'A genius with the ball' . . . 'a joy to watch' - Sheffield United supporters pay tribute to former midfielder Alex Sabella

Sheffield United supporters have paid tribute to former midfielder Alex Sabella, who has died in his native Argentina at the age of 66.
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Sabella lost his fight for life yesterday almost two weeks after he was admitted to the Buenos Aires Cardiovascular Institute with ‘cardiac issues’.

His death comes less than a month after Argentina World Cup winning captain, Diego Maradona, died after suffering from heart failure.

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The pair were team-mates in the national side and both led Argentina in World Cups, with Sabella guiding a side featuring Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to the final in Brazil six years ago where they were beaten 1-0 after extra-time by Germany.

Remarkably, the two men could have lined up alongside each other at Bramall Lane in 1978.

Sabella and fellow Argentine star Pedro Verde had already put pen to paper on deals to join the Blades and the club wanted to make it a hat-trick of signings from the South American country by luring a 17-year-old Maradona to Sheffield before a political wrangle over his transfer saw United walk away from the move.

The rest as they say is history and it was Sabella who went onto become a firm favourite on the terraces at the Lane and is widely regarded as one of the most talented players to have pulled on a United shirt.

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He made more than 70 appearances for the club and not even a move to Leeds United in 1980 can sour the memories of him for many Blades fans, who have taken to Twitter to pay tribute to the Argentine.

Alex Sabella before his first appearance for Sheffield United against Orient at Bramall Lane in August 1978.Alex Sabella before his first appearance for Sheffield United against Orient at Bramall Lane in August 1978.
Alex Sabella before his first appearance for Sheffield United against Orient at Bramall Lane in August 1978.

@JemMilner wrote: “Sad news, was a joy to watch at times at the Lane. Unfortunately (he was) in a side in decline but on a good day he made it worth turning up.”

And those comments were echoed by @hobsonschoice64, who tweeted: “Silky skills and dribbling down the wings/midfield ... but in a team heading downwards.”

Steve Ely – @JohonSchepe on Twitter – remembered watching Sabella make his Bramall Lane bow in August 1978.

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"I saw his debut at Bramall Lane, in a friendly vs River Plate,” he wrote. “His former teammates, including World Cup-winning captain Daniel Passarella, tried to break his legs all game. He won the penalty from which Alan Woodward scored the winner. 3-2. He could play.”

And @marshblade simply tweeted: “RIP. What a talent … simply superb.”

Richard Walkland (@richwalkland) said the midfielder was a trailblazer, saying: “RIP Alex Sabella. First superstar I remember fully at the Lane and one of the first imports from Argentina.”

Alan Staniland (@AlanStaniland) wrote: “Terribly sad news. Such an influence on me at 14, a genius with the ball. Super left peg. I remember River Plate visiting and the ticker tape welcomes when the team ran out, incredible memories.”

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Andrew Hinchliffe (@Andyhinch65) also had fond memories of watching Sabella play for the Blades and wrote: “Miles ahead of his time imo.. and worth the entry fee on his own RIP Alex....a pleasure to have seen you at the Lane.”

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