Teammate Milan Badelj Pays Incredible Tribute At Davide Astori's Funeral

The sad passing of Davide Astori has shook football to its core. Today thousands came out to grieve and pay tribute to the former Fiorentina captain, including teammate Milan Badelj who delivered quite the eulogy at the funeral.

An estimated over 8,000 members of the public turned up outside the Basilica di Santa Croce in Florence to pay their respects for Fiorentina footballer Davide Astori who passed away tragically last Sunday from cardiac arrest.

Thousands gather for the Fiorentina captain's funeral. Image: PA Images.

Inside the player's family, friends, club and national teammates attended the funeral, including the likes of Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini, and Astori's Fiorentina teammate Milan Badelj delivered an emotional eulogy.

The Croatian midfielder said, "Dear Davide, I speak on behalf of my team-mates and the purple family: Your name in Hebrew means 'beloved', and to see all those who are here today to show you affection, I believe this is really your name.

"Davide, with your eyes you can get inside people and stay there. You are not like everyone else, you are the one that even if you do not know the languages well you managed to talk to all of us, talking with the heart and keeping us united. You have the gift of the universal language of the heart.

"Your mother, your father, must know that they have done nothing wrong with you. You are exactly the son and brother that anyone would want to have.

"You're the best teammate a guy can dream of having. Having you at your side makes you feel safe, thinking, 'it's ok, because Davide is here'.

"We cannot forget your laughter, your way of joking with everyone. You [as a] 'world famous designer and footballer in free time', as you loved to define yourself. You are football, the pure one of children.

"Our thoughts go to your family, to Francesca and to princess Victoria. The task of all those close to her will be to tell her who Davide is, because your daughter growing up will have to know who her father was. A great man.

"I finish with an anecdote. In the morning, when you arrived in the physiotherapy room, you were always the one to turn on the light. You are this for all of us, you are light. Thanks Davide."

Incredible words from Badelj.

RIP Davide.

Topics: Football News, Serie A, Davide Astori, Fiorentina, Italy

Ryan Sidle

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