Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has expressed gratitude for all of the encouragement and morale-boosting support he has received since his was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The Liga club announced last week that the 21-year-old, who made his senior debut with Athletic on Sept. 15, has cancer and will have a tumour removed on Tuesday in the Cruces hospital in the Basque city of Barakaldo.
Messages of support have poured in from the footballing world after Athletic chief doctor Josean Lekue confirmed the illness and said on the club's website that "we don't want to speculate. It's serious and we need to act fast."
Alvarez said via his Instagram account: "Thanks to everyone for their messages and their support, I'm very grateful. I'm certain that everything is going to go well and that I will return stronger."
A photo posted by Yeray (@yerayalvarez) on
A youth product of Athletic, Alvarez has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season, including 10 in La Liga, since being promoted to the first team this summer.
The Spanish football league issued a statement on their Twitter account which read: "La Liga wants to send its full support to Yeray. Courage and lots of strength."
The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) tweeted: "Much courage Yeray. You have us at your side. Strength Yeray!"
Spain coach Julen Lopetegui sent his best wishes to Alvarez and wrote on Twitter: "With the same energy that you have shown when playing, you will overcome this to ensure you accomplish your dreams. Strength and courage, all will go well."
Former Atletico Madrid and Tenerife goalkeeper Sergio Aragones believes Alvarez will overcome this setback.
Aragones was first diagnosed with testicular cancer in August 2005 while playing for Elche and recovered after treatment. The disease returned again on January 2007 while playing for Hercules and he again overcame it after undergoing chemotherapy.
The 39-year-old told Cadena Ser: "It's a very big blow but once you have information and with all the medical advances, you realise that the chances of recovering are very high. "I recommend Yeray to be strong and positive, to think that you can overcome every obstacle."