Gianluca Vialli has received tributes from many, including Antonio Conte, who called his former Juventus teammate a "lion" and "an inspiration" in an emotional social media post.

The former striker was re-diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021 after being given the all-clear the year before, and his death at age 58 was announced on Friday.

During Vialli's four-year stay at Juventus between 1992 and 1996, Conte was a teammate and helped the Bianconeri win the Champions League in Vialli's final season as club captain.

Conte took to Instagram on Friday to share a recent image of the pair dining together, alongside the caption: "Having dinner together in London a few months ago as we had fun remembering all our adventures and battles on the field.

"Unfortunately, in these last few years, you had to fight a great and terrible battle in life.

"I told you and wrote that you have always been an inspiration to me as my captain and for how you were proving to be strong, proud and brave, fighting like a lion against this disease.

"Always in my heart my friend. Goodbye Gianluca."

Before joining Juventus in 1992, Vialli played for Sampdoria for the majority of his playing career. While there, he won one Scudetto, one Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Cup in addition to the Bianconeri's 1996 European championship.

Following his departure from Juventus, Conte took over as the team's captain. He later left for Chelsea, where he finally assumed managerial duties.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Antonio Conte (@antonioconte)