Riccardo Saponara doubled Fiorentina‘s lead against Milan seconds before the break and the midfielder celebrated, dedicating his goal to Davide Astori.
Saponara, a product of Milan academy, was one of Astori’s closest friends. The former Fiorentina captain died in his sleep in March 2018, before an away Serie A match at Udinese.
Riccardo Saponara, that is magical! ☄️✨ pic.twitter.com/hpUAeTHlrX
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 20, 2021
Saponara scored with a curler from the edge of the box just under the Curva Fiesole.
He celebrated by doing a ‘captain salute’, a gesture that has always been used to pay tribute to the former defender.
Fiorentina fans remember their ex-captain in every match in minute 13. They did the same also against Milan, paying tribute to Stefano Pioli as well. The current Milan coach was in charge of La Viola when Astori died.
That was quite the smack by Saponara. Too bad he is already 29 Years Old, as he would have been a useful player with Gli Azzurri.
I do wonder if Jarrod KNowles qualifies his goal as a cannonball from midfield, though, LOL.