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Former Liverpool defender Miki Roque has lost his battle with cancer at the age of 23.
The centre-back joined the Reds in summer 2005 from the now defunct Spanish club Lleida and featured prominently in a triumphant run to the FA Youth Cup final the following year.
Roque made just one senior appearance for the club as a substitute during a Champions League group game against Galatasaray before loan spells with Oldham Athletic, Xerex and Cartagena.
He was released by Liverpool in 2009, when he joined Real Betis and engineered a breakthrough into the La Liga outfit's starting line-up a season later. However his career revival suffered a devastating blow as he was diagnosed with pelvic cancer in March 2011.
Roque's passing comes barely two years after Austrian striker Besian Idrizaj, another player signed by Liverpool in the summer of 2005, died after suffering a heart attack in his sleep.
A statement released by Real Betis read: "The Real Betis player Miquel Roque Farrero, Miki Roque, had died today at the Instituto Dexeus de Barcelona hospital at the age of 23.
"Miki Roque had been battling pelvic cancer since March 2011, a struggle that he fought with fortitude and determination.
"Real Betis send their deepest condolences to the Roque family."
Tonight Liverpool have expressing how "saddened" they were to hear of their former player's death.
Rafael Benitez, who signed Roque, said: "It is a tragedy to lose such a good boy so young."
The former Kop boss was one of several former colleagues to pass on their deepest sympathies, including Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano while compatriots Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique tweeted their condolences from Spain's Euro 2012 base in the Ukraine.
Iniesta said: "I wish to send a big hug and encouragement to the family of Miki Roque. You will be missed."
Pique added: "A big hug to the family of Miki Roque. I knew him from when he played at Liverpool and I at United. Rest in peace, my friend."
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