Edoardo Bove, the Fiorentina midfielder who collapsed during Sunday’s Serie A match against Inter Milan, is now awake and alert in the hospital, according to a statement from the club. The incident, which caused the match to be called off after just 16 minutes, saw Bove rushed to the Careggi Hospital in Florence. Fiorentina confirmed on Monday that Bove had been extubated and is conscious, having spoken with his family, teammates, and club management.
The medical emergency occurred in the first half of the match, which was goalless when it was stopped due to Bove’s sudden collapse. Fiorentina provided reassurance, saying that initial tests carried out on Sunday evening ruled out any significant damage to Bove’s central nervous system and cardiovascular system. The club also stated that further tests will be conducted in the coming days to determine the cause of the incident, with the medical team monitoring his condition closely.
Despite the frightening situation, Bove was reportedly in good spirits and encouraged his teammates to continue with their upcoming matches. Fiorentina’s general manager, Alessandro Ferrari, shared that Bove had asked his teammates to play in Wednesday’s Italian Cup tie with Empoli, expressing his desire for life to return to normal. “Thanks to Edoardo, we’ll try to get back to regular life,” Ferrari said outside the hospital.
The sudden collapse of Bove brought back painful memories for Fiorentina supporters, who were reminded of the tragic passing of the club’s former captain, Davide Astori, who died in 2018 at the age of 31. Fans at the Stadio Artemio Franchi remained in their seats for a long time after the match was halted, hoping for good news after witnessing the shock and distress of players and officials.
Serie A officials have confirmed that a meeting will be held on Monday afternoon to determine when the interrupted match will be completed, with reports suggesting that it may not take place until February. Fiorentina remains hopeful for Bove’s full recovery, although it is too early to comment on his future in football, given the rigorous medical requirements for athletes in Italy.