Paul Gascoigne has reflected on a 'scary moment' when returning to Italy for a holiday after his spell with Lazio - when 8,000 fans rushed to see him after catching wind he was in the area.
The legendary midfielder was a popular figure during his three-year spell in Rome and he decided to go back to the country around five years after he left the club - heading to the mountains for a quiet getaway - but his relaxing trip quickly became anything but after he bumped into a fan.
Speaking to "BT Sport for their What I Wore series, Gascoigne recalled being 'pestered' by supporters - but hailed Lazio fans for always getting behind him during his time in the Italian capital and for giving him a brilliant reception when he signed from Tottenham back in 1992.
Paul Gascoigne has recalled being mobbed by 8,000 fans in Italy while returning on holiday
Gascoigne become a popular figure during his three years with Lazio from 1992 to 1995
'It was 10,000 at the airport [when he first joined], quite nerve-wracking!' he said.
'You get used to stuff like that. The fans were fantastic, singing my name. I remember going [to Italy] once, I left the place and came back five years later for a holiday, got pestered a bit. I went into the mountains.
'There was a cafe, one guy who owned it walked in and said, "You're Gascoigne!" I said, "No I'm not". I've seen a picture of me behind him and I went, "Oh ****". I see him on the phone, then 40 minutes later 8,000 people turned up and I had to get the security men, so it was quite scary.'
The 54-year-old became a household name in football after his displays and passion for the game at the 1990 World Cup in Italy with England, and was a high profile signing for the Italian top flight when he arrived.
