Igor Protti: “Illness is an unfair opponent, I didn’t expect such support” | OneFootball

The former Azzurri striker shares his battle against cancer, the wave of affection he has received, and memories of a career lived without regrets.

Igor Protti: “Illness is an unfair opponent. I didn’t expect so much solidarity”

Igor Protti, an icon of Italian football in the '90s and 2000s, is facing the toughest challenge of his life: the fight against cancer. In a lengthy interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the former striker shared emotions, memories, and deep reflections, showing the same determination that distinguished him on the pitch.

“I wanted to be there for the fans, despite the chemo”

A week ago, Protti was welcomed with an emotional embrace at the Armando Picchi stadium in Livorno, on the occasion of the match against Ternana:

“Emotions are hard to explain, you have to experience them. I really wanted to be present despite the chemotherapy, which makes me very tired. But I felt the need to thank everyone for the wave of affection I received. When I announced my illness, I didn’t expect such solidarity. I thought: ‘Igor, go. This is an opportunity and you don’t know if there will be others.’”

Affection that goes beyond football rivalries

The support came from all over Italy:

“I received messages from fans of Pisa, Spezia, Lecce, Roma… This confirmed to me that football is a great community: on Sundays, everyone cheers for their own team, but in difficult moments something greater emerges that unites everyone.”

Memories and lessons: from goals in Serie A to a lesson from a bricklayer father

Protti also recalled some highlights of his career: the Serie A top scorer title with Bari in 1996, the last goal scored by a number 10 in a Napoli shirt, and the many years spent in Livorno. Despite a few missed opportunities, he has no regrets:

“I would be ungrateful to say otherwise: I was lucky enough to play for 21 years. If I could go back, I would make the same choices again.”

The former striker remembered the upbringing he received:

“At 11 years old I wanted the Argentina ’78 ball. My father, a bricklayer, took me to the construction site to work for a week to help me understand the value of that desire. In the end, I told him I didn’t want it anymore. I learned what hard work means.”

The toughest match

“This is a different match: on the pitch, you start at 0-0, here you don’t. My opponent hid for a long time and the challenge starts at least 3-0 for him. But I will give it my all, and so will the doctors at Santa Chiara in Cisanello. Then, it’s up to the heavens to decide. I have a wonderful family and so much love around me. The thing that weighs on me the most is seeing them suffer.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.