"Thank you all. Thanks to all the people who attended the funeral home and who queued in the cold until 11pm. Children, elderly people, people who perhaps had never met him. We tried to shake everyone's hands. And everyone told us: "He was a great man and not only was he a great footballer".

These are the touching words pronounced by Nicola Riva, son of Gigi , during the funeral of Rombo di Tuono, who died on Monday at the age of 79 , celebrated in the Cagliari basilica of Bonaria.

«A piece of Sardinia is gone» , added Nicola, speaking from the pulpit to the thousands of people present inside and outside the church, interrupted several times by the applause of the crowd. «Everyone offered us condolences, but we almost wanted to offer condolences to all of them given the pain they felt . Because my father was a familiar person for the people of Cagliari and he always reciprocated their affection, as well as that of all Sardinians and all Italians."

«After receiving the golden collar of Coni – concluded Nicola Riva – in recent years my father has locked himself in the house. And only we children, relatives and his nieces were able to enjoy it." And on Monday «he left as he wanted. Now I hope with my heart that he can see his mother again in heaven, the person he loved the most ."

(Unioneonline/lf)

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