Former Cagliari midfielder and Uruguay international Fabian O’Neill, who played five seasons for the Sardinians, died early Sunday at the age of 49, his family announced.
Local outlet El Pais reported “El Mago” passed away at a hospital in Montevideo following an extended battle with liver disease brought on by alcoholism.
O’Neill spent the majority of his career in Italy after making his senior debut with Nacional in Uruguay in 1992. He earned a total of 136 career appearances with Cagliari before brief stints with Juventus and Perugia.
However, his career was cut short and he was forced to quit in 2003 at the age of 29 years-old due to his struggles with alcoholism.
