Astori, Italian footballer, found dead in hotel room

Italian club, Fiorentina have announced the death of their captain Davide Astori. He passed away in his sleep overnight on Saturday evening.

Astori, who was also an Italian international was found dead in his hotel room.

He was aged 31

“Fiorentina are profoundly shaken and forced to announce that their captain Davide Astori has died,” read a club statement.

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

Fiorentina’s game with Udinese has subsequently been cancelled.

Astori, who played as a central defender, was born 7 January 1987 in San Giovanni Bianco, the province of Bergamo in Italy.

After playing youth football for Pontisola, he started his senior career with Milan, spending loan spells with Pizzighettone and Cremonese.

In 2008 Cagliari signed him in a co-ownership deal, before signing him fully from Milan, for whom he never made a first-team appearance, in 2011.

He later spent loan spells at Roma and Fiorentina.

He made his international debut for Italy in 2011 and represented his country at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring a goal in Italy’s victorious bronze-medal match.