Barzagli: More Attention Paid to Players' Health Now; Teaching Them Correct First-Aid Measures Is Crucial

Italian legend Andrea Barzagli attended a charity dinner held by the Davide Astori Memorial Association in Florence and accepted an interview.

How do you feel about participating in this event? (Astori passed away suddenly from a heart attack in 2018 while playing for Fiorentina)

“I’m delighted to be here and hug Astori’s family. This is not only out of my personal affection for Astori, but also to witness the progress of this important project with a solid foundation. It’s a night dedicated to Astori, and his family has done a lot of work and contributed greatly behind the scenes.”

As a Florentine, are you pleased that the Astori family maintains such a close bond with Florence?

“I think this is the connection between the city and Astori, unfortunately, also because of the tragedy that happened back then. I believe everyone has their own answer in such situations, and that’s the most important thing.”

The football world is united, and Chiellini is also here tonight.

“This is a tragedy that touches everyone. Despite sporting rivalries, we all unite in the face of such things.”

Italy has now introduced the Bovi Law—has there been more attention paid to players' health? (Bovi collapsed due to a heart condition during Fiorentina’s match against Inter Milan last season, and this first-aid law is named after him)

"Maybe in my playing days, there wasn’t as much attention as there is now, but there were still necessary medical checks. This is mainly about educating young players because it concerns themselves. I used to think it was mainly the club’s responsibility, but in fact, it’s a personal matter for the players. It’s very important to take correct first-aid measures and provide young players with relevant information in advance."