THE late football icon Gianluca Vialli grew up in a beautiful 60-room castle which he later used as a holiday residence thanks to his successful father.
Located in the breathtaking landscape of Cremona in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, the stunning Castello di Belgioioso was home to Vialli alongside his parents and four siblings before later being used as a holiday home.
A self-made millionaire and building contractor, Vialli's father moved his large family into the sprawling 60-room pile around 22 miles south of Milan.
Chelsea, Juventus, and Sampdoria icon Vialli tragically passed away this week at Royal Marsden Hospital in London aged just 58 following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Cremona, where he would later make his debut in 1980, the skillful striker was raised wealthy along with his four siblings in a home fit for a king.
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The 15th-century Castello di Belgioioso, formerly the residence of princes and nobles, became the family home of Vialli.
With its large moat, Italian garden, and ballroom, the castle was a fairytale home for the football legend to which he would retreat during breaks from the game.
Once a country residence of the Prince of Belgioioso, the castle is now home to historical exhibitions, cultural events, and fairs.
The homely property and childhood residence of Vialli now offers services such as weddings and conferences and is also used as a museum, displaying its rich historical ties.
His was a highly-unusual upbringing for a professional footballer, and he sometimes had to defend himself against claims that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.
Vialli was known for his joyful approach to life, and once attributed his prolific goalscoring abilities to "making love as much as possible".
He once compared scoring a goal to "sticking my fingers in a socket, like an electric shock".
Italian national team coach and former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini shared a decades-long friendship with Vialli, dating back to their lethal strike partnership at Sampdoria.
The pair were reunited at the Italian national side some 20 years later, where the pair led the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory with a win over England on penalties.
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Tragically, Vialli was forced to step down from his role last month as his cancer returned.
Vialli lived in London with his English wife Cathryn White Cooper, the mother of his two daughters Olivia and Sofia.
His 87-year-old mother, Maria Teresa was one of those who flew to the UK as Vialli's condition worsened, alongside his brother Nino.
Both grew up in the charming Lombardy castle before beginning Vialli began his successful career in football.
The ex-striker and four-time Coppa Italia winner dazzled Serie A and the Premier League with glittering spells at Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus, and finally Chelsea, earning 59 caps for Italy.
Vialli scored 16 goals in 59 appearances for his national side and featured in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup finals, earning him the title of one of English football’s most successful and popular European imports.
His career continued to blossom as he won his fifth major trophy in less than three years in charge of Chelsea when they won the FA Cup in 2000.
Following his death, heartfelt tributes have been left by many within the football community, with his influence on European football felt across the nation.
Former England striker Peter Crouch tweeted: "I'm genuinely gutted about this.
"I had a Sampdoria home and away shirt because of him. I tried to replicate his volleys in the park and such a lovely man when I met him."
The forward was given the all-clear in 2020 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017, but the disease sadly returned a year later.
In a Netflix documentary aired in March 2022, Vialli said: "I know that I probably will not die of old age, I hope to live as long as possible, but I feel much more fragile than before."
He described his cancer as "a travel companion" that he hoped would eventually leave him in peace, after testing his mettle.
Vialli added: "Illness can teach a lot about who you are, and can push you to go beyond the superficial way in which we live."
Following his death, fans hung a touching banner outside Vialli's London hospital.
In the colours of his beloved Sampdoria, the banner read simply: "Forza Luca".
Graeme Souness, Vialli’s Sampdoria team-mate in the 1980s, broke down in tears while paying tribute to his friend.
The Scot, 69, said: "Forget football for a minute, he was just a gorgeous soul. He was a truly nice 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."
Another fellow former teammate Scott Minto couldn't hide his emotions as he paid tribute.
Minto, who played alongside Vialli at Chelsea, told talkSPORT he was an "incredible" man.
"He came to Chelsea as this superstar and yet he was just one of the lads," he said.
