Barcelona Football Club Legend Hospitalized in Critical Condition
A renowned FC Barcelona player from the 1970s, identified as Hugo Sotil, has been moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a Peruvian hospital, according to the country's Ministry of Health (Minsa).
AS declared Sotil as a prominent number 10 for Barça during the 1970s, who shared the pitch with Johan Cruyff, a figure considered to be the top player of his era.
Together, they are best known for their heroics in a legendary 5-0 victory over Barça's arch-rival Real Madrid during the 1973-1974 edition of El Clásico, which took place at the Bernabeu Stadium.
Cruyff, a Dutch legend, passed away in 2016 at the age of 68 due to cancer. At that time, Sotil expressed his gratitude, stating, "I feel fortunate to have met him, to have played alongside him. It will always be a source of pride for me to have known a great man, a friend, and an exceptional player."
Now aged 75, Sotil was taken to the ICU at Lima's Dos de Mayo hospital after experiencing health issues in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Official sources, including Minsa, confirmed the news and mentioned that Sotil received "prompt specialized care." He is currently under "round-the-clock monitoring," the statement read, and further updates on his health condition will not be disclosed "at the request" of Sotil's family.
Minsa requested the media and Peruvian public to "respect this decision, along with the patient's privacy and that of his close circle." The Dos de Mayo Hospital assured it would provide Sotil with the required "specialized medical care."
Sotil was present at the Gran Teatro del Liceo for a celebration marking Barça's 125th anniversary on November 29 of this year, and he is fondly remembered by the Barça fans while being revered in his homeland.
In 1975, Sotil scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Colombia, which granted Peru its second and last Copa América title till then, thus ending a 36-year drought.
Peru reached the final of the continental tournament in 2019, but lost to the hosts, Brazil, 3-1 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite being in the ICU, Hugo Sotil's legacy in football remains undeniable, having shared the pitch with FC Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff during the 1970s. Their iconic performance against Real Madrid in the 1973-1974 El Clásico at the Bernabeu Stadium is a memory cherished by many football enthusiasts.
