Fiorentina and Italy defender Davide Astori has died in his sleep.
All of today’s Serie A matches have been called off.
Astori turned 31 in January and became a father less than two weeks ago.
According to Udine Today the player did not wake up this morning when he was at the La di Moret hotel in Udine, awaiting today’s match with Udinese.
Fiorentina released a statement this morning to confirm the news.
“Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died,” read the statement.
“For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.”
He had 14 caps in Italy’s senior team, scoring one goal.
La Fiorentina profondamente sconvolta si trova costretta a comunicare che e' scomparso il suo capitano Davide Astori, colto da improvviso malore.
Per la terribile e delicata situazione, e soprattutto per rispetto della sua famiglia si fa appello alla sensibilità di tutti. pic.twitter.com/bFGnkReWEC— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) March 4, 2018
A seguito della tragica notizia di questa mattina che ha colpito l’ACF Fiorentina e tutto il mondo del calcio, su disposizione della Lega la partita Udinese-Fiorentina è stata rinviata a data da destinarsi.
A breve ulteriori comunicazioni. pic.twitter.com/wAeHHSljzE
— Udinese Calcio (@Udinese_1896) March 4, 2018
Davide Astori….
— Hernan Crespo (@Crespo) March 4, 2018
A man who loved football and who grew up as footballer with us. #ACMilan are shocked by the passing of Davide #Astori. It is with great sadness that we offer our deepest condolences to his family and closed ones and to ACF Fiorentina
— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 4, 2018
Rest in peace Davide 🙏🏻 #rip #astori pic.twitter.com/rE02EJj1hU
— Fabio Cannavaro (@fabiocannavaro) March 4, 2018