Real Madrid confirm David Alaba has tested positive for Covid-19 just a WEEK after being unveiled

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Real Madrid have been hit with another pre-season blow after confirming that new signing David Alaba has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Austrian defender joined the Spanish giants over the summer on a free transfer from Bayern Munich following the expiry of his contract at the Allianz Arena.

But just a week after his unveiling at the club and training with his new team-mates for the first time, he has now tested positive for coronavirus.

David Alaba was unveiled last week as a Real Madrid player by president Florentino Perez

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

It means the 29-year-old could now miss his club’s final pre-season game against AC Milan in 10 days time ahead of the start of their LaLiga season at Alaves a week later.

Alaba had already missed the pre-season defeat at Rangers, with Steven Gerrard’s side running out 2-1 winners at Ibrox on Sunday, having only just returned as a result of featuring in Austria’s run to the last-16 at Euro 2020 before defeat by eventual winners Italy.

He will only able to return to training until he returns a negative test following a period of isolation and it is the latest Covid-19 blow to hit new boss Carlo Ancelotti’s pre-season plans.

Alaba has only just started training with his new team-mates after joining pre-season last week

The Austrian trains along with Raphael Varane (centre) and Toni Kroos in pre-season

Last week striker Karim Benzema also tested positive for the virus having come back from his end of season break.

The 33-year-old had been resting up since France’s shock elimination by Switzerland in the last-16 of Euro 2020 on June 28.

Benzema returned to duty for Madrid at their Valdebebas ground, along with international team-mate Raphael Varane, on Thursday before his positive test was confirmed just a day later.

Real Madrid are hoping to improve on last season where they finished second to city rivals Atletico in LaLiga table and were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Chelsea.