An FC Barcelona legend has been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) unit at a hospital in his homeland, as confirmed by its Ministry of Health (Minsa).
AS described Hugo Sotil as a Blaugrana number 10 "legend" of the 1970s, who in Johan Cruyff played alongside a figure considered to be the best player in the world of the era.
Unitedly, the pair are perhaps most famous for being the heroes of a legendary 5-0 win over the Catalans' bitter rival Real Madrid, during a 1973-1974 installment of El Clasico played at the latter's Bernabeu Stadium.
Netherlands icon Cruyff died of cancer in 2016 aged 68, with Sotil saying around the time of his passing that he was "lucky enough to meet him, to play alongside him, and for me it will always be a great satisfaction to have met a great person, friend and an exceptional player."
Now aged 75 himself, Sotil was admitted to the ICU of the Dos de Mayo hospital in Lima, Peru after suffering a health problem in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Official sources such as the South American nation's Ministry of Health confirmed the development and said that Sotil received "immediate specialized care".
He's currently being "constantly monitored" in the ICU, a statement read, and the correspondence added that "no further details will be provided about his state of health" at "the express request" of Sotil's family.
Minsa asked the press and Peruvians "to respect this decision, as well as the privacy of the patient and his close environment."
"The Dos de Mayo Hospital guarantees the specialized medical care that Mr. Hugo Sotil requires," the statement concluded.
Present at the Gran Teatro del Liceo for a gala which celebrated Barca's 125th anniversary on November 29 this year, Sotil is fondly remembered by Culers while being revered in his homeland.
In 1975, he scored the winning goal of a 1-0 triumph over Colombia which handed Peru its second and last Copa America title thus far, therefore ending a 36-year drought.
Peru reached the final of the continental tournament in 2019, but lost to hosts Brazil 3-1 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.