Udinese legend Zico returned to the stadium he once graced with his silky skills when he met with Gianpaolo Pozzo on Friday afternoon.
The former Brazil superstar popped in to visit the club owner and his former stomping ground, where he spent two memorable seasons in the early 1980s.
“I want to thank Zico for coming,” Pozzo said. “We have such a wonderful memory of him – not just because he was an extraordinary player but also because of the mentality he left behind which helps us strive to become more than just a 'small-city' club. We showed him how fond of him we still are, years on after the last time he came by.”
“It's so nice to come back,” Zico commented. “It makes me happy to be in this stadium. I spent two lovely years here and I thank the people of Friuli, who have always treated me so well. I tried to repay them for that love on the pitch. I always hope Udinese can achieve great results. I'm also happy the European Super Cup is going to be played here as it shows the influence of Udinese and Udine.”
Zico then met with the Udinese U17 team, who are preparing for the championship quarter-finals on Sunday, creating a symbolic connection between Udinese's past and future.