MANCHESTER UNITED CONDOLE WITH RIVALS MANCHESTER CITY AS PEP GUARDIOLA LOSES MUM TO COVID-19

Rival club to Manchester City, Manchester United has sent condolences to Pep Guardiola whose mother just died from the coronavirus.

Sadly, the death occurred just days after the Manchester City manager donated £920,000 to fight the virus in his native Catalonia.

The Premier League champions confirmed the sad news on Monday that Dolors Sala Carrio had passed at the age of 82 in Manresa, Barcelona.

It read: ‘The Manchester City family are devastated to report the death today of Pep’s moth Dolors Sala Carrio in Manresa, Barcelona after contracting Corona Virus.

‘She was 82-years-old. Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends.’  

City paid tribute to their manager on social media, saying: ‘Everyone associated with the club sends their most heartfelt sympathy at this most distressing time to Pep, his family and all their friends.’

Dolors was a former sales assistant, and was married to Pep’s father Valenti, a bricklayer. Tottenham and Brighton sent their condolences to Guardiola for his loss shortly after the news was announced.

‘Everyone at Spurs sends their deepest condolences. Our thoughts are with Pep and his family at this time,’ Spurs tweeted.

Liverpool, Norwich and Arsenal also took to social media to offer their support to Guardiola and his family.

Rio Ferdinand and ex-Barcelona striker Gary Lineker also sent their condolences to Guardiola on social media.

‘Really sorry to hear that Pep Guardiola’s mother has passed away. Thoughts are with him and his family. So sad,’ Lineker tweeted.

Ferdinand said: ‘Sending my love & condolences to Pep and his family!’ 

The tragic news comes weeks after Guardiola himself made a generous donation of £920,000 (€1million) to help fight the coronavirus in Spain. 

Guardiola earmarked the money, sent to the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation, to be spent on purchasing medical equipment.  

The fund is named after a doctor from Santpedor – the town Guardiola hails from – who passed away in the 1970s.

The foundation had raised just over €33,000 after the initial plea and Guardiola’s personal contribution has rocketed their resources. 

The Barcelona medical college said that equipment is in short supply across Catalonia and Guardiola’s generosity will go a long way to easing the strain on health centres. Catalonia is reported to have the most concentrated number of cases in Spain.  

Spain has suffered one of the worst outbreaks of the virus in Europe.

According to the latest numbers from Johns Hopkins, Spain has had 135,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, second only to the United States, and more than 13,000 deaths, second only to Italy which has suffered almost 16,000.

As part of the club’s Cityzens At Home intiative, Guardiola last week recorded a video urging fans to stay at home and to follow the advice of scientists, doctors and nurses. 

‘We miss football,’ he said. ‘We miss the life that we had a few days ago but now is the time to listen, to follow our scientists, doctors and nurses. 

‘You are my football family and we are going to do everything possible to make you feel better. We’ll come back from this stronger, better, kinder… and a little bit fatter. Stay inside, stay safe.’

Guardiola’s video message came as the club launched the new ‘Cityzens At Home’ website dedicated to providing fans with news, advice and activities during these unprecedented times.

There will be bespoke coaching videos from members of the City staff, as well as daily skills challenges and players’ favourite recipes among other offerings.