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Fernando Ricksen has admitted he will spend the rest of his life in a Scottish hospice as he is too ill to travel back to Spain.

The Gers hero, who has been battling Motor Neurone Disease since 2013, was rushed to hospital after he became unwell at an Ibrox fans' event in October last year.

Two months later, the 42-year-old was transferred to the St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie - a move he revealed was his choice given the quality of care he would receive there.

(Image: UGC)

He has now revealed that he believes he will never be well enough to fly home to Spain.

The Sun reports that Ricksen said: "I know I will stay in this hospice for the rest of my life. I have no other choice but to accept it.

(Image: Reuters)

"The staff are amazing and I know that this would be the place where I want to spend the rest of my life.

"I need professional care. I can’t stay in Spain any more. This will be where I spend the rest of my life.

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Ricksen spent two months at Wishaw General Hospital after he suffered chest pains due to exhaustion at the tribute event last year.

(Image: Twitter / Vincent de Vries)

His wife Veronika, 32, was urged by doctors to fly to Scotland from Spain to say her goodbyes given the severity of the incident.

And the former Holland midfielder added that being apart from his partner and daughter is the toughest part of staying at the hospice, despite being able to get more regular visitors.

He added: "I am happy here because all my friends are with me here in Scotland.

(Image: Press Association)

"Now for them it’s easier to visit me. More easier than visiting me in Spain.

"The only thing that is very difficult for me is that I miss my wife and daughter. That was a hard decision for me to make to be without my family."

You can donate to the Fernando Ricksen Foundation here