Atalanta defender Toloi hid heartache during Juventus win

Atalanta defender Rafael Toloi was celebrating a 3-0 Coppa Italia win over Juventus, but his wife didn’t tell him she had suffered a miscarriage.

The Orobici became the first Italian side to beat Juve this season and ended the Bianconeri’s four-year Coppa reign.

After the match, Toloi revealed the heartache that he was secretly dealing with behind the scenes.

“I want to tell you what happened to me yesterday,” he wrote on Instagram.

“As always before a game, I call my wife and daughter before going to the stadium! Yesterday, when I called, I could tell something was wrong. I know my wife well and asked what had happened.

“My wife was 8-10 weeks pregnant and went for routine tests yesterday, it would’ve been the first day we could’ve heard the heartbeat! I asked for a recording of the tests and she said her phone battery had run down. I started to think what could’ve happened, but she didn’t tell me anything, as she wanted me to focus 100 per cent on the game.

“With all those negative thoughts swirling around my mind, I said to myself that if something bad had happened, the only thing I could actually do was help my teammates win this important match, so at least I could bring a little joy home!

“We beat one of the best teams in the world 3-0 and are in the Coppa Italia semi-final. I experienced a magical night with my teammates and the fantastic supporters, but when I returned home, I got the news I was afraid of, we had lost the baby. Such pain and sadness!

“I want to thank my teammates and the city of Bergamo, as in some way they helped me make this pain a little less devastating.

“I tell my beloved wife just one thing: I love you and will always be with you, Flavia Toloi! Life is like that and we must be strong in every moment. I believe God has reserved more joy for us in future!”