Udinese captain Antonio Di Natale said he has questioned his own future in the game after the tragic death of former team-mate Piermario Morosini.

Morosini collapsed and died of a heart attack during a Serie B clash between Livorno, where he was on loan from Udinese, and Pescara on Saturday, prompting the suspension of all Italian football at the weekend.

Di Natale, 34, said he was struggling to cope with Morosini's death and had already thought about retiring - but insisted he had not made any firm decision. "We'll try to play the last six games for Mario. I'll play for him and then we'll see," he told Radio Monte Carlo. "He was a fantastic kid who came to training with a smile. I haven't slept for two days because it's impossible with what's happened."

Thousands of mourners gathered outside Livorno’s Armando Picchi stadium to pay tribute to the 25-year-old yesterday, as it emerged that Morosini was orphaned at the age of 18 after his parents died two years apart. Shortly afterwards his disabled brother committed suicide, leaving him with his handicapped elder sister and an aunt.

Livorno and Udinese, who loaned Morosini out in January, announced they are planning to provide financial care for his sister with Udinese and Di Natale confirming they will ensure Morosini’s sister is looked after. Livorno meanwhile have confirmed that they have retired the No 25 shirt in memory of the player.

"I've known him for seven years, he never let on that he didn't have a father or mother," said Di Natale, Serie A's top scorer for each of the last two seasons. "He always had a smile on his face and always helped everyone. I only found out a couple of years ago about his problems. He was a lad who wanted to live and make everyone else live. It's not normal to die at 25. I will do whatever I can to help his sister."

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, who played with Morosini for Italy Under-21 side, also expressed his shock and sadness at the tragic death of his compatriot.

"He was an absolutely lovely lad. I was shocked when I heard," Balotelli told Gazzetta Dello Sport. "I couldn’t believe it and hoped it was just some horrible prank. This makes me reflect on many things in my life. It teaches me to appreciate life, respect it and experience it with caution and dignity."

Source: http://www.sport360.com/article/udinese-skipper-di-natale-ponders-retirement-after-morosini-death

Juventus regained top spot in Serie A thanks to substitute Alessandro Del Piero's decisive goal in a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over Champions League hopefuls Lazio.

The unbeaten Turin outfit found themselves toppled at the summit by AC Milan on Tuesday after the Rossoneri won 1-0 at Chievo, but Simone Pepe set them on their way on Wednesday with the opening goal after half an hour.

Stefano Mauri equalised for the visitors on the stroke of half-time but Del Piero grabbed an 82nd-minute winner with a superb free-kick to lift Antonio Conte's side a point above Milan with six games left.

Libor Kozak was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offence to add to Lazio's misery.

Roma struck twice late in the second half to defeat Udinese 3-1 and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Daniel Osvaldo put the home team in front in the eighth minute, but Luis Enrique's side were pegged back as Gelson Fernandes equalised two minutes before half-time.

Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic produced a wonderful display to repel Roma's efforts after the restart but could do nothing to keep out Francesco Totti's close-range effort four minutes from time, and Marquinho made it 3-1 at the death.

Napoli's hopes of securing European football suffered another setback as Walter Mazzarri's side fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Atalanta and had Macedonian striker Goran Pandev sent off.

Giacomo Bonaventura's 10th-minute opener for the mid-table visitors sent Napoli on their way to a third consecutive league defeat which left Mazzarri's men outside the UEFA Europa League qualifying places.

Ezequiel Lavezzi equalised for the home side, but second-half scores by Gianpaolo Bellini Carlos Carmona put the game out of reach.

Diego Milito netted twice as Inter Milan snatched a 2-1 win to bolster their European bid at home to Siena.

The visitors took an eighth-minute lead through Gaetano D'Agostino only for Milito to level on 42 minutes.

The Argentina striker then grabbed the winner from the penalty spot on 81 minutes after substitute Yugo Nagatomo was felled in the area.

Siena's night got worse in stoppage time when goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo was dismissed for his protests with the referee.

The win moved Inter two points behind the Europa League places.

Elsewhere, Parma cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Novara thanks to first-half goals from Sebastian Giovinco and Jonathan Moreira.

Novara midfielder Marco Rigoni missed a penalty in the second half as the relegation-threatened visitors failed to make the breakthrough.

Cesena kept alive their slim hopes of avoiding the drop by salvaging a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Genoa.

Marco Rossi opened the scoring for the home side at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, but Adrian Mutu's reply 14 minutes from time ensured the points were shared.

Lecce's bid to escape relegation received another boost as they struck twice in the last two minutes to come from behind and claim a 2-1 win at ten-man Catania.

Gonzalo Bergessio put Catania ahead in the 52nd minute and Lecce should have equalised after the hour mark but David Di Michele missed a penalty.

However, substitute Daniele Corvia drew Lecce level in the 88th minute with Catania goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo handed his marching orders for a second bookable offence. Di Michele then made amends for his earlier miss and netted the winner soon after.

Finally, Fiorentina were held to a goalless home draw by Palermo.

Source: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/league/_/id/ita.1/italian-serie-a?cc=3888