On the occasion of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the youth sector of AC Milan participated in a special meeting to honor the story of Ferdinando Valletti, a former Milan player and Holocaust survivor. The players of the Women’s Primavera team, along with some club employees, listened to the moving account of his daughter, Manuela Valletti, who was welcomed at Casa Milan by Vice President Franco Baresi.
Born in Verona in 1921, Ferdinando Valletti found work at Alfa Romeo in Milan and, thanks to his football talent, was signed by AC Milan. It seemed like the beginning of a promising career, but a serious injury ended his dreams of becoming a professional footballer.
In 1944, Valletti took part in anti-fascist strikes in Milan’s factories and was arrested by the Nazis. Deported to Mauthausen and later to Gusen, he faced extremely harsh conditions. One day, an SS kapo asked who knew how to play football: Valletti stepped forward, knowing that this choice could either save or condemn him. After passing a test, he was selected for the SS team and given a position in the kitchen. He used this opportunity to steal food and help his fellow prisoners, risking his life to save them.
On May 5, 1945, with the arrival of the American troops, Valletti was finally liberated and returned to Milan, where he was able to embrace his daughter Manuela, who had been born during his captivity. After the war, he became an executive at Alfa Romeo and received prestigious honors, including the Ambrogino d’Oro.
This initiative is part of AC Milan and Fondazione Milan’s commitment to promoting values such as memory, inclusion, and resilience, remembering how sport can be much more than just a game: a symbol of hope and salvation.
