While Serie A will hold a minute’s silence before kick-off for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Atalanta defender Merih Demiral’s shirt auction is growing with Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi, Kevin de Bruyne, Harry Kane and more.
The most powerful earthquake in centuries hit the region earlier this week, with over 22,000 confirmed dead and many more still missing, while tens of thousands are left homeless.
The Lega Serie A announced that a minute’s silence will be held before kick-off in all the games this weekend for the victims of the natural disaster.
Atalanta defender and Turkey international Demiral has set up an online auction to raise funds, selling off shirts from his personal collection, starting with Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala and Leonardo Bonucci signed Juventus jerseys.
That initiative has now expanded with many more stars from around Europe donating their signed shirts, including Messi of PSG, Tottenham’s Kane, Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid, plus Manchester City pair Haaland and De Bruyne.
Demiral has been using his contacts to get the jerseys, thanking Dejan Kulusevski, Ilkay Gundogan, Emre Can, Hakan Calhanoglu and Gianluigi Donnarumma for their efforts in spreading the word.