Barcelona, Aug 9 (EFE) The captain of Spanish soccer club Espanyol, Dani Jarque, died of a heart attack, team officials said. He was 26.

The player was found in his hotel room in Coverciano, Italy, where the team was training prior to the start of the season.

When he didn't come down to dinner, his roommate, Ferran Corominas, was concerned about his absence. Upon opening the door of the room, he found Jarque unconscious. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, officials said Saturday.

Jarque had been named to replace Raul Tamudo as the Barcelona-based club's skipper for the 2009-10 season.