created by the local artist Mario Matta who donated his work to the community. Also present were the former Cagliari footballers Renato Copparoni, Pino Bellini, Emanuele Gattelli, Sandrino Loi and Pietro Pillosu.

"We are very satisfied with the way our initiative has been received," said Walter Uccheddu, municipal councilor for Public Works. "The population has shown that it appreciates the new square named after Riva, an example of sportsmanship and great attachment to Sardinia that adopted him when he was very young."

The redevelopment of the area cost the Municipality 20,000 euros . Among the interventions carried out: increase of the green area, protection of the existing trees, creation of paths and slides for disabled people, cleaning and improvement of the places, arrangement of artistic benches, waste bins and road signs. Also present at the inauguration ceremony were representatives of the Carabinieri (Captain Luca delle Vedove) and Guardia di Finanza of Sanluri.

Two circumstances are worth bearing witness to the community's attachment (with the fiery mayor setting an example in some way) to the hero of the 1969/70 Scudetto: Gigi Riva, together with his teammates from the Tricolore team and the leader of the rossoblù fans Mario Sardara, "Marius", was an honorary citizen of Mandas ; Oppus himself, together with the journalist Mario Fadda, is the author of a book on Riva's history and football exploits. "All our initiatives", says the mayor, "want to pay due tribute to a great character, a friend to many, a champion unanimously recognized at a national and international level who has acquired the status of legend in Sardinia".