Cesare Casadei had sent a heartfelt message to Edoardo Bove, who collapsed on the pitch during Fiorentina's clash against Inter Milan on Sunday night. The Serie A fixture at the Stadio Artemio Franchi was suspended shortly after the incident in the 16th minute before later being abandoned.
The 22-year-old midfielder was submitted to hospital after suddenly falling to the ground, causing a stoppage in play. He was taken away on a stretcher and put into an ambulance after the referee asked the players to leave the pitch.
The Italian club have confirmed that Bove's 'currently under pharmacological sedation and hospitalised in intensive care'. A statement on the official website, translated from Italian, reads: "ACF Fiorentina and the Careggi University Hospital announce that the footballer Edoardo Bove, who was rescued on the pitch following the loss of consciousness during the Fiorentina - Inter match, is currently under pharmacological sedation and hospitalized in intensive care.
"The Viola player arrived haemodynamically stable at the emergency room and the first cardiological and neurological tests carried out excluded acute damage to the central nervous system and the cardio-respiratory system. Edoardo Bove will be re-evaluated in the next 24 hours."
The Fiorentina president later put out a joint statement with Bove's family, which, also translated from Italian, reads: "Come on Edoardo, we are with you who are a strong boy with a great character and we are close to the boy's family in these moments."
The Inter Milan president also released a statement shortly after the incident. Speaking to the official club website, Giuseppe Marotta said: "Inter and the entire football world express their closeness to Bove's family and Fiorentina.
"The decision to postpone the match was spontaneous on everyone's part, we are a community, all the players and even the referee were emotionally involved. We hope it is nothing serious."
A statement from the Italian top flight read: "The match will not resume and is postponed to a date to be determined. With the game interrupted, Bove collapsed to the ground and the situation immediately appeared very serious. An ambulance took the player away, we await news."
Nevertheless, on Sunday night, Casadei led tributes for Bove, posting a heartfelt message to his Instagram story. Reposting an announcement by the Serie A, the Chelsea midfielder typed out a praying and lion emoji.
Tammy Abraham also offered his support for the Fiorentina ace, who joined the club on a season-long loan from Roma in August, typing out praying emojis and heart emojis. Casadei shared the pitch with Bove five times for the Italy Under-21s, winning two, drawing two and losing the other.
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