Riccardo Saponara pays heartfelt tribute to Fiorentina captain Davide Astori
Tuesday 6 March 2018 08:34, UK
Riccardo Saponara has paid tribute to Fiorentina team-mate Davide Astori, who died on Sunday aged 31.
Astori passed away just hours before Fiorentina's game against Udinese and every Serie A match on Sunday was postponed following the news.
Fiorentina have said the defender died following a "sudden illness" and prosecutors have opened a routine investigation into the death.
Midfielder Saponara paid a heartfelt tribute to his captain on Instagram.
He said: "Oh captain, my captain. Why did you not come down to have breakfast with us all? Why did you not pick up your shoes from outside of (goalkeeper) Marco Sportiello's room and then drink your orange juice, as usual?
"Now they will tell us that life goes on, that we must look forward and pick ourselves up, but what will your absence taste like? Who will arrive every morning in the cafeteria, warming up everyone with his smile?
"Who will ask us about what we did the previous night and have a laugh about it? Who will nurture the youngsters and give a sense of responsibility to the veterans? Who will form the circle to work on our 'two-touch play' and who will demolish Marco on the PlayStation?
"With whom will we debate about Masterchef, Florence's restaurants, TV series or games played? Who will I lean on at lunch after a tiring training session? Come on, come back. You still need to finish watching La La Land to analyse like you did with all new movies.
"Come back to Florence, they are waiting for you to renew your contract and acknowledge all the good and the positivity that you bring to us on a daily basis. Get out of that damn room, we will be waiting for you tomorrow at training.
"In life there are people you've known forever but have never bonded with, and then there are the 'Davides', who warm to you immediately with a simple 'Welcome to Florence, Ricky'.
"Wherever you are now, keep on defending our goal and enlighten the right path for us from the backline. Oh captain, my captain. Forever, my captain."
Astori made 14 caps for Italy, and the FA say they are planning a tribute to him when the Azzurri visit Wembley for a friendly against England later this month.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and legendary Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon are among other figures in world football who have spoken in honour of Astori.
