An excellent, funny and insightful analysis of Paul Gascoigne’s crazy up and downs during his 3 years at Lazio – a period which ultimately shows his entire profession in microcosm.

4th July, 1990.

Turin, Italy

England are on the brink of reaching their first World Cup last in 24 years. Twenty-three-year old Paul Gascoigne continues to be among the breakout stars of the tournament. His athleticism, speed of thought about Gazza in Italy and incredible natural gifts possess given England supporters renewed faith in their perennially underachieving nationwide side.

Then in the 99th minute of a anxious semi-final against Germany, Gascoigne lunges into a mistimed deal with. The ref awards him his second yellow card from the tournament, and therefore if England were to win, he would miss the final. Gascoigne turns apart, tries to carry it collectively, but can’t. Floods of tears run-down his encounter. We understand. We feel his pain and anguish. The star of Gazza is born.

Two years later on, after an injury-stricken time of year at Spurs, he arrives at Lazio for any then record transfer fee. Expectations are sky high; he’s welcomed being a footballing Messiah with the Roman supporters. But all isn’t what it seems. There are doubts over his fitness, uncertainties over how he’ll adjust to lifestyle in Italy, doubts over whether his obvious potential can finally be achieved. The three following years in Italy, shot through with incredible highs and self-inflicted lows, present Gascoigne in all his difficulty – an immense natural talent flawed with a too-fragile personality.

In Gazza in Italy, award-winning writer Daniel Storey brilliantly shines a light with an unexamined moment in Gascoigne’s career that encapsulates everything that we have come to associate with this most mercurial of talents: childish joy, public gaffes, wondrous skill and saddening self-destruction. Crazy and harrowing in equivalent measure, this book allows us an improved, more rounded understanding of one of our greatest wearing idols, and of a tragically misunderstood human being.