Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died in his sleep ahead of their Serie A fixture against Udinese on Sunday.

Astori, a 31-year-old Italy international central defender, had been with the club since 2016 having previously played for Milan, Cagliari and Roma.

He had 14 international caps with Italy and was a member of the squad that played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

All of Sunday's Serie A fixtures have been postponed as a mark of respect.

Fiorentina captain Davide Astori has died in his sleep at the team hotel. He was aged 31

The club confirmed the sad news on Sunday morning with their game at Udinese postponed

Astori (left) celebrates a goal with Cristiano Biraghi during their recent game with Chievo

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One report from Italy said his team-mates broke down his door when Astori failed to come down for breakfast or answer his phone.

'The lad did not turn up to the team breakfast at 9.30am and he was usually the first to arrive,' said Fiorentina spokesman Arturo Mastronardi.

'So they went to check on him. Davide was sleeping in a room on his own. We still don't know the cause of death. The Magistrate came here and the body has been taken for an autopsy, which I think will be conducted today. We have no further details.

'The last to see Davide was Marco Sportiello. Some players sleep in single rooms, some in doubles.

'His family is from Bergamo, so his parents were alerted by telephone, whereas his partner was visited in person in Florence by some of the directors who were in the city.

'The team will return to Florence today with a charter plane.'

Astori leaves a wife Francesca and two-year-old daughter.

The club's president also confirmed that the player was set to sign a new contract on Monday, with an original meeting on Thursday postponed due to the adverse weather around the continent.

Astori on the beach with wife Francesca in a photograph posted on her Instagram account

Astori had been with the club since 2016, having also played for Milan, Cagliari and Roma

Astori also won 14 caps and scored one goal for the Italian national side

A statement issued by Fiorentina read: '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.'

Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon and Chelsea boss Antonio Conte led the tributes to Astori.

Buffon wrote on Instagram: ‘You have a young wife and family members who are suffering. Your little girl deserves to know that her father was in all respects a perfect person.

‘You were the best expression of an ancient, surpassed world, in which values such as altruism, elegance, education and respect for others, were the masters.

‘You were one of the best sports figures I ever came across.’

Conte, speaking on Sky ahead of Chelsea’s game against Manchester City, was clearly upset and said: ‘I had him with the national team. It is very hard in this moment to speak about this tragedy.

'He was a fantastic guy. He was a great player but especially a fantastic guy. He was only 31. It is very difficult to explain this situation, his wife, the parents, the daughter.’

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

In announcing the postponement of Sunday's games, Serie A said: 'Shocked by the tragic news, the whole family of the Lega Serie A unites around the family of Davide Astori and Fiorentina FC.'

AC Milan coach Gennaro Gattuso had asked before the announcement for all games to be called off. 'I can't think of the derby after a tragedy like that,' he said on Twitter.

The early kick-off between Genoa and Cagliari was postponed with the crowd breaking into spontaneous applause when a picture of Astori was shown on the big screen. He spent six seasons as a Cagliari player.

The players were going through their warm-ups when the news broke, leaving some in tears. Fans remained inside the stadium and sat in silence as they digested the shock news.

Clubs and players from around the world tweeted their condolences to Fiorentina after the news broke.

A man who loved football and who grew up as footballer with us. #ACMilan are shocked by the passing of Davide #Astori. It is with great sadness that we offer our deepest condolences to his family and closed ones and to ACF Fiorentina — AC Milan (@acmilan) March 4, 2018

The club is devastated to learn of the death of Davide Astori. The thoughts of everyone at AS Roma are with the player's family, friends and teammates at this terrible and tragic time. pic.twitter.com/vDlL4LIkJr — AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) March 4, 2018

On this day of tragedy, Juventus expresses its deepest condolences to Davide Astori’s family and Fiorentina. — JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 4, 2018

Everybody at Chelsea Football Club is shocked and saddened at the sudden death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and team-mates at this time. — Chelsea FC (at 🏡) (@ChelseaFC) March 4, 2018

We’re saddened by the passing of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori. Our condolences are with his friends and family.



RIP Davide. pic.twitter.com/AlIqBNoSJ6 — Liverpool FC (at 🏠) (@LFC) March 4, 2018

Everyone at West Ham United is very saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Davide Astori. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Davide at this difficult time. — West Ham United (@🏠) (@WestHam) March 4, 2018

The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with the family of @acffiorentina captain Davide Astori following the very sad news of his death. pic.twitter.com/obOv8nqXrM — Everton (@Everton) March 4, 2018

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Davide Astori who has passed away at the age of 31https://t.co/0jZmSbh8qU — FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) March 4, 2018

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of Davide Astori and the whole @acffiorentina family, after their captain passed away last night 💜😢 #RIP — RSC Anderlecht (@rscanderlecht) March 4, 2018

Genoa fans leave the Luigi Ferraris Stadium after news of Astori's death is announced

The players were just coming to the end of their warm-ups when told about the news

Genoa fans take down their banners after hearing news their game would be postponed

Benevento fans left this banner outside their stadium as their game with Verona was called off

A picture of Astori was shown on the screen as the Genoa vs Cagliari match was postponed

Fans were left shocked by the news of Astori's passing and sat in silence in the stands

Fans were preparing for kick-off in the Genoa vs Cagliari match when the shock news broke

Astori, who hailed from the province of Bergamo, started playing with local team Pontisola before joining Milan's academy in 2001.

He spent five years in their youth system, including loan spells at Serie C1 clubs Pizzighettone and Cremonsese in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons.

Astori didn't turn out for the senior Milan side and signed for Cagliari in a co-ownership deal with Milan in 2008, playing regularly for them in Serie A.

In all, Astori made 178 appearances for Cagliari during six seasons before moving out on loan to Roma at the start of the 2014-15 season.

When he returned to Cagliari, Fiorentina also took him on loan before completing a permanent transfer in 2016.

Astori was expected to sign a new contract with the club when he died.

He made 14 appearances in all for Italy having been handed his debut by coach Cesare Prandelli against Ukraine in March 2011, though he was sent off during that friendly match.