Popular Italian Footballer, 31, Dies In His Sleep

Italian club, Fiorentina has lost its captain, Davide Astori to the cold hands of death.

Astori, 31, died in his sleep according to a Sunday announcement from the club and reports from Italian media.

The club’s terse statement read, “Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died.

“For this terrible and delicate situation, and above all out of respect for his family, we appeal to the sensitivity of the media.”

Reports say Astori died of a suspected heart attack in his hotel room between Saturday and Sunday ahead of Fiorentina’s Serie A game against Udinese on Sunday.

The game has been postponed.

Another game between Genoa and Cagliari, one of his former clubs, was also postponed.

When his death was announced on the video screen minutes before the game, players warming up immediately walked off the pitch, leading to a postponement.

Besides Fiorentina and Cagliari, Astori has also played for AC Milan and AS Roma.

He joined Fiorentina in 2015.

Astori, who has represented the Italy national team on 14 occasions, left behind a daughter.