Italy’s news agency, ASNA confirmed that over the weekend Paolo Rossi’s home was burgled during his funeral service.Rossi’s wife Federica Cappelletti returned to the family home, where she found that valuables were stolen and the house was ransacked.
Some money, a watch and jewellery were among the items taken from the home. However, memorabillia linked to the former footballer, had not been taken.
The family had lived on a farm, that they had converted into a tourist complex near a popular beauty spot, near the Tuscan villege of Bucine.
The police are currently investigating the incident.
The Service:
World Cup winner Rossi passed away at the age of 64 last week.
Covid restrictions meant that thousands had to pay their respects to Rossi in a viewing room at the Stadio Menti in days leading up to the service. Restrictions also meant that only 300 people could attend the service.
Italian football legends Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini attended the funeral.
A former teammate of Rossi’s, Antonio Cabrini spoke during the service, “I haven’t lost just a teammate, but a friend and a brother. Together we fought, won and sometimes lost, always getting back up after disappointments”.
Cabrini continued, “We were part of a group. I will always miss you, your comforting words, your quips and your funny jokes”.
Other teammates from that 1982 World Cup winning squad carried Rossi’s coffin into the cathedral.
Marco Tardelli led the carrying of the coffin, and was accompanied by Rossi’s son Alessandro. Tardelli was the assistant coach of the Republic of Ireland, durng Giovanni Trapptoni’s tenure as manager.
Legacy:
Rossi enjoyed a very successful career as a footballer, at both club and international level.
His 6 goals at the 1982 World Cup helped Italy to win the tournament. This includes a famous hat trick in a 3-2 victory over Brazil in the Knockout Stages. See here.
His club career included lining out for Juventus. He won two Serie As with the Turin club, in the 1980s.
