Goodbye Becca: Inter expresses its condolences for the loss of Evaristo Beccalossi
· Yahoo Sports
FC Internazionale Milano and the entire Nerazzurri family join in mourning the passing of Evaristo Beccalossi, sending their condolences to his loved ones as they remember him.
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It feels impossible to accept. In memory and in everyday life, Evaristo was always on our minds – indescribable, like his dribbles, unique, like his control of the ball.
Talent cannot be taught – it is a gift which, at most, can be nurtured. Such as the stubborn determination of a naturally right-footed player who, from a young age, trained his left foot in the garage at home until he became ambidextrous, equally magical with both feet. Beccalossi’s talent was pure, and though at times contrasted by an inconsistency that would appear match to match, one that teammates and fans always adored.
Beccalossi, a fantasista in the truest sense, whom Gianni Brera famously nicknamed “Driblossi”. His art of dribbling, of beating opponents, was audacious, almost always successful, executed with lightness. He brought beauty to football, its most romantic expression, capable of making fans fall in love. With his curls flowing over his shoulders and his unmistakable stride across the pitch, he "caressed" the ball. No one captured his essence better than Peppino Prisco: “He didn’t play with the ball, the ball played with him; he didn’t kick it, but caressed it, filling it with affection.”
Those "caresses" were countless, on and off the pitch, throughout his years in Nerazzurri colours (1978-1984) and beyond, in his life after football, always close to Inter, always within the game, working with the Federation and inspiring younger generations. A fantasista there, too.
Right foot, left foot, goals and vision. Beccalossi fed Oriali, Marini, Baresi and more, scoring and assisting. He once said: “When I arrived at San Siro, my teammates didn’t know if they would be playing with ten or twelve – it depended entirely on me.”
Wearing the number 10, he joined Inter from his hometown club Brescia in 1978 and was immediately embraced by a Meazza crowd. The tip-off to Sandro Mazzola (his predecessor as No.10 and then a club director) came after a match in which he dribbled past five players before missing in front of goal. The perfect snapshot of his immense talent and his captivating unpredictability.
“With Beccalossi and Pasinato, we will win the league.” Many were not yet born in 1980, but that chant accompanied Inter, coached by Eugenio Bersellini, to their 12th Scudetto. Alongside Bordon, Baresi, Altobelli, Caso, Bini, Marini, Oriali, Canuti, Pasinato, Muraro, Mozzini, Pancheri, Ambu, Cipollini and Occhipinti, Beccalossi was the team’s No.10. Seven league goals, including two in the derby on 8 October 1979: a sublime right-footed volley on a pitch reduced to mud, and another to seal a derby stamped firmly with Nerazzurri colours.
Putting his 37 goals in 215 appearances aside, as well as his Scudetto and Coppa Italia, Beccalossi was the man of dreams. The player capable of producing magic at any moment. And if it didn’t arrive, it hardly mattered: having him on the pitch was enough, knowing that sooner or later a dribble or an impossible ball would come. Even a difficult night, like missing two penalties in five minutes, became part of his legend, later transformed into a theatrical monologue by actor Paolo Rossi.
“The most beautiful thing, in my opinion, was that the Inter fans identified with us. I left a good memory, even today.” Not just a good memory, but a deep sense of pride in having had “Becca” as part of the Club’s history. Now, that pride blends with a profound sadness, as we remember the life of Evaristo Beccalossi.