Devastating news coming out from Italy as the captain of Fiorentina, Davide Astori has sadly died in his sleep.
The Viola captain was reported dead this morning after suffering a cardiac arrest in his sleep
The 31 year old central defender played regularly for the viola this season, turning out 27 times and helped the club up to a respectable tenth position on the log.
Astori was also a full Italy international having been capped fourteen times by the Azzurri
The news was first reported in a statement released on the club's official website
"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 Italian football authorities have out of respect, cancelled all Serie A matches slated for today.
Astori started his professional career at AC Milan in 2006 but got his big break at Cagliari in 2008 before moving on to Roma and then Fiorentina where his defending ability and leadership qualities saw him become and Integral member of the squad, eventually becoming the club’s captain.
Condolences have poured in from top football figures and clubs all around the globe I just wish his family well as they goes through this tough time