Nacional thank São Paulo for Izquierdo gestures, call them 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 solidified as a brotherhood. Since the tragic case of Juan Izquierdo's death 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 shirt immortalizing Juan Izquierdo (see images), with part of the proceeds helping the family of the former player. The tribute came one year after his passing.

Even during all the moments of distress when Juan was fighting for his life, São Paulo players like Calleri and Rafinha showed immense support, including financial aid, to all the family members and Nacional.

A beautiful relationship was created, sealed with an emotional letter sent by Nacional to São Paulo this Friday (19), stating that the club, already ‘giant for its achievements on the field, grew even more with its actions’. Read 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 playing field, during the match played between our institutions for the Copa Conmebol Libertadores.

Added to this were the special efforts of São Paulo's leaders and players to seek the best care for the player. But beyond the misfortune of the event and the pain it caused — an episode that, due to the sporting nature of the event, symbolically has the characteristic of a combatant fallen on the field of honor — what deeply moves us on this occasion is the great solidarity demonstrated, both at that moment and now, as one year has passed since the occurrence. São Paulo, with its generous gesture of producing a Club shirt with Juan Izquierdo's name 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.