Real Madrid star Mariano has tested positive for coronavirus just weeks before their Champions League clash with Manchester City.
The Champions League last-16 second-leg could now be in jeopardy after the Los Blancos ace returned a positive result.
After initial rumours pointed to Mariano as the stricken star Real Madrid confirmed the news in a statement on their website.
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The club revealed: “After the Covid-19 tests carried out individually on our first football team yesterday by the Real Madrid Medical Services, our player Mariano has given a positive result.
“The player is in perfect health and complying with the sanitary isolation protocol at home.”
Mariano must now quarantine for 14 days, despite the club suggesting he was showing no symptoms, meaning he will miss the City clash.
He did not train with Los Blancos team-mates on Tuesday.
Real Madrid’s stars were all handed a short break after clinching the LaLiga title.
However, Mariano is said to have reported back with the virus following his mini-holiday, with his place in the Champions League clash in just ten days now in jeopardy.
Mariano posted a snap of himself relaxing on a yacht just hours before his positive test.
He also shared a video of himself standing on the balcony of a stunning beach-side villa.
Real Madrid stars will now be closely monitored, with bosses praying no other players have contracted Covid-19.
Man City lead Real Madrid 2-1 going into the second-leg at the Etihad, scheduled for August 7.
Los Blancos had pushed for the match to be played in Portugal – where the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will be played.
But Man City won their battle to host the last-16 second-leg at their own ground, after Real Madrid hosting the first-leg before lockdown.
The news comes just days after the UK Government removed Spain from the list of safe countries to travel to, amidst fears of a second wave of coronavirus in the nation.
Anyone who now returns to the UK from Spain must self-isolate for 14 days.
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