Bove, the illness and how the Fiorentina footballer is now: the ambulance struggles to get in, Cataldi moves his tongue, the father in the stands

The human chain that forms immediately around Edoardo Bove – from teammates, opponents, referees, doctors and managers, but also fans – he resists the hardest blow: between tears and saving moments of clarity like that of Danilo Cataldi, who moves his teammate's tongue with his fingers to avoid suffocation; between curses, moments of terror and hysteria, curses for the ambulance that doesn't enter the field so as not to lose traction, and prayers.

More than two hours later, at 8.30pm, when Fiorentina are in the Careggi hospital and Inter are already leaving the city, the press release arrives from the Viola club, making it clear that the nightmare is over. And the world of football melts in a liberating embrace: «The footballer Edoardo Bove, rescued on the pitch following his loss of consciousness during Fiorentina-Inter, is under pharmacological sedation and hospitalized in intensive care. The boy is stable from a hemodynamic point of view and has undergone initial cardiological and neurological tests they excluded acute damage to the central nervous system and cardio-respiratory system. Bove will be re-evaluated in the next 24 hours.” We need to understand what happened and what the future will be like.

The reactions and tension for the ambulance

It all happens suddenly in the 17th minute. The stadium is bedlam, Inter have just scored with Lautaro and referee Doveri annulled it because the ball, on Dumfries' throw, had gone off the pitch at the start of the play. Everyone protests and Mazzoleni in Lissone is reviewing the images at VAR. Nobody notices what is happening near Inzaghi's bench. Bove is bent over, he seems to be tying his shoe and when he gets up, he takes two small steps staggering and goes down with a crash. Calhanoglu e Dumfries, those closest to the midfielder are the first to provide aid. Inzaghiin an attempt to run to help, slips. Cataldi makes a fundamental gesture, moving his tongue.

The following minutes, just over four, very long, eternal, they paralyze the 22 thousand of the Franks. Silence and fear. Anger and desperation mix on the field. Almost everyone is crying, Colpani, Adli and Dodo with his shirt over his face. Sticks it gives the 19 year old courage Comuzzowho is upset and prefers not to approach the wall around Bove. Stretcher he shakes his head and puts his hands in his hair. Ranierithe captain of Fiorentina, argues with a Red Cross healthcare worker, going as far as pushing, because he demands that the rescue be quicker. There is next to him Mandrake who signals the ambulance to enter the field to shorten the wait. Also Dimarcoas if crazy, makes broad signs to the vehicle so that it doesn't remain stationary on the sidelines. A choice studied out of fear that the wheels would block on wet grass.

The father in the stands, the phone call from Commisso

The stadium applauds when Bove is taken away and whistles because the ambulance, with the midfielder on board, does not leave. Gosens it's a fury, but no one in those excited moments can know what is happening inside: the player is revived with the defibrillator. It's in the stands Giovanni BoveEdoardo's father: he is the first to leave the Franchi stadium and rush to Careggi hospital. Confirmation arrives at 7pm: the match is postponed and will start again from the 18th minute on the first available date, currently on February 13th, 4 days after the return match scheduled at San Siro. But nothing matters compared to the health of a boy who still plays in the Under 21s. The words of the Fiorentina president also come from the USA Rocco Commisso and his wife Catherinewho follow everything on TV and talk on the phone with the CEO Alessandro Ferrari and with the sports manager, Daniele Pradé. «Come on Edoardo we are with you. You are a strong boy with great character.”

The tough melee with Dumfries

Florence dreamed of a great night and found herself in the most horrible nightmare. Astori comes to mind, Joe Barone comes to mind. It seems like a curse. And people, waiting for news, try to understand what happened. A minute before the match was interrupted, Bove had come into contact with Dumfries in the Fiorentina area, a hard melee. The Italian had suffered a blow, his shirt was torn and he had approached the bench to change it, complaining of feeling unwell. It could all have started with that blow.

Beppe Marotta is the voice of Inter: «As president I express my closeness to Fiorentina and the boy's family. I also say this on behalf of football. We are a community. The decision to postpone the match was made already on the pitch, by the players and the referee. It's the minimum. I spoke with Pradé, the hope is that Bove can quickly get out of this dramatic situation». The human chain resisted, the nightmare is over.

December 2, 2024 (changed December 2, 2024 | 07:58)

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED