Stoke City striker Cameron Jerome has expressed his shock at the death of his former teammate Christian Benitez.
Jerome played alongside Benitez, who died of a reported respiratory cardiac arrest on Monday, while at Birmingham City during the 2009-10 campaign.
"That was my most enjoyable time at Blues," Jerome told the Birmingham Mail.
"I couldn't believe we didn't sign him after that season. What a bloke! It just makes you think, he is the same age as me."
Benitez died aged 27.
