Fiorentina star Federico Chiesa admits “there aren’t many minutes of the day” where he doesn’t think about Davide Astori.
The Viola captain was tragically found dead in his hotel room earlier this year, shocking the world of Italian football and in particular the young squad he left behind.
“There aren’t many minutes of the day where I don’t think about Astori, what he told me,” Chiesa told Sky.
Fiorentina star Federico Chiesa admits “there aren’t many minutes of the day” where he doesn’t think about Davide Astori.
The Viola captain was tragically found dead in his hotel room earlier this year, shocking the world of Italian football and in particular the young squad he left behind.
“There aren’t many minutes of the day where I don’t think about Astori, what he told me,” Chiesa told Sky.
“Above all though it’s what he transmitted, because when I first joined the senior team in Moena, he was the first to come and talk to me.
“Davide was a very pure person. He was a captain, a pure leader and an example for everyone.”
Federico is the son of another Fiorentina and Italy hero, Enrico Chiesa.
“One characteristic I got from my father is the posture when I start sprinting, slightly hunched over. I took that from him.
“He mainly cares about how I behave on the pitch, he leaves the technical stuff to the coaching staff and also to me, because I need to learn from my mistakes.”
The Viola starlet has been touted as one of the building blocks for Roberto Mancini’s Italy project too.
“It’s a great honour, but I don’t see it that way,” Chiesa insisted.
“I’m young and I still have a lot to learn, so I’m available to Mancini but I see myself as a young player with a lot of confidence surrounding him, but a long way to go. I have to take it one game at a time.
“I like the praise from the media, but I have to prove I deserve it on the pitch.”