Fiorentina returned to training today, but first paid a moving tribute to their captain Davide Astori.
The 31-year-old died in his sleep and was discovered in the team hotel on Sunday, where they were preparing to play Udinese in Serie A that afternoon.
All the Serie A and B matches for that day were called off and the Viola resumed training today.
Before the session, the players, Coach Stefano Pioli and directors walked to the gates of the Stadio Franchi, which has become an unofficial shrine to Astori with flowers, messages and scarves from fans.
Fiorentina returned to training today, but first paid a moving tribute to their captain Davide Astori.
The 31-year-old died in his sleep and was discovered in the team hotel on Sunday, where they were preparing to play Udinese in Serie A that afternoon.
All the Serie A and B matches for that day were called off and the Viola resumed training today.
Before the session, the players, Coach Stefano Pioli and directors walked to the gates of the Stadio Franchi, which has become an unofficial shrine to Astori with flowers, messages and scarves from fans.
The players all signed the red shirt he was due to wear against Benevento at the Stadio Franchi this weekend and pinned it to the gates.
They also added a printed sheet collecting the social media tributes his teammates had posted in his honour.
The official Fiorentina website posted video of the occasion.
Meanwhile, Astori’s family has asked for there to be no photography or filming inside the basilica during the funeral on Thursday.
Benevento have announced they will wear a special jersey against Fiorentina with the message #ciaoDavide13 on the sleeve.
“It is a small gesture for a great man.”
Fiorentina and his former club Cagliari have today retired the Number 13 jersey in his honour.