Lorenzo Sanz, ex-Real Madrid president, dies after coronavirus infection

Lorenzo Sanz, former Real Madrid football club president, has died from coronavirus at the age of 76.

Sanz was hospitalised after falling ill, with his family suspecting he had contracted coronavirus.

La Liga announced his death on its official website on Saturday.

“From LaLiga, we want to send our deepest condolences for the recent death of Lorenzo Sanz, with whom many of us have shared work and friendship,” La Liga statement said.

“We share in the pain of this loss, especially for Real Madrid, the club of which he was president for years. Rest in peace.”

Sanz tested positive for COVID-19 while in the hospital and suffered kidney failure before his death.

He spent five years at the helm of the club in Santiago Bernabeu, during which the Los Blancos won two Champions League titles.

Sanz was president of Real Madrid between 1995 and 2000 and was responsible for hiring Fabio Capello as manager.

He also signed the likes of Roberto Carlos, Brazilian legend; Fernando Redondo, Argentine star; and Clarence Seedorf, a Dutch midfielder.

Real Madrid won six trophies during Sanz’s time as president, including the Champions League in 1998 and 2000.

Meanwhile, Paolo Maldini, former AC Milan and Italian football legend, has tested positive for coronavirus.

Daniel Maldini, his 18-year-old son who made his first-team Milan debut in February, also tested positive.

According to a statement released by the club, the duo has been quarantined for two weeks.

“AC Milan confirms that Paolo Maldini, the club’s technical director, became aware of contact with a person who subsequently tested positive for coronavirus and began to display symptoms of the virus himself,” the club said.

“He was administered with a swab test yesterday (Friday), the result of which was positive. His son Daniel, a forward in AC Milan’s youth team who had previously been training with the first team, also tested positive.”

The Serie A club said the duo would remain in isolation until recovery.