Real Madrid star tests positive for Covid

1:34pm on Tuesday 28th July 2020
By Martin Macdonald

Real Madrid have confirmed that Mariano Diaz has tested positive for Covid-19.

Following Los Blancos’ title win, head coach Zinedine Zidane granted his players a holiday away from the club to spend time with friends and family.

Now, with the players having returned to training ahead of their Champions League clash against Manchester City, they have underwent the latest session of coronavirus testing.

Mariano’s test came back positive, with Real Madrid subsequently sending him home to isolate. The club have given assurances over the player’s well-being, however, saying he remains “perfectly healthy” despite the need for self-isolation.

"After the Covid-19 tests carried out individually on our first-team yesterday by the Real Madrid Medical Services, our player Mariano has given a positive result,” a released statement read.

"The player is in perfect health and complying with the sanitary isolation protocol at home."

Real Madrid are due to travel to England to take on Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 clash between the sides, with Pep Guardiola’s men leading 2-1 from the first leg.

The news of Mariano’s test comes just a day after the United Kingdom Foreign Office warned against non-essential travel to Spain and its islands.

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