Barcelona legend Luis Enrique pays heartbreaking tribute to the ‘star that guides our family’ after his daughter, 9, dies from cancer
LUIS Enrique's nine-year-old daughter has died after losing her fight with cancer.
Xana Enrique passed away yesterday afternoon having battled osteosarcoma for five months.
The former Barcelona manager paid a touching tribute to his little girl as the "star that guides our family".
He confirmed the tragic news on social media saying: "Our daughter Xana has passed away this afternoon at the age of nine, after fighting for five intense months against osteosarcoma.
"We will miss you very much, but we will [be reminded of] you every day of our lives in the hope that in the future we will meet again. You will be the star that guides our family.
"We appreciate the discretion and understanding. "
The 49-year-old ex-attacking midfielder also thanked the medical staff and priests at the Sant Joan de Deu and Sant Pau hospitals in Barcalona where his daughter was treated.
Osteosarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer that develops in growing bones that most commonly develops in teenagers and young adults.
BE ALERT: The signs of bone cancer
The two most common types of bone cancer are osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma.
Osteosarcoma is the more common of the two and usually occurs in the bones around the knee, while Ewing's tends to affect the bones of the pelvis, thigh, upper arm or ribs.
They're both more common in teens, with Ewing's being slightly more common in boys than in girls.
Both diseases have around 68 per cent survival rate.
Symptoms include:
- pain in bone
- stiffness, swelling or tenderness around a bone or joint
- trouble moving normally
- weak bones - leading to fractures
- fatigue
- fever
- weight loss
- anaemia (iron deficiency)
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Tributes flooded in for Xana from the worlds of football and Spanish high society.
Barcelona said it offered "all our sympathy", while their star player Lionel Messi said: "We are with you... all the strength of the world."
Luis Suarez tweeted: "A moment of great pain and sadness. Rest in peace, little Xana."
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea said he was "speechless" and Rafael Nadal said he "cannot imagine the pain of the family".
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted: "There are no words that can go along with this pain.
"My heartfelt wishes to Luis Enrique and all his family, after the loss of his little Xana."
Enrique, 49, left his job as Spain manager in June of this year over personal reasons.
As Barca boss, he famously won the treble in 2015 with a side considered one of the greatest of all-time.
He spent three years with the Catalan side before taking over from Fernando Hierro as Spain boss following their disastrous World Cup.
While a player he spent four years at Barca's arch rivals Real Madrid before arriving at the Nou Camp in 1996 staying till the end of his career on the pitch in 2004.