Italy defender Francesco Acerbi went above and beyond to spend time with sick children in a thoroughly wonderful gesture.
The whole Azzurri squad spent time at a children's hospital in Rome ahead of the Euro 2020 qualifier against Greece, handing out presents as well as tickets to family members and staff for tonight's game.
But while they couldn't spend all day at the Bambin Gesù clinic, 31-year old Acerbi was willing to make his own way home after being told by the press officer that the team bus was due to leave.
"I don't care, they can go," the Lazio defender replied to Alessandro Iacopino.
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"'ll get a taxi, but I won't leave until I've seen everyone."
The visit meant the world to Acerbi, who beat testicular cancer on two different occasions over the years.
Former AC Milan defender Acerbi was first diagnosed with the disease back in 2013 but showed incredible strength to beat it even when it returned and he had to undergo chemotherapy.
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His recovery has culminated in him playing regular football for both club and country, notably playing 100 consecutive games for Sassuolo after making his return.
He lost hope in the beginning but found it within himself to keep on fighting, beating cancer and getting his career back on track.
"The illness changed my life," Acerbi was quoted as saying by Goal in 2015.
"Now I pay a lot more attention to not just my lifestyle but also to the smaller things. At the start I felt defeated, I was no longer setting myself any objectives or goals and I didn't want to fight.
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"But then with time I started to fight first against the cancer, then also to win back my place on the football field."
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Lazio, Football, Italian Football, Hospital, Cancer, Italy
