Mariano Diaz: Real Madrid forward tests positive for coronavirus, casting doubt on inclusion in Champions League tie with Man City

La Liga winners said the player is in ‘perfect health’ ahead of their second leg against City on 7 August

Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz has tested positive for coronavirus, the La Liga champions have announced.

The news casts doubt on Diaz’s participation in Real’s Champions League fixture at Manchester City next week.

A statement from Real, who beat rivals Barcelona to the La Liga title by five points this month, read: “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.”

Real Madrid were beaten 2-1 by Man City in the first leg of the teams’ last-16 tie in February, before the coronavirus pandemic suspended the competition.

Isco gave the Spanish side the lead on the hour mark at the Bernabeu, but Gabriel Jesus netted the equaliser on 78 minutes. Moments later, Kevin De Bruyne converted from the penalty spot just three minutes before Real captain Sergio Ramos was sent off.

The second leg is set to go ahead at the Etihad Stadium on 7 August.

Diaz’s inclusion in his team’s squad for the match is likely to depend on negative test results for Covid-19 ahead of the trip to Manchester.