Madrid: Real Madrid forward Mariano has tested positive for the coronavirus, the club said Tuesday.
The announcement came as the team returned to practice ahead of its Champions League match against Manchester City on Aug. 7. Real Madrid lost at home 2-1 in the first leg of the round-of-16 series. Madrid said Mariano was in “perfect health condition” and was following health protocols. He was confined at his home.
The club did not say how long Mariano would be sidelined, but he was not expected to make the trip to England to play City. The Dominican Republic player appeared in only a few matches with Madrid this season. His last was on July 2. The entire Madrid squad was tested for COVID-19 on Monday.
The players had been on a break of almost 10 days after winning the Spanish league. Spain has seen a spike in coronavirus cases recently, raising concerns from local authorities after the pandemic appeared to be under control.
The club said players “returned to work under strict health safety guidelines.” Spanish clubs involved in European competitions asked the Spanish league to keep testing players weekly in the lead-up to the tournaments. They also asked the league inspectors to remain with the teams.
Shortly after making his senior debut for Badalona in 2011, Mariano joined Real Madrid, where he played in the C-team and then the reserves, where he was top scorer in the 2015–16 Segunda División B.
He then began playing with the first team, and was part of their squad that won La Liga, the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2016–17. He was subsequently signed by Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais but returned to Madrid one year later. (AP)
