Italy players tried to console Leonardo Spinazzola by singing a song for the Roma full-back on their way to Italy.
The 28-year-old was stretched off in the second half of the quarter-final tie of UEFA Euro 2020 between the Azzurri and Belgium, but what appeared to be a muscle injury turned out to be a more serious rupture of his Achilles tendon, which could keep him on the sidelines for over six months.
The Roma full-back will undergo further medical examinations today, in Rome or Florence, where he returned with the rest of the team last night.
Spinazzola had left the pitch in tears and his teammates tried to cheer him up on their way back to Coverciano.
Olé! Olé olé olé!
Spina! Spina! 💙💙💙#Spinazzola #Nazionale 🇮🇹 #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/Y17PYrh8pX— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) July 2, 2021
The official Twitter account of the FIGC posted a video of the Azzurri singing ‘Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole, Spina, Spina’ showing Federico Bernardeschi who took the loudspeaker and started signing, followed by all his teammates.
“We are sorry for Spinazzola, he didn’t deserve such an injury, he’s been one of the best players of the Euros,” said Roberto Mancini in a post-match press conference.