Sassari He was unable to physically participate in the celebrations for the 75 years old of the team where he first kicked a ball, the Wilier, which on Saturday 15th celebrated the anniversary of Astra Theatrebut the former footballer was certainly present with his heart Natalino Melis.
Born in 1960, born in Punti Li and said the Red for the unmistakable color of his hair, similar to his brother Cenzo who was a footballer in Porto Torresin series D, and in Sipin series C.
Natalino Melis, without a shadow of a doubt, was the best talent who grew up in the Giallorossi club, the oldest in Sassari after the Torres. A lightning-fast football story, a brilliant career cut short only by an illness, which surprised him at the age of 20, but whose symptoms had manifested themselves even before. An illness faced by Natalino with courage and dignity, without ever complaining. Natalino Melis has lived in For many years Cagliariis 64 years old, married to Patricia and is the father of Erika and Claudia41 and 37 years old.
Natalino arrived in Cagliari’s youth team at 16, but learned his skills wearing the yellow-red shirt of Wilier. Born in via Cosseddu, in Li Punti, as a child he was a marvel. He plays on the street and on the Wilier field. He is the best of the youngsters, coached by Mario Ruiuin the company founded and chaired by Giovanni Farina.
Mr Gnocchi, the talent discoverer, takes him to Cagliari, stealing him from Torres’ rivals, who had their eyes on him. Natalino is a complete left midfielder, very fast, a driving force on the pitch. When he’s busy, no one stops him. In 1977, at the international tournament of Saint Teresa of Gallura, he was judged best player of the tournament. Behind him remain future champions of the caliber of Franco Baresi. There are people like him on his team Sandro Loi, Fabio Todde, Tonio Ravot: all will make their debut in Serie A with Cagliari. Natalino, protégé of Gigi Rivain the guesthouse of via Aosta sometimes he feels strange: «My leg is cold, after shooting I can’t feel my feet. Maybe tiredness.” Riva encourages him, as do his teammates.
But it’s not tiredness. Unfortunately. It was an unknown disease at the time, a form of sclerosis. At just 20 years old, when they send him to Quartu Sant’Elena to gain experience in Serie C, his leg is totally blocked. Suddenly. He remains out of action for a year. Then he resumes with theIglesias in Serie D But it’s useless, evil still blocks him. At just 21 years old, Natalino Melis abandons football. He was a sporting star in Sardinia.
«I have never forgotten the days of Wilier – he says from Cagliari -. My idols were Gesuino Pilo And Franco Maninchedda, “the sinister of God”. I stopped early, it’s true, but I still love football and I took my satisfaction: first of all my family. The greatest joy in football? The victory in the final in Santa Teresa againstHayduk Split. Five of them ended up in the Yugoslav national team. He also wanted me Milanif he had taken Pietro Paolo Virdis».
Life wanted Natalino to stop instead. But the older people in Li Punti remember that red-haired child, who ran happily with a ball and seemed to have wings on his feet.
