<p>Former Italy and Inter Milan defender Mauro Bellugi died on Saturday aged 71, months after both his legs were amputated following complications with coronavirus.</p>.<p>"Today he leaves us, a great man, a great footballer, a true 'Interista'. Rest in peace Mauro Bellugi," Inter Milan wrote on Twitter after Bellugi passed away in Milan.</p>.<p>Doctors were forced to carry out the double amputation in November when a pre-existing condition worsened after the former defender was hospitalised following Covid-19.</p>.<p>"Exactly one year after the first case of Covid in Italy, Mauro Bellugi leaves us," the president of the Lombardy region Attilio Fontana wrote Saturday on Facebook.</p>.<p>"Scarred by the virus, the national and Inter player tried to react to a complicated health situation with his usual strength and irony. A prayer and a thought for his loved ones."</p>.<p>Bellugi won the Serie A title with Inter in 1971, and also played for Italy in the World Cups of 1974 and 1978.</p>.<p>"They took off my leg with which I scored against Borussia Moenchengladbach," said Bellugi at the time of the amputation, speaking about a goal he scored for Inter in the second round of the European Cup in November 1971.</p>.<p>"I will wear prostheses like those of (Oscar) Pistorius."</p>.<p>Bellugi, who also played for Bologna and Napoli during the 1960s and 1970s, went on to become a football pundit.</p>
<p>Former Italy and Inter Milan defender Mauro Bellugi died on Saturday aged 71, months after both his legs were amputated following complications with coronavirus.</p>.<p>"Today he leaves us, a great man, a great footballer, a true 'Interista'. Rest in peace Mauro Bellugi," Inter Milan wrote on Twitter after Bellugi passed away in Milan.</p>.<p>Doctors were forced to carry out the double amputation in November when a pre-existing condition worsened after the former defender was hospitalised following Covid-19.</p>.<p>"Exactly one year after the first case of Covid in Italy, Mauro Bellugi leaves us," the president of the Lombardy region Attilio Fontana wrote Saturday on Facebook.</p>.<p>"Scarred by the virus, the national and Inter player tried to react to a complicated health situation with his usual strength and irony. A prayer and a thought for his loved ones."</p>.<p>Bellugi won the Serie A title with Inter in 1971, and also played for Italy in the World Cups of 1974 and 1978.</p>.<p>"They took off my leg with which I scored against Borussia Moenchengladbach," said Bellugi at the time of the amputation, speaking about a goal he scored for Inter in the second round of the European Cup in November 1971.</p>.<p>"I will wear prostheses like those of (Oscar) Pistorius."</p>.<p>Bellugi, who also played for Bologna and Napoli during the 1960s and 1970s, went on to become a football pundit.</p>