Fiorentina director Joe Barone has died after suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday.

The 57-year-old Italian-American businessman was taken to a cardiac intensive care unit in Milan hours before Fiorentina were supposed to play against Atalanta in Bergamo, with the Serie A fixture being postponed as a result.

A statement on the club’s official website on Tuesday read: “It is with deep sorrow and immense sadness that Fiorentina confirms the loss of one of its figureheads, a person who has marked the recent history of the club and who will never be forgotten. General director Giuseppe Barone passed away today at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan after suddenly falling ill on Sunday.”

Barone, who began working for Rocco Commisso’s Mediacom business in 2017, joined Fiorentina when the latter purchased the Tuscan club in November 2019, working closely alongside sporting director Daniele Prade and with head coach Vincenzo Italiano as La Viola showed clear improvement in the league and reached the 2023 Europa Conference League final, losing to West Ham.

The statement continued: “Rocco Commisso and his family, Daniele Prade, Nicolas Burdisso, Alessandro Ferrari, Vincenzo Italiano, Cristiano Biraghi and everyone associated with Fiorentina are utterly devastated by the terrible loss of a man who showed great professionalism and gave his heart and soul for these colours. He was a treasured friend who always stayed strong in the happiest and, above all, the most difficult moments.

“The entire Viola world sends its heartfelt condolences to Giuseppe’s wife Camilla, his children and the entire Barone family during this time of immense sorrow.”

Sunday’s scheduled hosts Atalanta were among the many clubs, organisations and public figures who sent condolences to Barone’s loved ones and Fiorentina.

A post on X read: “President Antonio Percassi, co-chairman Stephen Pagliuca, CEO Luca Percassi and everyone at Atalanta share in the great pain felt by his family and by everyone at Fiorentina following the sudden passing of Joe Barone.”