Italian football continues to mourn Astori after cardiac arrest

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori died of a “cardiac arrest by natural causes”, it has been revealed.

The Italy international, who was just 31, was found dead at the La di Moret hotel in Udine, ahead of his side’s meeting with Udinese on Sunday.

The match, plus all Serie A fixtures on Sunday, were subsequently called off.

A club statement released by Fiorentina read: “Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died.

“For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.”

Fiorentina press officer Arturo Mastronardi revealed that Astori had not arrived for breakfast or answered his phone when they tried to call him at 9.30am.

He was found on his bed by a club masseuse, before being taken to a local hospital for an autopsy.

“The idea we have of the situation is that the player died of cardiac arrest by natural causes,” said Udine prosecutor Antonio De Nicolo.

“It is strange that such a thing should happen to a professional who is so closely monitored and showed no warning signs.”

Astori leaves behind his partner, Francesca Fioretti, and a two-year-old daughter, Vittoria and had been set to sign a new contract with the club on Monday.

“It’s difficult to stand here, it’s such an immense tragedy,” Fiorentina chief Andrea Della Valle told reporters outside the club’s training ground on Sunday.

“Thinking of his family and the lads, I don’t know what to say. He was going to sign a new contract on Monday, so he could see out his career in Florence.

“It was originally meant to be Thursday, but we postponed it because of all the chaos caused by the bad weather. I am still in shock.”

 

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