- Edoardo Bove’s career in Italy is almost certainly over after he had a cardiac arrest
- Italian rules prevent players with significant heart abnormalities from competing
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Edoardo Bove is facing the end of his career in Italy after he suffered a cardiac arrest for Fiorentina against Inter Milan last week.
Bove was rushed to hospital after falling to the floor untouched in the 16th minute of the game, which was subsequently abandoned.
To regulate any further changes in his heartbeat, the 22-year-old will be fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) – the same device Man United midfielder Christian Eriksen has had since he also suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020.
The ICD is connected to the heart by wires and sends an electrical pulse in order to correct irregular rhythms.
Italy bans players at both amateur and professional level from competing if they have any significant heart abnormalities.
Serie A rules prevent players from playing in competitive games with a defibrillator, meaning a Fiorentina exit is almost certain, but Bove could theoretically continue his career in another country.
Fiorentina players held up a banner in support of Edoardo Bove reading: ‘Now we’ll wait for you.’
Bove joined Fiorentina on loan from Roma in the summer and has made 14 appearances for them
The 22-year-old was quickly taken to hospital in an ambulance after falling to the floor untouched
Girona defender Daley Blind, for example, was also fitted with an ICD after being diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation in 2019 at Ajax, but has continued playing professionally for club and country.
Fiorentina’s general manager Alessandro Ferrari has now confirmed that Bove’s recovery is progressing well and that the midfielder has moved out of intensive care to another unit of the hospital.
‘Edoardo is doing well, he is recovering and we are happy. We have to be patient and have respect for him. He changed [hospital] wards so things are better,’ Ferrari told Italian broadcaster Mediaset ahead of Fiorentina’s cup clash with Empoli on Wednesday.
Before the Coppa Italia match, which saw Empoli triumph 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw between the two sides, Fiorentina’s staff, players and fans showed their support for Bove in heartfelt scenes at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.
The spectators produced a tifo display in honour of Bove, colourfully exhibiting a banner with the No 4 – his kit number – while others held scarves aloft to express their support.
Fiorentina’s players held up banners on the pitch ahead of kick-off, with one reading: ‘Now we’ll wait for you.’
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, after arriving at the Careggi hospital in Florence, Bove regained consciousness and doctors assured that his ‘life was not in danger’.
Bove joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan from Roma in the summer with the option to make the move permanent and has made 14 appearances to date.
An Italy international, Bove has played for his country at every age group up to the Under-21s but is yet to receive a call-up to the senior set-up.
