Real Madrid track down boy who lost entire family in Morocco earthquake and fly him to Spain to join their academy
REAL MADRID have traced a boy who lost five family members in the Morocco earthquake and flown him to Spain to join their academy.
Real fan Abdul Rahim Awhida, 14, had worn a club shirt and used it to wipe tears from his eyes in a TV interview re-living his horrific experience.
The interview touched the hearts of other nations around the world, including Spain and at his favourite team.
Real asked TV station Al Arabiya for a contact number for Abdul’s uncle.
The club were then able to locate him so they could bring him into their football family.
Abdul’s father, mother, two brothers and grandfather were among more than 2,900 people killed in the 6.8 magnitude quake in his home country last Friday.
In an interview afterwards that sparked an outpouring of emotion from viewers, he explained he wanted to fulfil his father’s dream of finishing his education to become a teacher or a doctor.
He added: “I just want to finish my studies.”
Abdul was then surprised and delighted to be told by Al Arabiya in a second conversation that Real were keen to help him.
The Bernabeu giants plan to integrate him into their academy to play football and continue studying.
Abdul said in the video: “Thank God… This made me [so] happy,”
The earthquake destroyed remote villages of the High Atlas Mountains in central Morocco.