The Argentine has helped fund Hospital Clinic which is both treating victims of the Covid-19 pandemic and researching the virus <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Lionel Messi has made a reported donation of \u20ac1 million (\u00a3920,000\/$1.08 million) to Hospital Clinic, a public hospital in Barcelona, to help combat the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The hospital confirmed Messi had made a donation on their official Twitter page, with Mundo Deportivo reporting the \u20ac1m figure.<\/p>\n
Such a donation would match that of Messi\u2019s former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola, who has given \u20ac1m towards the purchase and production of medical supplies and equipment\u00a0with another Barcelona-based campaign.<\/p>\n \n More teams<\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Cristiano Ronaldo and agent Jorge Mendes have also donated \u20ac1m to fund intensive care units in hospitals in Lisbon and Porto.<\/p>\n A general statement from Hospital Clinic reads: \u201cThe Covid-19 pandemic is a health challenge that is being worked on with maximum coordination and effective healthcare, but it is also necessary to face the disease from the scientific perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Clinic teams are committed to this fight and we appreciate all the donations that come our way.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will dedicate it to the multidisciplinary approach to infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, both in terms of research, and in the care of patients and their families.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exceptional nature of the situation means that the institution will allocate the funds received to meet the identified needs and priorities.<\/p>\n \u201cAs always, in order to be transparent, the clinic will communicate to its donors in due course specifically where their donations have been allocated, how they have been used, and what the results have been.<\/p>\n \u201cEach and every one of the contributions are important and add up.<\/p>\n \u201cOn behalf of all the Clinic workers, thank you!\u201d<\/p>\n Spain has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, with Barcelona no exception.<\/p>\n Messi\u2019s team-mate Ivan Rakitic has said he knew the situation was going to get worse after Barca travelled to Italy to face Napoli in the Champions League.<\/p>\n “It hasn’t been a surprise,\u201d he told Barca TV .<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cWe went to Naples. People were talking about it a lot in Italy and I said to Xavi (the team doctor) that this would get worse.<\/p>\n “Now it’s the best thing we can do [to stay at home].<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to go out on the street and walk about, but it’s not necessary. We have to be indoors. I don’t like it, but it’s necessary and important.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n