Nico Hidalgo dead at 32: Former Juventus star dies after battle with lung cancer as tributes pour in
FORMER Spanish footie star Nico Hidalgo has tragically passed away aged 32.
The former Juventus academy star has sadly lost his lengthy battle with lung cancer.
Tributes have poured in for the late Hidalgo, including from former club Cadiz.
“It read: “‘Nico Hidalgo has left us.
“We will never forget your smile and your joy. Your struggle is our example. Rest in peace'”
Extremadura, which ceases to exist, also paid tribute to their late player.
“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,” a club statement read.
“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 Santandar also paid tribute to their former midfielder, whom they’ll honour with a minute’s silence ahead of their La Liga clash with Elche on Sunday.
A snippet of a club statement read: “Real Racing Club regrets the death of its former footballer Nico Hidalgo , who played 73 official matches with the green and white shirt between 2018 and 2020.
“The Cantabrian club joins in the pain of his family and friends for this irreparable loss, while sending its most sincere condolences and announcing that it will observe a minute of silence in his memory before the LaLiga Hypermotion match that its first team will play against Elche CF at the Campos de Sport tomorrow Sunday, March 2, at 9:00 p.m.”
Hidalgo began his career with his local team Motril CF, whom he made 40 appearances before joining Granada in 2012.
He moved to Italian giants Juve in 2014 but didn’t make a single appearance for the Old Lady in his three years at Turuin.
He returned to Spain permanently in the summer of 2017 following loan spells with Granada and Cadiz.
He closed out his career with stints with Racing Santander and Extremadura, retiring after learning of his diagnosis.
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