Madrid’s new boy David Alaba tests positive for COVID-19

New Real Madrid signing David Alaba has tested positive for COVID-19, the club confirmed on Wednesday.

The Austrian, who signed for the 13-time European champion on a free transfer from Bayern Munich this summer, will self-isolate following the news.

“Real Madrid can communicate that our player David Alaba has tested positive for COVID-19,” a short statement read on the club’s website.

Alaba joins forward Karim Benzema, who tested positive last week, on the absentee list for Carlo Ancelotti’s squad during the remainder of pre-season. Real, which said on Tuesday it had agreed on a deal to sell defender Raphael Varane to Manchester United, lost its first friendly of the summer to Scottish champion Rangers on Sunday.

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It travels to Alaves in the first game of the new La Liga season on August 14. Alaba is likely to miss Real Madrid friendly against arch rivals Barcelona on August 8