The former midfielder recounts his life on and off the pitch. “Matteo fought hard, he remains an example to me. My greatest joys were at Lazio, disappointed by how it ended.”
From the outside, football is often perceived as a world apart. Golden, perfect, free from everything. Even from pain. Even if a footballer has always led a quiet life, never over the top, he is seen as privileged, belonging to another dimension compared to “normal” people. But then there are tragedies that bring everyone back down to earth. This is what happened to Diego Fuser, former midfielder for Torino, Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, Parma, and Roma with over 400 appearances in Serie A. He was never a superstar or a cover boy—even though some people called him a “rebel” when he was young—and in 2015, he experienced the greatest pain a father can feel: his son Matteo passed away at the age of 16 after a long illness. “It changed my life, devastating it forever. It’s something that marks you inside, difficult to explain. You try to accept it, but you look for answers that don’t exist.“
Diego Fuser, let’s start from the beginning. You entered the world of professional soccer playing in the Torino youth team and supporting Juventus. Quite a paradox. Was it your father’s fault?
”Yes, he took me to the stadium. I went every Sunday until I was in the youth team, then I stopped. My idol was Tardelli, I loved the way he played on the field.“
Then, over time, did you become a Torino fan?
”Yes, starting in the Primavera. After all, when you play against Juventus, you realize a lot of things and you can’t root for them anymore.”
In 1989, Milan signed you. First with Sacchi and then with Capello, any regrets?
“The first year, maybe I wasn’t at the right level. The second year, however, after my loan spell at Fiorentina, I returned to Milan convinced that I could play my cards right. Capello, however, tried Gullit at right wing during training camp, and it worked, so Ruud played almost the entire year. And in June, I asked to leave.”
Was it Zoff who wanted you at Lazio?
“That’s why I chose the Biancocelesti. I had four wonderful years there, I had the honor of wearing the captain’s armband and lifting trophies. I’m sorry about how it ended…”
Did you expect to be treated differently?
“After all the satisfaction we achieved, yes, I think I deserved it. I was let go as if I were just one of many. Let’s say that the suggestion came from someone who wasn’t the coach but acted as if he were.”
Who are you referring to?
“It’s no secret that Mancini had a lot of power at Lazio. Eriksson listened to him a lot. They sent me, Signori, and others away. They had other plans.”
Did you ever talk to the Swede?
“He told me that if Parma offered me more money, I should go. Lazio did nothing to keep me.”
Then, three years later, you decided to return to Rome, but to play for the Giallorossi. How did that go?
“Before Roma-Parma, the last game of the season, Capello approached me during the warm-up and asked me if I would go and play for them the following year. I said yes immediately. Then, a few weeks later, we formalized everything.“
A big blow for Lazio fans…
”I repeat, I didn’t expect that kind of treatment. I’m attached to the Biancocelesti, we had some wonderful seasons together and I would never have gone straight to Roma. But I had played three seasons at Parma, I didn’t imagine I would provoke so many negative reactions. Fans often don’t understand that this is our job. I respect and understand their passion, but I think that sometimes you need to show a little respect for those who have given you everything. Just think, Lazio never invited me to the Olimpico…“.
Do you have any regrets?
”Not about my choices. I have one about the national team: not being called up for Euro 2000 hurt me.“
Zoff was sitting on the national team bench. It would have been the perfect way to come full circle…
”I had played in all the qualifying matches, as I had with Maldini two years earlier. But with Zoff, the relationship was different. I was injured, but I was recovering and I told him so, but he decided not to take me anyway. It’s a wound that has never completely healed.”
You mentioned Roma, where things didn’t go as well as expected. Why was that?
” The first year was very positive. We came close to winning our second consecutive league title and played in the Champions League. The following season, however, there were some misunderstandings with the club. I didn’t play much, but my mind was already elsewhere. I was starting to have problems bigger than soccer.“
Was it during that period that you discovered Matteo’s illness?
” Yes, I would skip training to rush to my son. I would leave and spend the evening at the hospital with my wife. We fought hard. Matteo did too. Unfortunately, there are circumstances where no one can do anything about it.“
It was a tragedy that shook the world of soccer. Fourteen years have passed. How has it changed you?
” In so many ways, believe me. It was an event that turned our lives upside down, devastating them forever. It leaves a mark inside you, it’s hard to explain. You try to accept it, but you look for answers that don’t exist. I don’t think there is any pain greater than the loss of a child. Nothing has been the same since. At the same time, however, his example has given me so much strength, we live for him every day.
