"When my father died, I thought about committing suicide; River saved me"

The loss of a loved one can make people reconsider whether life is worth living. That is what Emanuel Mammana told 'Ole'. He admitted that he considered suicide after the death of his father.

"I felt like getting away from everything after my father died, I had already lost my mum. I thought about leaving football, I even thought about the crazy thing of taking my own life. I tried it twice," he said.

Such thoughts led him to one of his darkest moments in life and he got through that. "I started to look after myself, despite the fact I have four older brothers. I grew suddenly. I know that injuries are tough, but you can't compare them to the death of a mother or father," the Zenit player said.

"I didn't have anything as I kid. I didn't have a good time. My dad taught me that, when you have a lot, you must help those who have less. Nobody helped us. I have gone hungry. Sometimes I went to training without having eaten," he explained.

It was then when River Plate came along. "A moment came when I had to go and live for almost three years in River's accomodation because at home we didn't have the money to go and train, not even to buy food. Therefore, I am who I am thanks to River," the Argentine concluded. 

As Emanuel Mammana rightly says, those who are most in need should be helped and sometimes tragic events can be difficult to overcome.