Udinese patron Gianpaolo Pozzo “never imagined we would have to share this pain with Fiorentina” after the sudden death of Davide Astori.
The captain was found in his La Di Moret Hotel room this morning, where the team was preparing for this afternoon’s Serie A match between Fiorentina and Udinese at the Dacia Arena.
All the Serie A and B fixtures planned for today have been called off.
Udinese patron Gianpaolo Pozzo “never imagined we would have to share this pain with Fiorentina” after the sudden death of Davide Astori.
The captain was found in his La Di Moret Hotel room this morning, where the team was preparing for this afternoon’s Serie A match between Fiorentina and Udinese at the Dacia Arena.
All the Serie A and B fixtures planned for today have been called off.
“I write this as the owner of Udinese, as a football fan and – above all – as a father,” noted Pozzo on the official Udinese website.
“I am deeply shocked by the news of the death of Davide Astori. My family and everyone at Udinese Calcio send their most heartfelt condolences to Astori’s loved ones, everyone at Fiorentina and all Fiorentina fans.
“This morning, we got up ready to take on our opponents on the football field. We had prepared for a normal game – we would never have imagined that we would have to share this pain with Fiorentina and try to find an explanation for the death of a young man in the prime of his life.
“Today we mourn the loss of Davide Astori. We do not play today out of respect and love. When we return to training and take to the football field once more, we shall do so for him – to keep his memory alive and to honour a sport that must unite us, give us strength and serve as a source of inspiration.
“Our thanks to the fans for standing with us and to the media for covering this sad news with decency and respect.”