Italian footballer Davide Astori found dead in hotel

Italy international Davide Astori has died at the age of 31, his club Fiorentina have announced.

“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.”

The centre-half is reported to have passed away in his sleep at the La di Moret hotel in Udine, ahead of his club’s game with Udinese.

 The 31-year-old was capped 14 times by Italy, joined Fiorentina in 2016 from Cagliari and had made 58 appearances for the club.