Spanish footballer Nico Hidalgo has passed away at the age of 32 after a long battle with lung cancer. His former clubs confirmed the heartbreaking news on Saturday.

Hidalgo started his football journey at Motril, making his senior debut in 2010 before joining Granada B in 2012. In 2014, he signed with Juventus but never featured for the first team, leading to a loan move back to Granada.

His career saw him play for Cádiz, initially on loan before making the move permanent in 2017. He later played for Racing Santander and Extremadura before retiring in 2022, a year after being diagnosed with cancer.

Granada paid tribute to him, saying, “With Nico’s departure, we not only lose a talented footballer but also a remarkable person. The love from his teammates, coaches, staff, and fans will always remain.”

Cádiz also shared a heartfelt message: “We will never forget your smile and joy. Your fight will always inspire us. Rest in peace.”

Manchester City is set to host Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The match kicks off at 17:45 GMT (12:45 ET / 09:45 PT) and will be broadcast live on ITV4 and ITVX in the UK.

Manchester City enters this fixture aiming to secure their first trophy of the season. In their FA Cup campaign, they have shown resilience, notably coming from behind to defeat Leyton Orient in the previous round.

Plymouth Argyle, under the new leadership of manager Miron Muslic, have displayed remarkable form, achieving impressive victories over Premier League sides Brentford and Liverpool to reach this stage.

Manager Pep Guardiola has reported no fresh injury concerns following their recent victory over Tottenham. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who was an unused substitute in that match, is pushing for a start.

Given the importance of upcoming fixtures, Guardiola may rotate his squad, potentially resting key players like Erling Haaland. Omar Marmoush could lead the line, supported by the creative trio of Phil Foden, De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi has shared two key reasons behind his move to Major League Soccer (MLS).

The Argentine star joined Inter Miami in 2023 as a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain. Since then, he has been in top form, helping the club secure two major trophies.

Speaking about his decision, Messi revealed that he always wanted to experience MLS and contribute to its growth. He also saw an opportunity to help Inter Miami become a bigger club.

“I always had it in mind to play in MLS one day. Inter Miami caught my attention because the club is growing and developing. I wanted to be part of that journey and also help MLS become stronger as a global brand,” Messi said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.