England women’s ace Alessia Russo might have been glued to her TV screen on Monday evening as her brother made an appearance on ITV reality show Love Islans
Alessia Russo is weeks away from firing her country to hopefully back-to-back Euros glory.
However, on Monday evening, for one-night only the Arsenal striker wasn’t the most famous member of her family. Russo, 26, might have been tuned into ITV2 when her brother swanned into the Love Island villa.
“She’s really excited, she watches every year and reckons I can do well so she’s excited to see how I get on,” he joked to ITV. “My sister plays pro football, so being interested in sport, they don’t have to know football or understand it.
“But if they can show some sort of interest because it is such a prominent thing in our family. It would be hard if they hated it.
“Other green flags are having a nice family, I’m sick of being the 7th wheel in my own family!”
Giorgio Russo – who goes by Gio – is four years older than his famous sister, but he lives in Australia after settling in Sydney after several months traveling around Southeast Asia.
However, family is still key to Gio and following her Champions League win he posted: “Turns out being related to a Champions League winner doesn’t make me any better at football… but it does make me insanely proud.
“Congratulations @alessia, you make me prouder and prouder to be your big brother everyday.”
Gio also played footballer as a youngster, turning out for various non-league teams. While their brother, Luca, represented England in track and field at U20 level.
The pair were introduced to the beautiful game by their dad – who himself is something of an icon in non-league.
Mario Russo is the all-time top goalscorer for non-league side Met Police FC.
The family have Italian heritage – her Sicilian grandfather moved to England in the 1950s and quickly emerged himself in UK culture.
Her grandfather became a Manchester United fan and passed on this love to his children and grandchildren.
Russo would turn out for the Red Devils, but moved to Arsenal last summer.
