Betis defender Roque diagnosed with tumour
Reuters - Saturday 05 March 2011, 23:10
MADRID - Real Betis defender Miki
Roque, a former Liverpool youth player, gave a tearful news
conference on Saturday to announce he needs surgery on a
malignant tumour in his pelvis.
The 22-year-old was at Liverpool between 2005 and 2009 and
was part of their FA Youth Cup winning team in 2006. He also
appeared as a first-team substitute in a Champions League match
against Galatasaray in December 2006.
"The doctors are hopeful it's not too far advanced," he
said, adding that he would be out for the rest of the
second-division season.
Roque also had spells at English club Oldham Athletic and
Spanish sides Xerez and Cartagena.
Xabi Alonso, the player Roque replaced in the Galatasaray
game, sent a message of support to his former team-mate on his
personal Twitter account.
"They have found a tumour in the pelvis of Betis and former
Liverpool player Miki Roque," Alonso, now at Real Madrid, wrote.
"A big hug for him."