Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died at the age of 76 on Saturday at a hospital in Madrid where he was admitted with the novel coronavirus.
“My father has just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and in this way. My father has just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and in this way,” tweeted his son, Lorenzo Sanz junior.
Sanz junior had announced that his father, who served as the president of Real Madrid between 1995 to 2000, was admitted to a hospital after showing symptoms of the COVID-19.
Sanz claimed a place on the Real Madrid board in the mid-1980s, when the president was Ramon Mendoza. He replaced Mendoza as president in 1995.
Current Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, who like all his club mates is in quarantine, paid his tribute to Sanz. He tweeted, “Very sad day for Real Madrid. Lorenzo Sanz connected yesterday and today with two numbers for history — 7 and 8.”
“His death saddens us even more in these difficult days in which we find ourselves. My deep condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace,” Ramos added.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid asked all his staff and players to follow self-quarantine after one of the club’s basketball players was tested positive.
Like in most parts of Europe, Spain is suffering severely from the ongoing pandemic. The country recorded more than 300 deaths on Saturday to take the total number of fatalities more than 1300.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has already killed over 13,000 people and affected more than 3,08,500 people worldwide, has disrupted the sporting calendars with all the major events being either postponed or canceled.
(With AFP inputs via PTI)