BARCELONA superstar Lionel Messi has joined former manager Pep Guardiola in donating £920,000 towards the fight against coronavirus.
The money will be used to buy health equipment for use in the battle against the killer virus.
Lionel Messi has made an incredible donation to help fight coronavirusCredit: AFP or licensors
Mundo Deportivo report that the donation will be split between Barcelona’s University hospital and another medical centre in his native Argentina.
The generous showing from Messi came just hours after Manchester City chief Pep Guardiola parted with a similar amount to the Barcelona-based Angel Soler Daniel Foundation which is linked to the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona.
The University Hospital confirmed a big donation from Messi – although they did not reveal the amount.
The huge gift was reported in the Spanish press, while the 100-year-old medical institution confirmed Pep’s cash gift on Tuesday.
It said: “Pep Guardiola has made a donation of one million euros to the Fundacio Angel Soler Daniel for the acquisition and supply of health equipment to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The fundraising campaign led by the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona and managed through the Foundation, is aimed at obtaining cash donations from doctors who are members of the college and the general population to buy health equipment which is currently lacking in hospitals in Catalonia.
“It will also help to finance the alternative 3D production of respirator masks and other protective items for health workers.”
Like Messi, Pep Guardiola has also donated €1million (around £920,000) to fight coronavirusCredit: AFP or licensors
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Pep’s generous donation has given a massive boost to the campaign, which had managed to raise £30,000 before he dug deep into his pockets.
Earlier today it emerged Cristiano Ronaldo and his super-agent Jorge Mendes were financing extra intensive care facilities at hospitals fighting coronavirus in Lisbon and Porto.
On Monday Spurs boss Jose Mourinho was pictured helping to deliver food to the elderly stuck indoors because of coronavirus.
The 57-year-old dad-of-two helped out Age UK and Love Your Doorstep in Enfield, North London.
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Fellow volunteers took photos with him as he wore a face mask and gloves to pack a bag for delivery.
Earlier on Tuesday it emerged the number of coronavirus deaths in Spain had leapt by a record 514 in the last 24 hours to take the total since the start of the crisis to 2,694.
Barcelona is one of Spain’s worst-affected areas along with Madrid and the Basque Country.
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho helps put together care packages in Enfield to help out coronavirus relief efforts
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
