GOOD BYE ASTORI! Football world mourns demise of ace Fionrentina’s player

Photo Credit: Zimbio

Israel Igiri

It is a sad day in the world of football as Italian club, Fiorentina, lost its captain Davide Astori, who passed away in his sleep at the team’s hotel after a sudden illness on Sunday morning.

The centre-back, who had been capped 14 times by the Italian national team and was a member of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup squad, died while staying with his team ahead of the scheduled away game at Udinese.

The news was confirmed in a statement from the Serie A side, which 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.”

The news has been met with huge shock and messages of condolences from the football world, with clubs and players across the globe sending words of support and encouragement to Astori’s family.

The incident has also seen the game postponed as a mark of respect, with the remaining six matches due to be played on Sunday across the Italian top-flight following suit.

Astori started out at AC Milan, where he never played a Serie A game, before moving to Cagliari, the club where he made his big breakthrough, making 174 appearances before joining AS Roma on loan in 2014, and in 2015, he joined the Violas where he established himself as a vital squad member.

The 31-year-old leaves behind long-term girlfriend Francesca Fioretti and two- year old daughter Vittoria.