Real Madrid Manager Zidane Loses Brother

By Max Wise

Real Madrid have announced that manager Zinedine Zidane’s brother, Farid, has passed on following a short illness.

Zidane left Real Madrid’s training camp in Canada on Friday for unknown reasons but the 13-time European champions have now revealed the reason for their manager’s temporary departure.

It is believed that Zidane made it in time to be by his 54-year-old brother, who died early Saturday morning, in his last moments.

Los Blancos released a short statement confirming Farid’s demise that read: “All members of the Real Madrid first-team squad held a minute’s silence ahead of training in Montreal following the passing of Farid Zidane, the brother of our coach, Zinedine Zidane.”

Zidane’s assistant David Bettoni will take charge of the squad’s training programme in the Frenchman’s period of bereavement after Real Madrid gave him time to deal with his family affairs.

Real Madrid’s first pre-season game will be against Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup in Houston on July 21.

Zidane returned to Real Madrid in March as a replacement for Santiago Solari just ten months after resigning as manager of Los Blancos after leading them to a third straight Champions League crown.

Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2018/2019 season that saw them finish third in the Spanish La Liga and knocked out by Ajax Amsterdam in the round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League.