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Football

23rd Feb 2021

Ex-Atalanta and Ivory Coast player Willy Braciano Ta Bi dies aged 21

After suffering from liver cancer for a year, Ivorian defensive midfielder Willy Braciano Ta Bi has passed away, reports in Italy confirmed

Reuben Pinder

Rest in peace

Former Atalanta youth player Willy Braciano Ta Bi has passed away at the age of 21, the club have confirmed.

Ta Bi had been living with liver cancer for a year before he died on Tuesday morning.

“President Antonio Precassi and the whole Atalanta family are deeply saddened by the untimely death of Willy Braciano Ta Bi,” the club said in a statement.

“A cruel destiny interrupted a dream that began with the Nerazzurri shirt in January 2019 too soon.

“He only needed a few months to carve out a leading role in the Primavera and help bring the Scudetto back to Bergamo, but above all to leave a great memory.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CLo9Yxpj8L1/

Ta Bi joined Atalanta in 2019, and won the Primavera 1 youth competition with the side, scoring three goals in seven games during the tournament.

Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, who has just joined the Red Devils from Atalanta, was among the many former teammates to pay tribute to Ta Bi on social media following the news of his passing.