Fiorentina's Bove 'awake and alert', to have further tests

ROME :Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove is awake and alert in hospital, his club said on Monday, providing reassurance on his condition after he collapsed during a Serie A match against Inter Milan on Sunday.

Fiorentina said that the 22-year-old had spent a peaceful night in the Careggi University Hospital in Florence and no longer required assistance with his breathing. Further tests would be conducted in the coming days in order to establish the cause of his illness.

Bove has spoken to team mates on a video call and the squad was now preparing for a match on Wednesday night when they face Empoli at home in the last 16 of the Italian Cup, the club added.

Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso has been in contact with the player's father and further reassured about his condition.

Bove had suddenly collapsed in the 17th minute of the game in Florence, seconds after bending down to adjust his boot during a break in play for a VAR check.

Medical personnel rushed onto the pitch, with the Fiorentina players forming a ring around Bove, who arrived at the club on loan from AS Roma in August.

After Bove was taken away in an ambulance, the referee asked the visibly shaken and emotional players to leave the pitch and return to the dressing room. The match will be replayed at a later date.

Bove has made several appearances for Italy's Under-21 team and has recorded four assists and one goal in his 14 appearances for Fiorentina this season.

(Writing by Keith Weir, editing by Alvise Armellini and Christian Radnedge)