A former Spanish footballer has died at the age of 32 after enduring a lengthy battle with lung cancer.
Nico Hidalgo, who was once on Juventus’ books as a youngster, played for various clubs in Spain including Granada, Cadiz and Racing Santander.
Posting a heartfelt tribute to Hidalgo, a club statement from Cadiz read: ‘Nico Hidalgo has left us.
‘We will never forget your smile and your joy. Your struggle is our example. Rest in peace’.
A second tribute came in from another of his former clubs, Extremadura, who are now defunct.
It read: ‘This morning we woke up to the sad news of the death of Nico Hidalgo, former Extremadura UD footballer, at the age of 32 due to lung cancer which he had been fighting since 2021.
Nico Hidalgo, who was once on Juventus ‘ books as a youngster, played for various clubs in Spain including Granada, Cadiz and Racing Santander
Posting a heartfelt tribute to Hidalgo, a club statement from Cadiz read: ‘Nico Hidalgo has left us. We will never forget your smile and your joy. Your struggle is our example. Rest in peace’.
Hidalgo was given a tribute during a match between Granada and Malaga in August 2022
A second tribute came in from another of his former clubs, Extremadura
‘From [everyone at] CD Extremadura, we would like to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We send them all our love and strength in these difficult times.’
Racing Santander also released a post on their official website, in which they said they would hold a minute’s silence in tribute to Hidalgo before their Segunda División match at home to Elche on Sunday night.
Hidalgo made 23 appearances for Extremadura in their former guise as Extremadura UD, before moving to Cadiz and later Racing.
The defender retired from playing in 2022 after being diagnosed with his illness.