Real Madrid have confirmed that midfielder Federico Valverde went into a period of isolation on Saturday after being in close contact with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.
The 22-year-old has been in and out of Real Madrid’s midfield this season but was expected to enjoy a right-back drive after injuries to Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez forced him to take up that role in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Valverde has spent time as an acute right back | Angel Martinez / Getty Images
Real’s next match comes against Getafe on Sunday, but the club confirmed on its official website that Valverde does not matter.
It is important that Valverde himself has tested negative for the virus, but he must remain isolated until a new negative test shows that he has not received COVID-19.
You might think boss Zinedine Zidane is facing a right-back injury crisis right now, but that’s not the case. The boss now has no choice but to put his trust in Alvaro Odriozola, who is actually a right-back but is far down in the breeding order.
Odriozola Can Finally Get A Chance | Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
The 25-year-old, whose season has also been hampered by injuries, has not really impressed with his sporadic appearances on the pitch, but he may have the chance to rebuild his reputation now that Zidane literally has no other choice.
Along with Valverde, Carvajal and Vazquez, Real will also be without center-back duo Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, left-back Ferland Mendy and winger Eden Hazard, who are all battling either injury or COVID-19, or in Ramo’s case, both.
Nacho Fernandez is also suspended and leaves Zidane with only one senior midfielder, Eder Militao. To deal with that, the boss is expected to turn to the academy, where 21-year-old Victor Chust is waiting in the wings.
Zidane has a real defensive dilemma | Michael Regan / Getty Images
Such an impoverished defense is hardly ideal for a team that challenges for a league title, but fortunately for Real, their upcoming matches are relatively kind.
Getafe are in 15th place in Sunday’s match, while Real are expected to beat 12th placed Cadiz when they also meet on Wednesday.
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