Florence, March 5 (IANS) Italian football club ACF Fiorentina announced on Monday that autopsy on late captain Davide Astori, who died on Sunday in his sleep following cardiac arrest, will be conducted on Tuesday before his funeral on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Astori, capped 14 times by Italy as a defender, was found dead on Sunday in his team’s hotel in Udine before the Serie A game against Udinese, which was later suspended.

“Fiorentina and Davide’s family inform that the autopsy will be performed tomorrow,” Fiorentina said in a statement.

Astori’s mortal remains will return on Wednesday to Florence where, at the Federal Technical Center of Coverciano, the burning room will be set up, the statement added.

“The funeral will be in Florence on Thursday (10 a.m.) in the Basilica of Santa Croce,” the club declared.

Astori joined the AC Milan youth academy and played for Cagliari and Roma before moving on loan to Fiorentina in 2015 and signing a long-term contract in 2016.

Since joining Fiorentina, he played 106 matches and became the leading figure in the Italian club.

According to media reports, Fiorentina will give Astori a lifetime contract, with all proceeds going to his widow and two-year-old daughter. Astori was to sign a new contract with the club on Monday.

Meanwhile, tributes continued to pour in from football community, with Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) declaring that a minute’s silence will be observed before every ChampionsLeague and Europa League game this week in honour of Astori.

Astori’s Italy teammate and AC Milan captain Leonardo Bonucci penned an emotional tribute. “Ciao Grande Asto. That’s what I called you when we’d meet, for a game that saw us as opponents or for a Nazionale get-together. A smile, an embrace – one of the real ones – a person who was fair, honest and humble. How many times we laughed, joked and celebrated together. How many chats at the table sat side-by-side, or along the corridor that at Coverciano takes us to the [Italy training camp] bedrooms, on the pitch, or in the rooms. ‘Come on Leo, do a sweeping pass like only you know how’ was what you kept repeating to me during tactical training sessions. With that smile that never ended and that made it clear how much goodness there was within you. You have gone to play football up there and you’ll do it with the same big smile. The smile you always had.”

Astori’s Fiorentina teammate Marco Benassi wrote: “I can not give an explanation, I can not give a reason to all this … I have only one certainty, you will always remain in the hearts of all the people you met and this because for the person you have been can not be that way!

“Thank you for everything, you will always be our captain, rest in peace my friend!”

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Saponara said: “Back in Florence, they await you in the office to renew the contract and recognize the good and the positive that you give every day to us all. Get out of that damn room, we are waiting for you tomorrow at the resumption of training.

“Wherever you are now, continue to defend our door and from the bright back to the right path. O captain, my captain. Forever my captain.”

Former Fiorentina player and current Juventus winger Federico Bernardeschi said: “With eyes swollen with tears, heart broken I tell you Thank you my friend, for your humility, your kindness, your teachings, for our Friendship. I will miss you and I will always carry you in the heart. Watch over your family, your partner and your little princess. Manchi.”

Franco Baresi, AC Milan icon, wrote: “Incredulous, a tragedy, I am without words. I watched you grow up and was proud of the path you were making. I cling to the pain of your family. RIP Davide.”

Spanish football icons Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and Germany goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen extended their condolences to the family and friends of Astori.

“Very surprised and hurt because of the passing away of Davide Astori. All my support to family, friends and italian football. RIP,” Iniesta wrote.

Ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas said: “Rest in Peace Captain. Condolences to your family, friends and the great family of Italian football.”

–IANS
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