く: 3ミ

When and how Edo and Flavio met each other:

-- ATP Tour

-- [email protected]

-- IG@gqitalia

They were apart for a while after selecting different paths of their life… and reunited several years ago and get close to each other again.

Edo: “Then, growing up, with the fact that he took another path, we separated for a while. I was thinking about football, he was thinking about tennis.…So our friendship is perhaps even more important because it was not a constant, we got so close only five or six years ago”. Flavio: “Yes, because now we are independent and that also makes the difference.”

-- GQ Italia

Their families are very close and are often seen together.

-- 2024 MotoGP Mugllo (1) (2)

-- Wimbledon 2024 (1)(2)

The heartbreaking incident that changed Edo's life path

The Roma youth team Flavio used to play for was very strong, with players including Edo and Riccardo Calafiori (an Arsenal player currently, also one of their good friends), who later got the chance to play for Roma’s first team. In the summer of 2024, however, due to the decision from the club’s management, Edo had to leave his beloved AS Roma and joined Fiorentina on loan (the CEO of Roma at that time even pushed a permanent transfer of Edo to Nottingham Forest at a low price but in the end he managed to stay in Serie A). He was in a very good form in Fiorentina with more playing time, and it was reported that Fiorentina was intended to buy him out. On December 1st 2024, however, during the match of Fiorentina vs Inter Milan, Edo caught a cardiac arrest and collapsed with loss of consciousness.

Flavio witnessed this incident in front of TV on that day, and when he heard it was Edo who collapsed on the pitch he also experienced a small breakdown:

-- ATP Tour

Flavio: “I never told Edoardo about it either, I think. That December 1st I was at my club in Parioli, which is my second home…I was playing billiards at my club during Fiorentina-Inter and I was distracted, from behind, I was making a shot. Someone screamed in the room and I froze, even though I hadn't seen anything I immediately heard that something bad had happened and then when I realized that it was about him, I had a small breakdown, the people who were there helped me a lot. Then when I recovered I tried in any way to get there in Florence, but they stopped me. Then I heard from Gianluca Mancini, who is the first to write to me and with whom I was in contact for updates until finally I heard from him directly, but only the next day because obviously he could not answer my messages.”

-- GQ Italia

Edo survived, with an implanted cardiac defibrillator (ICD) to maintain the heart’s rhythm in case of further problems, but under the Italian rules, he is not allowed to participate in professional sport with ICD still in place. Throughout the year 2025, Edo’s career as a football player had to be paused. He kept recovering, seeking and preparing for any chance to be back on the pitch.

Flavio made a tattoo with Edo’s number 52 shirt in AS Roma on his right arm.

He explained this is the “most important one of all his tattoos”.

-- NSS Sports

After the incident, Flavio always supported Edo, and Edo began to follow Flavio’s tennis more closely and was seen in Flavio’s box more frequently during the suspension time. Edo attended Flavio’s matches including Rotterdam, Rome, Wimbledon and Davis Cup in 2025. He said watching Flavio playing is like “lifesaver” and “pure air” to him, while Flavio said he’s now “playing for Edo”:

Edo: "I'll tell you something very honest: Flavio was a lifesaver for me this year. His successes were like pure air for me. The further he advanced in tournaments, the more I could watch his matches, and it was liberating for me." Flavio: "Now it's as if I'm playing for him too. When I think of him, I can perform better on the court."

-- GQ Italia

Edo in Rotterdam 2025

-- EuroSport

Edo was in the stands in Bologna, witnessing Flavio save 7 match points to help team Italy reach the Davis Cup final in 2025. After the match, Flavio also dedicated this victory to his friend:

-- Il Messaggero

-- Il Messaggero

Edo returned to professional football

After over a year of waiting, Edo finally found a way to play football again, as he always aimed to and as Flavio always hoped to. In January 2026, Edo terminated his contract with AS Roma and transferred to Watford FC in EFL Championship. And Flavio never missed being the first one to express how happy he is for Edo. On February 14th, Edo formally came back on the pitch 440 days after the heart attack incident:

-- [email protected]_cobbo: "I AM HAPPY AGAIN 💛❤️". "YOUR WARRIOR SPIRIT WILL NEVER BE TAMED"

Watford is in London so from this summer Edo will be more convenient to watch Flavio playing at Wimbledon if everything goes well!