Davide Astori was due to sign new four-year Fiorentina contract just days after his tragic death aged 31
DAVIDE ASTORI was due to commit his future to Fiorentina for the rest of his career this afternoon, according to club president Andrea Della Valle.
The football world was rocked on Sunday as news broke that the 31-year-old defender had died in his sleep overnight.
An autopsy is due to determine the international defender's precise cause of death as tributes pour in for the late Fiorentina captain from across the globe.
Astori leaves behind his partner, Francesca Fioretti, and a two-year-old daughter.
Yesterday's entire Serie A programme was called off as a mark of respect as the game mourned the unexpected loss of the player, who was set to make Florence his permanent home.
Fiorentina chief Della Valle said: "Believe me, it is hard to be here.
Who was Davide Astori?
Davide Astori was born in Bergamo and played for local team Pontisola before joining AC Milan in 2006.
Two years later he moved to Cagliari – the club where he would make his name.
The centre-back would go on to make 174 appearances in Sardinia, and earn his first Italy cap against Ukraine in 2011.
A year later, out of loyalty to Cagliari, he turned down a bumper £12m move to Spartak Moscow.
Around the same time, he was scouted as a long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic by then-Manchester United boss David Moyes.
In 2014, Astori agreed a season-long loan to Roma for £1.8m and the Giallorossi paid a further £4.5m to make the deal permanent.
But a day before the transfer was set to go through, he instead agreed a new contract with Cagliari.
A loan to current club Fiorentina was then agreed with an obligation to buy.
Astori went on to make 78 appearances for the club before his untimely death in March, 2018.
"This is a huge tragedy for us. I don't even know how to express this pain. We are all under shock.
"He was with us for four years and just think that he was due to extend his contract on Monday.
'SPEECHLESS' Totti and Pirlo lead tributes as football mourns Davide Astori’s shock death
"He was due to do it earlier, but due to the snow, we had put it back and agreed we would do it on Monday.
"It was his greatest joy to be able to end his career here, because this is where it would have ended."
Supporters have been leaving thousands of flowers, scarves and shirts in tribute to Astori outside of Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi.
And the mayor of Florence has announced that a day of mourning will be held on the day of Astori's funeral - with the date still to be set - as well as a memorial to be built.
Mayor Dario Nardella said: "The news of the premature death of Davide Astori has shocked the world and distressed the whole of Florence, the city he had chosen to pursue his profession in and for his family life.
"The role of captain of the city's club, the deep bond he knew how to create not only with the fans but with an entire community thanks also to the undoubted human qualities and civic values he showed he believed in, the exemplary conduct of professionalism attached to the most authentic of values of the Viola and Italy national team shirt and the world of sport in general and, last but not least, the young age in which he has been taken by a tragic, unexpected death form the basis of a collective feeling of grief on the part of the entire city of Florence.
DAVIDE ASTORI – WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
- Astori travelled with Fiorentina squad on Saturday ahead of Serie A clash with Udinese
- When club captain did not arrive at team breakfast at 9.30am, team-mates broke down hotel room door to find Astori dead
- Reports in Italy claim Astori died of natural causes in his sleep – with no warning signs
- He leaves behind long-term girlfriend Francesca Fioretti and their two-year-old daughter Vittoria
- Pictures show Genoa players distraught as they are told news ahead of Serie A’s 12.30 kick-off
- Serie A announce all league fixtures on Sunday are postponed
- Italian football legends Francesco Totti and Gianluigi Buffon lead emotional tributes
"The mayor announces a day of mourning on the day of the funeral of Davide Astori, an exemplary man more than a footballer."
Meanwhile, Uefa has confirmed it will pay tribute to Astori with a minute of silence before each Champions League and Europa League match this week.
Following Tuesday's autopsy, Astori's body will be transferred to Florence the next day to the Italian national training centre.