Mariano Diaz tests positive for Covid-19, isolating at home

Update: Real Madrid have confirmed Mariano’s positive via medical report. The club says that the player is “perfectly healthy.”

Real Madrid attacker Mariano Diaz has tested positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating at home, according to a report from Cadena COPE’s Arancha Rodriguez. It’s important to note that Mariano didn’t train this Tuesday and therefore had no contact with the other members of the team, given that the squad didn’t train last week.

COPE first reported that “a Real Madrid player” had testes positive, with Rodriguez later confirming that Mariano is indeed the member who will have to miss Madrid’s trip to Manchester to face City in the return leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16.

All the players spent last week with their families and friends as coach Zinedine Zidane decided to give them a full week of vacation after conquering the 34th Liga title for Madrid. Then, the whole roster and the members of the staff underwent tests to see if they were clear to return to training this Tuesday, with Mariano testing positive and having to isolate at home.

Jovic will therefore be Karim Benzema’s backup when Madrid face City on August 7th in what will be a crucial match.