March 5 – The whole of Italy and the footballing world beyond has registered its collective shock and disbelief after the sudden death overnight on Saturday of Fiorentina captain and Italian international defender Davide Astori at just 31 years of age.
All remaining Serie A matches at the weekend were postponed including the derby between AC Milan and Inter Milan as scores of European clubs and dozens of players sent messages of condolence and expressed their disbelief.
“Fiorentina is deeply upset to have to announce that its captain Davide Astori has passed away, victim of a sudden illness,” said Fiorentina in a statement.“ Due to the terrible and delicate situation, and above all for the respect of his family, an appeal is made to everyone’s sensitivity.”
Astori, in his 10th Serie A season, was found dead in his hotel room in Udine, where Fiorentina had been due to face Udinese at the Dacia Arena later on Sunday. The Fiorentina staff became worried when Astori, who was married with a daughter, did not join his teammates for breakfast.
Astori, who made 289 top-flight appearances, joined Fiorentina on loan in August 2015 and the club signed him outright one year later. He previously spent six seasons at Cagliari and one on loan at AS Roma. He made 14 appearances for Italy between 2012 and 2017.
As the news of his death broke Cagliari were about to kick off against Genoa. Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin broke into tears.
Udine state prosecutor Antonio Di Nicolo was quoted as saying it was believed “that the player died from a cardiac arrest, the result of natural causes”.
Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle said Astori had been due to sign a new contract on Monday that would have kept him at the Florence-based club for the rest of his playing career. “Davide was a true captain, a great person and it was an honour to have him hear for these years,” he told reporters.
Former Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was one of the first to pay tribute. “It seems impossible. I’m in a state of disbelief and I cry with his family and all of Fiorentina. Goodbye captain,” he said on Twitter.
AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso said football became meaningless in such circumstances. “I can’t think of the derby after a tragedy like that,” he said on Twitter.
Veteran Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon wrote on Instagram:“You were the best expression of an out-of-fashion, old world ruled by values such as generosity, elegance, politeness and respect towards other people. You’ve been one of the best sportspeople I’ve ever met.”
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