The face of Gigi Riva and the flag of the Four Moors. This is what is depicted in the painting titled "Dedicated to you, Thunderclap" by painter Maria Grazia Spiga, which was presented yesterday to the legendary player's son, Nicola, currently a board member of Cagliari Calcio, in a ceremony held in Piazza Principato di Monaco in Calasetta. It was a deeply felt moment, both for the artist and for the many fans who filled the room throughout the evening.
Spiga, born in Tuili and originally from Calasetta, has lived and worked in Cagliari for years: in the hall in Piazza Principato di Monaco, she has staged the exhibition "Between a Cove and a Silky Sunset." "It's a dream come true," she declared . The painting was created last year for an exhibition dedicated to Rombo di Tuono, held in Quartucciu in March 2024, and the artist had received high-value offers to sell it. However, her wish was to donate it directly to the Riva family: so it was, with the delivery to Nicola agreed upon with Cagliari Calcio . "For me, it is a great honor to have created a work dedicated to an extraordinary man, a bearer of great values. And it is a privilege to have been able to personally deliver it to his son."
The painting bears the signatures of some of Cagliari's champions from the 1970s: Mario Brugnera, Emanuele Gattelli, Adriano Reginato, and Beppe Tomasini. "It's him," Nicola Riva exclaimed with satisfaction when he discovered the canvas with the artist and saw the work for the first time . "Of course, I didn't get to know Gigi as a footballer, but I did as a father. This image represents him perfectly in terms of expressiveness, color, the light in his eyes, and everything else."
The event was organized by the Calasetta Pro Loco, with the help of Gianni Rombi in organizing, and the local Cagliari Fan Club "From Riva to Pavoletti." In addition to Nicola Riva and the author, the ceremony was also attended by the president of the Calasetta Pro Loco, Luciano Manconi, the president of the Cagliari Fan Club, Chicco Mercenaro, and Gianni Rombi. Numerous fans were present.