The next day is farewell day. Salute to the hero and man. Gigi Riva will enter the Cagliari stadium for the last time, next to the Sant'Elia stadium where his career ended.
Torto: “Everyone knew Sardinia was their home”
“A wound for the whole island of Sardinia and for all of Italy in general. For everyone who played the sport and loved it, she is one of the greatest examples of humanity, value and love for the team and the shirt. He knew what he wanted.” Tell me I feel at home and you leave me with a broken heart.” How he was born in Lombardy Gigi RivaBut he is Sardinian because of his paternal origins and his connection to the island. Philip Torto He was deeply affected by the departure of the eternal striker, the icon of Cagliari.
“I always felt like I was similar to him in character,” he said. Sports Radio The Olympic gold medalist in the 4X100 race – very reserved but at the same time easygoing in his connections and relationship with the city. Although he was not born in Sardinia like me, he became a true Sardinian, and for me he was and will remain an important part of my life.”
Pavoletti: “He was the strongest and could go anywhere. He chose Sardinia”
Among the hundreds of people affected by Gigi Riva's final farewell, there were also Cagliari players. “He was the strongest of all and he could go anywhere, as they say today,” he said. Leonardo Pavoletti -Choose instead Cagliari And the Sardinia. “I think this feeling is worth more than all the goals he scored and the records he broke.”
Line outside the stadium for a final farewell
Outside Unipol Domus Cagliari An increasingly long line, inside Gigi Riva's coffin, with the blue tracksuit of the Italian national team and the red and blue suit of Cagliari at his feet. Hundreds and hundreds of people have been paying homage to the champion who won the Serie A title since this morning, waiting for him to be able to enter the Chapel of Rest set up inside the Sant'Elia Stadium – which will soon be called the Riva – and say goodbye to the Thunderclap for the last time. “The pain is so strong, I would like to answer so many questions, but today we must remain silent. Riva has united this people and this land, and he has done so for decades – the moving words of Tommaso Giulini, President of Cagliari -. “No one loved Sardinia more than him, and he will remain our star in everything we do.”
Cagliari pay tribute to the coffin
At 1.50pm, Cagliari players arrived in a group at the stadium to pay tribute to Gigi Riva's coffin.
The body arrives at the stadium
At around 1.30pm, the carriage carrying Gigi Riva's body arrived at the stadium and people applauded it. Rows of fans at the entrance to bid farewell to the legend.
Two days of citizen mourning in Cagliari
The Cagliari municipal administration decided to declare mourning for citizens on January 23 and 24. Many businesses will close during the funeral on Wednesday at 4pm in Sardinia's capital, and all businesses are invited to close for the funeral to commemorate the Cagliari legend.
Funeral home hours
The funeral chapel at the stadium will be open from 2pm to 10pm on Tuesday, and from 7am to 1pm on Wednesday, before the coffin is taken to Bonaria Church for the funeral.
Funeral on Wednesday at 4pm in Bonaria
It has not yet been officially confirmed, but Gigi Riva's funeral will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 24 at 4pm in the sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Bonaria, overlooking the sea.
Final dress: The national team's blue tracksuit with “Italy” written on it.
Gigi Riva has worn the national team's blue tracksuit since the 1960s, with the majestic 'Italy' written across the chest. A way to symbolize the inseparable bond with the blue shirt.
The funeral will take place at the stadium from one o'clock in the afternoon
Gigi Riva's body has been in the morgue of the Bruzzo Hospital in Cagliari since dawn. At one o'clock in the afternoon, he will be taken to the Cagliari Stadium, the team to which he donated his entire career: it will be the appropriate place to say his final farewell before the funeral.
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