Fiorentina’s Edoardo Bove Breaks Silence After Medical Issues

Fiorentina midfielder, Edoardo Bove, spoke on Monday of how the true spirit of football gave him strength following his recent collapse on the pitch, in his first public statement since the incident.

Bove collapsed during Fiorentina’s match against Inter Milan on December 1st, resulting in the game’s abandonment. After undergoing surgery to have a removable heart starter device implanted, the Italian player was discharged from the hospital on Friday.

Bove visited Fiorentina’s training center the day after his release, was greeted with warm applause by his teammates, and has now opened up on the impact the incident has had.

“The unpleasant episode that took place during Fiorentina-Inter showed me, even more than I thought, that football is much more than a match, a championship, or a career,” Bove said in a post on the social media platform Instagram.

“Football is a community of people, linked by the same passion, who share moments of joy, emotion, anger, disappointment and suffering.

“It is precisely in these moments that I realize how genuine this sport is, how, beyond results, competition, or rivalry, we are all united.”

In a sport typically marked by division, Bove’s collapse brought the Italian football community together, and the player received messages from across the globe during his time in hospital.

“The affection I received, the warmth of the fans, the support from teammates and opponents, the closeness of the WHOLE world of football was something that gave me strength and an incredible courage,” Bove said.

“I felt surrounded by a positive energy that allowed me to remain calm, not to feel the loneliness that is often present in this type of difficulty.

“For this reason, I would like us all to commit ourselves not to forget the true essence of our sport, not to let ourselves be overshadowed by its commercial side, and not to take its authentic spirit for granted.”

Bove is now focusing on making a return to action, although it is uncertain whether that will be with Fiorentina.

The Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) is not allowed in Serie A, so Bove will need to have it removed to continue playing in Italy.

“I am fine and that’s the most important thing,” Bove, who is on loan from AS Roma, concluded.

“See you soon, on the pitch.”