Nicolas Giani, the former Inter Milan youth product, has passed away at the age of 39 following a prolonged battle with an incurable illness.
The Italian defender, who developed through the Nerazzurri's academy between 1998 and 2005, was compelled to end his playing career in 2022 after reportedly receiving his diagnosis.
Born in Como, Giani went on to forge a career across Italy's top divisions, although he is perhaps best remembered for his remarkable achievements with SPAL.
His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from clubs across Italian football, with Inter Milan among those offering condolences.
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Despite spending seven years within Inter's youth setup, Giani never managed to break into the senior squad at the San Siro.
The central defender was sent out on loan during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 campaigns before departing the club on a permanent basis.
His subsequent career saw him represent several sides across the Italian football pyramid.
Giani moved to Cremonese, Vicenza, and Spezia, establishing himself as a reliable presence in the lower tiers of the domestic game.
Nicolas Giani has passed away at the age of 39 following a prolonged battle with an incurable illness
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The defender also represented Italy at the youth level on multiple occasions, though a senior international cap eluded him throughout his career.
Giani's most celebrated spell came at SPAL, where he arrived in 2014 and would go on to amass more than a century of appearances for the club.
The defender wore the captain's armband as SPAL secured promotion from Serie C during the 2015/16 campaign.
Yet his finest hour arrived the following season when he led the side to the Serie B title, completing a remarkable double promotion.
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The Italian defender developed through the Nerazzurri's academy between 1998 and 2005
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This achievement was particularly significant, as it marked SPAL's return to the top flight of Italian football for the first time in nearly half a century, ending a 49-year absence from Serie A.
Inter Milan paid tribute to their former academy player.
They wrote: "FC Internazionale Milano expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Nicolas Giani, a defender who was part of the Nerazzurri youth sector from 1998 to 2005.
"The Club extends its sincerest sympathies to his family at this time."
Nicolas Giani was born in Como
|GETTY
Cremonese offered a simple message: "Rest in peace Nicolas."
Spezia expressed their sorrow.
They wrote: "Spezia Calcio expresses its condolences for the untimely passing of Nicolas Giani. The Giani family has the thoughts and strong embrace of the entire Club."
Vicenza also issued a statement conveying their "deepest condolences to the entire family" on behalf of the club.
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