Tottenham star Son says Gian Piero Ventrone was a ‘special’ man: ‘ I think he was the biggest fan for us on Saturday.’
The 62-year-old passed away on Thursday due to fulminant leukemia. His death has shocked football, especially in Italy, as Ventrone was of the most notable fitness coaches in the country.
He was training at Tottenham with Antonio Conte, one of his closest friends in football.
Ventrone had worked at Juventus when the Italian tactician was still a football player and during his spell in the Bianconeri dug-out from 2011 until 2014.
He had a solid bond with all Tottenham players who paid tribute to him ahead of Saturday’s match against Brighton.
“It was really tough. Not only for me but every club member because he was such a special man,” Son said at a press conference today, as quoted by Football London.
“To prepare for the game was incredibly hard but we did it for him and probably he’s up there looking down and he’ll be very proud of us. I think he was the biggest fan for us on Saturday.
“He’s been there for me in tough moments, in good moments,” the Spurs winger continued.
“We celebrated some unbelievable moments and some achievements of mine individually last season and some team achievements also.
“He was keeping me always level and we had a really good relationship. This is not for any other people, this is for me really really special. It just hurts talking about him.”
Conte and his staff attended Ventrone’s funeral in Naples on Sunday along with some Italian legends such as Fabrizio Ravanelli, Ciro Ferrara and Angelo Peruzzi who had all worked with the 62-year-old at Juventus in the ’90s.
You’re a good man, Sonny.