Alessandro Altobelli, a legendary figure in Italian football and a 1982 World Cup winner, is reportedly heartbroken after being forced to miss the funeral of his dearest friend, Evaristo Beccalossi. Altobelli is currently in Kuwait and faces an insurmountable obstacle: the absence of available flights back to Italy.
Evaristo Beccalossi, a former midfielder for Inter Milan, passed away on May 6th at the age of 69.
The funeral service for Beccalossi is scheduled to take place today in his hometown of Brescia. The event is expected to be attended by numerous other prominent figures from the Inter Milan football club, including Beppe Bergomi.
Altobelli, who shared a close bond with Beccalossi and is renowned for his contributions to the Italian national team, found himself unable to pay his final respects to his beloved friend.
Currently residing in Kuwait, where he works as a Serie A football pundit for a local television network, Altobelli’s travel plans were thwarted by the severe limitations on flights connecting the Middle East to Europe.
Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Altobelli conveyed his profound sorrow: “I am devastated,” he stated. “There are no flights available. It already took me two days to get back here [to Kuwait]. I spent eight hours in Istanbul during a layover, attempting to rest on a chair. Now I am stranded, and there are no solutions.”
He further reflected on his deep connection with Beccalossi, describing him as “my best friend.” Altobelli added, “He was a champion and like a second father to my sons. With his passing, a part of me has also died.”
Beccalossi and Altobelli celebrated a significant achievement together, winning the Serie A title with Inter Milan during the 1979-80 season.
Altobelli holds the distinction of being the second-highest goal scorer in Inter Milan’s history, having netted 209 goals for the club.