Ryan Giggs has spent time relaxing on holiday with his model girlfriend Zara Charles, just two weeks before the start of his assault trial. 

The former Manchester United and Wales winger, 48, went shirtless in Portugal during this week's European heatwave as he tried out a paddle boat and joked about with the blonde beauty, 33, on an inflatable obstacle course. 

The pair also enjoyed food and cocktails on the beach before Giggs chauffeured his family back to his villa.  

His delayed trial - for alleged coercive behaviour and assault against his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville and her sister - starts on August 8 at Manchester Crown Court.       

Last year, a court heard that Giggs allegedly kicked Kate, 37, in the back before throwing her out of a five-star hotel bedroom naked after she accused him of flirting with other women. He is also accused of head-butting her and using controlling and coercive behaviour against her for more than three years.  

The Welshman allegedly assaulted his former lover and caused her actual bodily harm at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on November 1 last year.

He is also charged with common assault by beating against Kate's sister Emma Greville during the same incident at his home. Giggs has pleaded not guilty to all three charges. 

Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has spent time relaxing on holiday in Portugal with his model girlfriend Zara Charles

The trial, estimated to last up to two weeks, was originally scheduled to take place in January but was postponed due to a lack of court space.  

Sportsmail exclusively revealed that Giggs had decided to resign from his position as manager of the Welsh national team last month, having not taken charge of the side since his arrest in November 2020. 

In his absence, caretaker Rob Page led Wales at the European Championships last summer and then masterminded qualification for this year's World Cup - the country's first appearance at the tournament for 64 years. 

Page has now been named Wales' permanent boss ahead of Qatar, where they will face Iran, the USA and England in Group B. 

In a statement released upon his resignation, Giggs said: 'After much consideration, I am standing down from my position as manager of the Wales men's national team with immediate effect.

'It has been an honour and a privilege to manage my country, but it is only right that the Wales FA, the coaching staff and the players prepare for the tournament with certainty, clarification and without speculation around the position of their head coach.

'I have pleaded not guilty to the criminal accusations being heard at Manchester Crown Court.

'Whilst I am confident in our judicial process, I had hoped that the case would have been heard earlier to enable me to resume my managerial responsibilities. Through nobody's fault the case has been delayed.

'I do not want the country's preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case.'