Chelsea legend Dan Petrescu has been diagnosed with cancer aged 57 and is said to be in a 'very serious' condition.
The Romanian, who played for the Blues between 1995 and 2000, is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Petrescu won five trophies with the west London side after signing from Sheffield Wednesday and was the first overseas played to amass 100 appearances for the club.
He has since gone on to an eclectic career in management - taking on 19 different jobs - and resigned from his fourth stint at CFR Cluj in his homeland in August.
Early in December, it was claimed that Petrescu had lost five stone but that he was recovering well after treatment with Chinese medicine.
But Romania's football league president Gino Iorgulescu has now said: 'I don't know what to say – it is a delicate situation. May God help Dan to get better, for there to be a cure.
'I don't know the exact diagnosis, but I understand that it is very serious.
'He is undergoing chemotherapy. I don't know what he is doing.
'He played for me, and he also worked for me as a coach at FC National. I was also friends with him.
'Such news makes me uncomfortable – it makes my skin crawl.
'I had, and still have, a good relationship with him. Since I found out his situation was very serious, I haven’t spoken to him.'
Born in Romania's capital of Bucharest in 1967, Petrescu is said to have grown up practising his football skills with plastic oranges. From that, a glittering career was born.
Petrescu played a total of 208 games for Chelsea and won two FA Cups, the League Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
In England, he also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford City, and Southampton, all in the Premier League, while also turning out for clubs in Italy and Romania.
He won league titles back in his home city and even reached a European Cup final with Steaua Bucharest in 1989.
In early December, Cluj's club president Cristian Balaj gave some insight into his situation, saying: 'Dan is taking steps towards recovery, and his condition is evolving towards the better.
'His daughters have come to the country, and were by his side.
'He is in Cluj, having treatment, and it is for the best. I have gone for walks with him and taken him for treatment.
'At one point he was being treated with Chinese medicine. It is important that he has taken these steps.'
Truly passionate about the game, while in the reserves at Southampton he issued a 'play me or let me go' ultimatum, saying: 'For me football is a drug. I cannot sit on the bench and do without my fix.
'I don't want to stay in the second team. I'm only 33 and I have a lot more to offer.
'If Stuart Gray doesn't need me, I am ready to leave straight away.'