Argentine Goalkeeper 'Loco' Gatti Dies at 80

Former Argentine goalkeeper Hugo Gatti passed away this Sunday in Buenos Aires at the age of 80. For nearly two months, 'Loco' had been in intensive care due to pneumonia following post-operative complications. In February, he suffered a fall on the street while walking his dog, necessitating hip surgery. The operation resulted in an acute respiratory episode that ultimately cost him his life.

The former goalkeeper of River Plate, Gimnasia de La Plata, and Boca Juniors during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, as well as an international player for Argentina on 18 occasions, was accompanied by his sons Federico and Lucas, who travelled to be by his side in his final moments.

In March 2020, 'Loco' was hospitalised for nearly three weeks due to bilateral pneumonia caused by the coronavirus. Gatti suffered a significant emotional blow in June 2024 when his wife Nacha, to whom he had been sentimentally attached for over fifty years, passed away. She was a crucial pillar in his life.

The former goalkeeper also served as a panelist on the television show 'El Chiringuito', where his charisma and sometimes controversial opinions made him a popular figure among younger generations of football fans.