Italian international and Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza middle blocker Gianluca Galassi has undergone surgery to remove a testicular tumor, the club officially announced. The intervention was successful and was performed at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan by Dr. Gennaro Muzi.

Piacenza's medical staff will monitor the player's postoperative condition daily, and at this stage, they are not committing to a specific timeframe for his return to the court. Further analyses and examinations will determine the recovery period.

A personal message from Galassi

The volleyball player himself chose to announce the news via a video message to fans, in which he thanked the club and staff for their discretion over the past month:

"I was diagnosed with a testicular tumor and underwent surgery. Fortunately, everything was discovered in time thanks to prevention and regular check-ups. I hope the recovery is as short as possible so I can soon return to what I love – volleyball."

Galassi used the moment to send a clear message, especially to young men, emphasizing the importance of prevention:

"If even just one person, after this message, decides to get an additional check-up, that for me will be worth more than a victory on the court."

During his recovery, he will be at home with his family – Laura, Rey, and Leonardo, who, according to him, are "an inexhaustible source of love."

A parallel with Sam Deroo's case

The situation surrounding Gianluca Galassi inevitably brings to mind the case of Sam Deroo, who is also battling a tumorous disease. The Belgian international has been admitted to the hospital for the second time and has already undergone his first course of chemotherapy.

In both cases, the focus is not sensational but human – on timely diagnosis, the power of prevention, and open discussion on a topic that often remains taboo even among professional athletes.

Support from the volleyball community

An Instagram post, shared jointly by the club and the player, has already gathered hundreds of messages of support from fans, teammates, and figures from the world of volleyball. A number of media outlets, including ours, join them with wishes to see Gianluca Galassi back on the court as soon as possible.

photo: Instagram Gianluca Galassi (@gianlucagalassi)