Lucio: From tragedy to rebirth, now focused on Chivu’s Inter | OneFootball

Four months after the serious domestic accident that he was involved in, Lucio, former Brazilian defender and pillar of Inter's Treble-winning team, shared his experience of pain and resilience with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Lucio, from Domestic Tragedy to Rebirth: “The Flames, the Pain, and the Return to Life. Now I Think About Chivu’s Inter”

The fire, caused by a clumsy gesture, resulted in burns on 18% of his body and forced him into a long hospital stay, but today the worst seems to be behind him.

The Incident: “In a Moment, the Flames Engulfed Me”

The tragedy occurred on May 8, his 47th birthday. “Everything happened suddenly while I was having dinner at a friend's house,” Lucio recounted. “The fireplace had gone out, and unfortunately, a friend, trying to rekindle the fire, threw a can of alcohol on it. It was an explosion.”

The consequences were immediate: “I only remember the flames on my face, arms, and legs. Fortunately, my wife was not injured. I jumped into the pool to extinguish the flames.” Rushed to the hospital, the former defender endured very tough days: “I spent 20 days in intensive care, underwent several operations, and the pain was unbearable. I had never spent so much time in a hospital.”

The Rebirth: “Taking Care of Yourself Can Save Your Life”

Today, Lucio is on the road to recovery, although treatments continue. “It will take months to get back to 100%, but the worst is behind me. Burns are a very tough test, both physically and psychologically. This accident taught me how important self-care and attention to small gestures are: sometimes it takes very little to avoid tragedies.”

A Look at Inter: “Chivu is a Pride, Just Like in 2010”

Lucio then turned his gaze to his past with Inter, commenting on the new Inter led by Cristian Chivu, his former teammate. “Thinking that fifteen years after the Treble one of us is coaching Inter is a source of pride. I remember our defense and the spirit of sacrifice that united us. I recall the night against Barcelona: Chivu joked that we would deflate the ball for Messi.”

On the new coach’s work, he added: “I like his idea of pressing. He will have to prove his competence, but he has the right mentality.”

Goals and Challenges: “Lautaro, Thuram, and the Defense Priority”

Looking at the current squad, Lucio has no doubts about the strengths: “Lautaro and Thuram are unique in Italy, Calhanoglu remains the best playmaker in the league, and the Italians in the group, from Barella to Dimarco, always provide guarantees. But the priority is to fix the defense: conceding too many goals prevents winning.”

According to him, the arrival of Akanji is crucial: “An experienced addition that can make a difference. We need to rediscover the pleasure of marking and suffering together. If everyone rows in the same direction, this Inter can compete for titles.”

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