ROME: Fiorentina and their fans are mourning the death of former fullback Giancarlo Galdiolo at 69 after a long illness.

Galdiolo made his Viola debut in a 3-3 draw against Basel in the Coppa delle Alpi in June 1970. He totalled 315 appearances for the club, scoring five goals and helping win the Italian Cup and the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1975.

He played later for Sampdoria.

Galdiolo, who had played twice for Italy under-21s, was diagnosed eight years with a form of dementia.

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