Sad Day in Football As Top Italian Goalkeeper Loses Long Battle to Brain Tumour at Age 28

• Italian goalkeeper Daniel Leone has been announced dead after losing long battle to a brain tumour
• The former Reggiana and Pontedera shot-stopper passed on seven years after being diagnosed with the deadly disease
• Italy international and Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo paid an emotional tribute to the goalkeeper who died at 28

Former Reggiana goalkeeper Daniel Leone has passed on at the age of 28 after enduring a brain tumour since 2014, Italy 24 News, Mirror.

The shot-stopper discovered the illness shortly after he joining the club that currently plays in Serie C.

Leone's battle for survival

Leone underwent successful surgery and return to the game in 2017 as he joined Catanzaro for another spell.

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He was forced to retire from the round leather game after the recurrence of the disease as he underwent another surgery and a course of chemotherapy.

Leone had been keeping tabs with his fans on Instagram while he was recovering after hanging up his gloves.

The talented goalie finally gave up the ghost after seven years of enduring the discomfort the sickness brought to him and his family.

He once posted on his social media handle with a photo of him embracing his girlfriend and captioned it:

"Let's hold tight that all this hell will end."

Tributes to Leone

Napoli defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo also paid tribute to Leone:

"Rest in peace, my friend."

His former teammate Christian Puggioni

"After four years of battle, however, today you're gone. The emptiness you leave is immense, and some might think you lost the most important game of your life.

"You taught the courage to live through suffering with strength and hope. You taught, that you can leave your name, branded in people's memory, with example and courage."

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Thomas Tuchel names 2 Chelsea stars who are struggling for form despite Southampton win

Briefly News earlier reported that Thomas Tuchel has laid into the recent poor run of form of two of his Chelsea squad players.

The duo of Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz has been struggling for form in recent days, with Tuchel admitting the two are "not in their very best shape."

Tuchel made the admission after his side's 3-1 thrilling win over Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 2.

Youngster Trevor Chalobah fired the Blues into an early lead before James Ward-Prowse restoring parity for the Saints from the spot.

Source: Briefly News