Nacional thank São Paulo for Izquierdo support, hail them as giants | OneFootball

Tricolor in one of the tributes paid to the Nacional player (Photo: Paulo Pinto/SPFC)

MARCIO MONTEIRO

@avantmtricolor

The relationship between São Paulo and Nacional, from Uruguay, has definitely been consolidated as a brotherhood. Since the tragic case of the death of Juan Izquierdo during a match between the teams at Morumbi for the Libertadores, the sad event ended up strengthening the ties between the clubs.

On Wednesday (27), São Paulo launched a jersey to immortalize Juan Izquierdo (see images), with part of the proceeds helping the former player's family. The tribute came one year after his passing.

Even during all the moments of distress as Juan fought for his life, São Paulo players such as Calleri and Rafinha showed immense support, including financial assistance, to all the family members and to Nacional.

A beautiful relationship was created, sealed with an emotional letter sent by Nacional to São Paulo this Friday (19), in which it says that the club, already ‘giant for its achievements on the field, grew even more with its actions’. Read it in full:

“President of São Paulo Futebol Clube

Mr. Julio Casares

With our highest regards:

Our institution learned, with great emotion, of your club’s decision to pay tribute to our former player Juan Izquierdo, who passed away a year ago on your pitch, on the occasion of the match played between our institutions for the Copa Conmebol Libertadores.

This gesture caused deep emotion among the players of both teams present on the field, the audience in attendance, the viewers, and especially among the fans in general, and in particular, those of Nacional.

To this were added the special efforts of São Paulo’s directors and players in seeking the best care for the player. But, beyond the misfortune of the event and the pain it caused—a moment that, due to the sporting nature of the event, symbolically has the character of a combatant fallen on the field of honor—what moves us deeply on this occasion is the great solidarity shown, both at that moment and now, as a year has passed since the incident. São Paulo, with its generous gesture of producing a Club jersey with the name of Juan Izquierdo and donating the proceeds to the family of one who so bravely defended our colors, touches us deeply.

For all this, we can do nothing but express:

Thank you very much, São Paulo, giant and brother of America, for such a beautiful gesture!”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.