Two-time Champions League winner opens up on heartbreak of son dying aged 20

Serginho, who won the Champions League twice with AC Milan, is deal with the loss of his son, who died last year at the age of 20

A heartbroken Champions League victor has opened up about the devastating loss of his son at the age of just 20. Brazilian football icon Serginho, who clinched European football’s most coveted trophy twice with AC Milan, also experienced the infamous ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ when Liverpool astonishingly triumphed in the 2005 final, despite being 3-0 down at half-time.

After a near decade-long stint in Italy, the left-sided star, who earned 10 caps for his country, retired in 2008. Now 54, he faced the ultimate heartbreak last year when his son, Diego, tragically passed away. Speaking to Gazzetta, Serginho said: “Words can’t explain the pain a tragedy like this leaves.

“I’ll never get used to talking about Diego’s death. Since he’s gone, I’ve questioned every certainty I had. It’s the greatest pain a human being can endure. Today I live for him; I’m sure another life awaits us, where we’ll be together forever.”

Serginho disclosed that prior to his untimely passing, Diego was battling a vaping addiction. He said: “It all happened so quickly, and the causes were unclear for a long time.

“He had shoulder pain, but we didn’t understand. He was an athlete; he did Jiu-Jitsu. We had him do some tests, and they were perfect.

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“Then, in a couple of weeks, he got worse. But almost suddenly. I know smoking was to blame: he spent all day vaping with an e-cigarette. It had become a habit.”

Meanwhile, reflecting on Milan’s heartbreaking defeat to Liverpool two decades ago, Serginho described the final as “cursed.”

He recalled: “I’m of the opinion that in Istanbul we would have lost even if we’d played for a whole week.

“It was a cursed, unreal evening. The save [Jerzy] Dudek made on Sheva’s [Andre Shevchenko] shot was supernatural; I even spoke to him about it years later.

“On the bench, even before the penalty shootout, we were unmotivated and certain it would go badly. We even told Carlo [Ancelotti, head coach]: ‘Mister, we’re losing, it’s a cursed shootout.’

“And indeed, from the spot, [Andrea] Pirlo, Shevchenko, and I – the three best penalty takers – missed. It was a mental issue, not a technical one. Or, if you like, witchcraft.”

Serginho dismissed the idea that Milan were already celebrating when 3-0 up at half-time. He said: “All bull****. In fact, the opposite happened; we all argued, and words were exchanged.

“In fact, that season, we often suffered lapses in concentration upon returning to the pitch. And it happened in Istanbul too. But you can imagine if anyone dared to celebrate.”

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