MANAUS, BRAZIL - JUNE 25: Juan Carlos Garcia of Honduras controls the ball during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Switzerland at Arena Amazonia on June 25, 2014 in Manaus, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Wigan's Juan Carlos Garcia Diagnosed with Leukaemia

Nick AkermanFeb 16, 2015

Wigan Athletic defender Juan Carlos Garcia has been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Latics boss Malky Mackay confirmed the 26-year-old's illness after the club announced Garcia was in hospital with a blood disorder last week. Mackay provided details on Garcia's diagnosis, per the Press Association (via Eurosport):

"
We've had some bad news as far as that's concerned - he has a form of leukaemia. Juan Carlos is in the Christie Hospital in Manchester.
The club doctor, Doctor (Ansar) Zaman, has been truly sensational as far as the care and attention with the whole dealing of the matter as far as Juan Carlos feeling ill and having problems—from that point to the point where we got him to a specialist quickly and got the diagnosis done.
"

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NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Malky MacKay the manager of Wigan Athletic looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Wigan Athletic at the City Ground on February 11, 2015 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ross Kinn

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Garcia has spent this season on loan at Spanish club Tenerife but will now remain in England.

Mackay indicated the club have "flown his mother, his wife and his sister over from Honduras to be with him and arranged accommodation close to the hospital as well."

Garcia is the latest professional footballer to be diagnosed with cancer. Former Aston Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov and Newcastle United's Jonas Gutierrez have recently recovered from leukaemia and testicular cancer, respectively.

MANAUS, BRAZIL - JUNE 25: Juan Carlos Garcia of Honduras controls the ball as Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner of Switzerland give chase during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Honduras and Switzerland at Arena Amazonia on June 25

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

As reported by the PA (h/t Eurosport), Mackay suggested Garcia remains "incredibly upbeat" and that the Championship club will ensure "he gets the best care possible."