BEVERLY HILLS, April 13, (THEWILL) – As if dealing with a cascade of injury problems was not enough personal issues to handle for influential Spanish defender Sergio Ramos of La Liga heavyweights Real Madrid, it has been confirmed that the centre back has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The challenges of four different injuries and illnesses have sidelined the 35-year-old since the turn of the year to restrain him to just four games in 2021. The last match he featured for Real was the 3-1 win in March against Atalanta and his injury woes are such that the earliest he is expected back to feature actively is May, at the most optimistic.
Yet, such has been his fortune that he must now contend with the dreaded effects of COVID-19 and the restrictions that come laced with the health and safety protocols involved after Real confirmed via their official website that Ramos is the latest player to test positive.
As reported by THEWILL, Ramos’ partner in the Real back line Raphael Varane, tested positive recently and has been in isolation as a result. He missed Real hosting and comfortably defeated English Premier League defending champions Liverpool 3-1 at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final fixture.
The positive aspect of the new development with Ramos is that it falls within the period of his injury layoff and will have no impact on his playing time nor his ability to feature for Los Blancos. Moreso, he can always continue the process of his recovery from the muscle injury he picked up on international duty with Spain in isolation.
Ramos was last seen in the stands at the Real stadium last Saturday for El Clasico, where he was cheering and protesting from his seat. At the end of the game, he made his way to the tunnel, where he followed the dispute between some Barcelona players and referee Jesus Gil Manzano concerning disputes with the officiating personnel.
Ramos joins a list of Real players and staff who have had their share of self isolation due to contracting the virus such as Mariano Diaz, Eden Hazard, Eder Militao, Casemiro, Luka Jovic and Nacho Fernández, as well as manager Zinedine Zidane.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
