All the leading clubs and figures from Serie A have paid tribute to the late Fiorentina General Manager Joe Barone, who died at the age of 57, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Barone was rushed to hospital in critical condition on Sunday after suffering a reported cardiac arrest in the hours leading up to Fiorentina’s scheduled Serie A clash against Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium.
Atalanta-Fiorentina was postponed before kick-off, while Barone underwent heart surgery. He was reported to be on life support following the procedure.
Fiorentina confirmed via social media on Tuesday afternoon that Barone had died at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan. He would have turned 58 on Wednesday.
Following Fiorentina’s confirmation, all of the top Serie A clubs expressed their sympathies on social media.
Serie A clubs pay tribute to Joe Barone
Atalanta, Fiorentina’s scheduled opponents on Sunday, were among the first to pay tribute online.
“President Antonio Percassi, Co-Chairman Stephen Pagliuca, CEO Luca Percassi and the whole of Atalanta BC join the Barone family and ACF Fiorentina in mourning the sudden and unexpected death of General Manager Joe Barone.
“Atalanta BC extends their deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Joe Barone’s loved ones and ACF Fiorentina,” Atalanta wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Il Presidente Antonio Percassi, il Co-Chairman Stephen Pagliuca, l’Amministratore Delegato Luca Percassi e tutta l’Atalanta BC partecipano con grande commozione al dolore dei familiari e di tutta l’ACF Fiorentina per la repentina ed improvvisa scomparsa del Direttore Generale Joe… pic.twitter.com/5Eq795B4qZ
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) March 19, 2024
Serie A leaders Inter wrote: “FC Internazionale Milano expresses its condolences for the passing of Joe Barone and rallies around his family and to ACF Fiorentina.”
FC Internazionale Milano esprime il proprio cordoglio per la scomparsa di Joe Barone e si stringe attorno alla famiglia e alla @acffiorentina.#FCIM pic.twitter.com/mrty422mMo
— Inter (@Inter) March 19, 2024
“AC Milan is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Barone. Our most heartfelt condolences go to his family and everyone at Fiorentina,” were the words from Milan.
AC Milan is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Barone.
Our most heartfelt condolences go to his family and everyone at FiorentinaL'AC Milan esprime profondo cordoglio per la scomparsa di Joe Barone.
Le nostre più sentite condoglianze alla sua famiglia e alla… pic.twitter.com/XPqtA2cfUV— AC Milan (@acmilan) March 19, 2024
“We are together with the Barone family and all of ACF Fiorentina following the tragic passing of Joe,” read a statement from Juventus.
Siamo vicini alla famiglia Barone e a tutta la @acffiorentina per la tragica scomparsa di Joe
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) March 19, 2024
“SS Lazio shares the pain felt by the family of Joe Barone, General Manager of ACF Fiorentina. President Lotito and the entire management team express deep condolences to the people closest to him and also to the Viola club,” Lazio wrote on X.
La S.S. Lazio partecipa commossa al dolore della famiglia di Joe Barone, Direttore Generale dell’ACF Fiorentina.
Il Presidente Lotito, tutta la dirigenza e la squadra esprimono profondo cordoglio alle persone a lui care e al club gigliato. pic.twitter.com/R4yXZTBuQG
— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) March 19, 2024
Other leading figures pay their respects
Napoli President Aurelo De Laurentiis shared several brief messages on behalf of his club on Tuesday afternoon.
“In Joe Barone, we have lost a loyal person, who was full of desire and innovation. (It is) a great void for his wife Camilla, for his children, Pietro, Salvatore, Giuseppe and Gabriella, for Fiorentina, for its President Comisso and for everybody who knew him in a personal and professional capacity.
“Aurelio De Laurentiis and all of Calcio Napoli share the immense pain that this tragedy has caused.”
Aurelio De Laurentiis e tutto il Calcio Napoli partecipano al dolore immenso che questa tragedia ha causato
— AurelioDeLaurentiis (@ADeLaurentiis) March 19, 2024
The Lega Serie A also released a statement via its official social media channels, which read: “Lega Serie A expresses its grief and extends its condolences to the family, Rocco Commisso, the team and all the staff of ACF Fiorentina for the sudden death of General Manager Joe Barone.”
La Lega Serie A esprime il proprio cordoglio e si stringe alla famiglia, a Rocco Commisso, alla squadra e a tutto il personale della ACF Fiorentina per l’improvvisa scomparsa del Direttore Generale Joe Barone. ⬇️
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA) March 19, 2024