Tears as 31-year-old Italian footballer is found dead in his hotel room

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died at the age of 31.

The Italian international was found dead on Sunday morning, March 4, in his hotel room.

His club are preparing to face Udinese today which has been called off 

The entire Italian football fraternity have been thrown into deep mourning on Sunday morning, March 4, following the untimely death of Fiorentina defender Davide Astori. 

He was said to have been found dead in his room inside the hotel where he was with Fiorentina ahead of their Sunday's clash with Udinese. Fiorentina have also confirmed the tragic demise of their captain Davide Astori who passed away suddenly on the eve of his side's trip to face Udinese in Serie A. 

The 31-year-old center-back had been capped 14 times by Italy and had enjoyed a professional career spanning 12 years. 

''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.” a statement posted on the clubs official website reads. 

La Fiorentina profondamente sconvolta si trova costretta a comunicare che e' scomparso il suo capitano Davide Astori, colto da improvviso malore.
Per la terribile e delicata situazione, e soprattutto per rispetto della sua famiglia si fa appello alla sensibilità di tutti. pic.twitter.com/bFGnkReWEC

— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) March 4, 2018

 Davide Astori started his career at AC Milan where he never played a Serie A match before moving to Cagliari where he made his big breakthrough. He turned out 174 times for the Sardinians in a six-year spell during which he made his national team debut.

In 2014, he was sent on loan to Roma, and a year later, he made a similar transfer to Fiorentina but with an obligation to buy at the end of the season. 

Astori had established himself as a vital member of the squad and had turned out 27 times for the side ranked 10th in the Serie A standings this term.