Inter, the memory of Mazzola is terrifying: fans in tears

The former Nerazzurri flag between his past at Inter and the memory of his father Valentino, one of the victims of the Superga massacre.

«I will only decide at the last minute, in the morning, whether to be present in Superga at the 5pm mass. As always. I listen to my soul. I have gone to Superga many times alone in recent decades. Rarely on the 4th. I went up on other days without saying anything to anyone, at the strangest times, on purpose to be able to be alone on that land where dad died. And it always remained a private moment, from beginning to end.”
Thus begins Sandro Mazzola’s poignant interview with Tuttosport on the sidelines of the commemoration for the 75th anniversary of the well-known massacre which involved the players of the “Great Turin”, an immense team that has become immortal over time.
On 4 May 1949 the plane, which was carrying the team, the grenade staff and three journalists, crashed into the embankment of the marvelous Basilica which overlooks the city of Turin.

Only fate won them: a total of 31 dead and no survivors from a massacre that shocked the entire peninsula, two days later around half a million people attended the funeral.
The whole of Italy stopped to mourn those heroes who had become the sons, brothers and friends of each Italian family.

Mazzola was only 6 years old when his father Valentino died and his memory will accompany him throughout his career like the first time in Philadelphia as a footballer: “I was 16 or 17 years old. A Junior championship match against Toro. My knees were shaking so I was afraid of falling. I was in the locker room where dad was changing.”

Also inevitable are words of absolute affection for Interthe team in which he built and lived his career.

Mazzola: ”Inter has been and will always be my life.”

Seventeen seasons for a total of 417 appearances and 116 goals for the vice world champion at Mexico 1970. Mazzola was famous for his serpentines and in the same way he is divided on different topics: from Inter, to whom he dedicated the wonderful phrase reported in the subtitle to the many challenges with the Juventus:”«For me, Juve has always represented a healthy, great sporting rivalry. I always wanted to win, even if it meant losing my life.”

Finally, one last reminder relating to dad Valentino, phrases that those who have not experienced these terrible emotions cannot fully understand but which still leave shivers in those who are capable of putting themselves in the shoes of a child deprived of such an important affection: “I say a prayer to him every evening. Suddenly in ’49 I went from heaven to hell. But all this love from the Granata people and today’s children from Toro makes me happy, it fills my heart. Daddy is inside me”.