Club president Andrea Della Valle confirmed that Astori was set to sign a new four-year contract extension on Monday
ITALIAN FA special commissioner Giovanni Malago has apologised and claimed he had been duped by "fake news" after praising Fiorentina's alleged gesture to pay the remainder of Davide Astori's contract to his wife and daughter.
Following the Italian defender's sudden passing ahead of his side's Serie A clash with Udinese, rumours surfaced on Twitter that la Viola had opted to give him a "contract for life" — with the money going to his family.
Malago appeared to give further credence to these reports by labelling it a "very nice gesture".
However, he has now admitted his comments were made because he had believed the rumours, which have since proven to be false.
H explained: "I have to make an important clarification about an alleged renewal of the contract of Astori.
"It was news without foundation, fake news taken by an agency.
"Fiorentina will certainly do something and support the family, which at this moment deserves respect and silence above all else."
Astori tragically passed away in his sleep on Sunday at the age of just 31.
And president Andrea Della Valle revealed that Astori was set to commit his future to Fiorentina on Monday by signing a new four-year deal.
Speaking on Sunday, Della Valle said: "Believe me, it is hard to be here.
"This is a huge tragedy for us. I don't even know how to express this pain. We are all under shock.
"He was with us for four years and just think that he was due to extend his contract on Monday.
"He was due to do it earlier, but due to the snow, we had put it back and agreed we would do it on Monday.
"It was his greatest joy to be able to end his career here, because this is where it would have ended."
Astori was set to earn £1.15million per year with his new deal.
Davide Astori was born in Bergamo and played for local team Pontisola before joining AC Milan in 2006.
Two years later he moved to Cagliari – the club where he would make his name.
The centre-back would go on to make 174 appearances in Sardinia, and earn his first Italy cap against Ukraine in 2011.
A year later, out of loyalty to Cagliari, he turned down a bumper £12m move to Spartak Moscow.
Around the same time, he was scouted as a long-term replacement for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic by then-Manchester United boss David Moyes.
In 2014, Astori agreed a season-long loan to Roma for £1.8m and the Giallorossi paid a further £4.5m to make the deal permanent.
But a day before the transfer was set to go through, he instead agreed a new contract with Cagliari.
A loan to current club Fiorentina was then agreed with an obligation to buy.
Astori went on to make 78 appearances for the club before his untimely death in March, 2018.
Supporters have been leaving thousands of flowers, scarves and shirts in tribute to Astori outside of Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi.
And the mayor of Florence has announced that a day of mourning will be held on the day of Astori's funeral - with the date still to be set - as well as a memorial to be built.
Mayor Dario Nardella said: "The news of the premature death of Davide Astori has shocked the world and distressed the whole of Florence, the city he had chosen to pursue his profession in and for his family life.
"The role of captain of the city's club, the deep bond he knew how to create not only with the fans but with an entire community thanks also to the undoubted human qualities and civic values he showed he believed in, the exemplary conduct of professionalism attached to the most authentic of values of the Viola and Italy national team shirt and the world of sport in general and, last but not least, the young age in which he has been taken by a tragic, unexpected death form the basis of a collective feeling of grief on the part of the entire city of Florence.
"The mayor announces a day of mourning on the day of the funeral of Davide Astori, an exemplary man more than a footballer."
Meanwhile, Uefa has confirmed it will pay tribute to Astori with a minute of silence before each Champions League and Europa League match this week.
Following Tuesday's autopsy, Astori's body will be transferred to Florence the next day to the Italian national training centre.
