Tuesday 28 January 2020 15:01, UK
AC Milan will wear black armbands and hold a moment of silence in memory of basketball legend Kobe Bryant ahead of their Coppa Italia game on Tuesday night.
The former Lakers guard died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, aged 41 along one of his daughters Gianna on Sunday.
Bryant started playing basketball in Italy, where he moved with his family at six-years-old with his father Joe retiring from the NBA and playing Serie A basketball.
The 41-year-old lived in Rieti, Reggio Calabria, Pistoia and Reggio Emilia, learned to speak fluent Italian and was very fond of the country - in particular Serie A football, which he followed with great interest as an AC Milan fan, visiting their training camp in 2013.
"It has always been a dream for me to come here," he said in an interview with Milan Channel. "When I was a kid I was a big AC Milan fan, I followed Gullit, Rijkaard, Van Basten, Maldini.
"AC Milan has always been my favourite team, it's always in my heart. In my changing room in Los Angeles I have a Milan shirt and a scarf which I put in my locker and I see it every day."
The Serie A side have confirmed they have organised a memorial ahead of their cup tie against Torino at the San Siro, with an emotional video to be played on the big screens and a special warm-up session which will feature basketballs instead of footballs.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola: "I met him through Pau Gasol, he played with him in the Lakers and we are a little bit more in touch.
"It was an incredible shock for him and his daughter and the passengers and the other families and always when this happens you think of his wife and his kids, the people who stay here.
"It's an incredible tough moment for all of them. It looks like these incredibly talented players in all the sports you think it cannot be possible. Unfortunately it happened and I'm so sorry, especially for their families."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "I was absolutely shocked. I met him once, a rare moments, we had a selfie together.
"I was a big admirer. Charity-wise and stuff like this, it showed us all how quick it can end. A brilliant life. All the other people too, it was a very sad thing."
