Wherever he’d go, he’d kick a football and play with his friends. But not anymore. Said Visin, adopted son of an Italian couple, a former Milan and Inter youth player, took his life in his family home earlier this month. He was only 20 years old.This young man wrote a heartfelt letter on Facebook a few years ago that prompted the public to point to racism as the main reason behind Said’s grim decision. Suicide due to racist abuses: “I am ashamed of being a black guy.”The boy who once shared the changing room with Gianluigi Donnarumma cut his professional football dream short by going to attend studies in the city of Milan, 500 kilometres from his home in Nocera Inferiore. There, depression and isolation due to the terrible Covid-19 picture in the country took hold of the young man.Parents Walter and Maddalena suspected something was wrong then Seid chose not to go home for Christmas. When he eventually did return home, he was not the same. He seemed distant. The only thing about him that never changed was his love of football. He loved to play 5-a-side matches with his friends until his final day.The entire town and the world of football was rocked when the news emerged that Seid had hanged himself. Ex-AC Milan youth player Seid Visin sadly took his own life due to racist abuse. ????He left a heart-breaking suicide note speaking on life as an immigrant. ????He was only 20 years old. Rest in peace. ???? pic.twitter.com/32sO3sXucC— FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) June 6, 2021 The father, Walter Visin, went on to clarify after the funeral that his son did not take his own life due to racism. He explained that it was an old letter, and had nothing to do with the recent struggles Seid was dealing with.”That letter is from 2019, no correlation with the extreme gesture. It was an outlet, he was exasperated by the atmosphere in Italy. My son did not kill himself because he was a victim of racism. he has always been loved and well-liked, this morning the church was crowded with young people and families for his funeral. No connection with his suicide, enough speculation.”Reporters have travelled to Nocera to try and speak to Seid’s family, but dad Walter couldn’t find the strength to meet them. The pain is still too heavy to bear. Instead, he sent a message to local newspapers.”We adults are too selfish and that is why we’re unable to help the young ones. We have a lot to learn from them. The ones who tell you the best about my son are those who have played football with him and his coaches. That’s all I can tell you.”Anche per Seid Visin vittima dell’intolleranza e del razzismo in Italia, la Nazionale avrebbe potuto dare un segnale forte. C è brutta cosa l’indifferenza.Veramente un’occasione persa. #ItaliaGalles #BlackLivesMatter #noracism #iononminginocchio pic.twitter.com/57NJ91zu2i— @???????????????????????????????????? (@zillok68) June 21, 2021 The youngster’s letter from 2019 showed how he felt about life in Italy when wave after wave of African refugees arrived to the predominantly white country.”Faced with this particular socio-political scenario that hovers in Italy, I, as a black person, inevitably feel called into question. I am not an immigrant. I was adopted when I was little. Before this great migratory flow, I remember with a little arrogance that everyone loved me. Wherever I was, wherever I went, wherever I was, everyone turned to me with greatness joy, respect and curiosity. Now, however, this atmosphere of idyllic peace seems so distant; it seems that everything has mystically turned upside down. Now, wherever I go, I feel the weight of skeptical, prejudiced glances, disgusted and afraid of people.”Italian national team goalkeeper Donnarumma was roommates with Visin while he was at AC Milan. The 22-year-old stopper was one of many in the footballing community to pay tribute to his friend.”I met Seid as soon as I arrived in Milan, we lived together in a boarding school, a few years have passed but I can’t and I don’t want to forget that incredible smile of his, that joy of life. He was a friend, a boy like me.”##EDITORS_CHOICE##Whether racism was the main reason behind Seid’s suicide or not, the entire country has been made to take a look at itself. In the days that followed the tragic news, former footballers, politicians and greaving people around the country posted stories with the hashtag “We failed”.Former Juventus star Claudio Marchisio also addressed Visin’s death in a heartfelt post on Facebook.”We are the country of integration when you are a young talent or when you score the decisive goal in an important match, but which refuses to be served in a restaurant by a black guy. I can’t even imagine what Seid Visin felt, but I am sure that a country that pushes a young boy to make such an extreme gesture is a country that has failed. Think about it when you make your foolish jokes, when you make stupid and cynical speeches about rafts and skin color, especially on social networks. We suck a little. All.”
