DELAYED – BUT DREAM FINALLY COMES TRUE

Gabriel Rodrigues, 15, was suffering from an illness three years ago when he had the opportunity to watch Paris Saint-Germain train. He was hoping to meet his favourite player David Luiz, who then played for the French side, but it did not materialise.

Three years on and that dream came true with the help of the Chelsea Foundation ahead of its home fixture against BATE Borisov. Gabriel, alongside his father, Fernando Rodrigues, watched the Blues train before meeting David Luiz who posed for photographs and gave the youngster a signed training shirt. His dream continued with a visit to Stamford Bridge where he witnessed Maurizio Sarri’s side earn a victory over the Belarus side.

“I love his character and he is a really great player!”

His father said: ‘Gabriel was sick for five years and he had three years of treatment, he had chemotherapy and he lost all of his hair and after that this offer came to us to make his dream come true. The charity Association Rêves came to the hospital and his dream was to meet David Luiz because he is his favourite player. Three years ago we got to go and watch David train when he was at PSG but my son didn’t get to meet him, and his dream was to talk to him and so UEFA said this time we are going to make sure we go right to the end and make this happen. This is when they reached out to the Chelsea Foundation and finally we have been able to make it happen!’

Gabriel said: ‘I play in the same position as him, I love his character and he is a really great player! Three of my walls in my bedroom are filled with Luiz’s photographs and on my roof, I painted a Brazilian flag! I just love him!’