Real Madrid: 4 players tested positive for COVID-19, some traveled on holiday

A quartet of Real Madrid players have tested positive for coronavirus following their Christmas breaks.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, midfielders Fede Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga plus forward Vinicius Jr all registered positive Covid tests, the club revealed on Wednesday.

Real and the other 19 Spanish top-flight clubs took a break from action from Thursday, December 23 with play resuming this Friday.

However, Carlo Ancelotti will be without Courtois, Valverde, Camavinga and Vinicius Jr for their trip to Getafe on Sunday.

All four will now have to isolate after recording positive tests on return from their winter breaks.

Courtois uploaded several photos of himself on holiday with girlfriend Mishel Gerzig in Dubai onto his Instagram page on Tuesday, while Vinicius Jr posted a photo of him working out in the gym onto his profile on the same day.

Real's squad was decimated by Covid cases prior to their final match before Christmas after David Alaba contracted the virus.

Ancelotti's outfit overcame Athletic Bilbao 2-1 with a threadbare squad on December 22 ahead of LaLiga's winter break.

Real were without 11 first-team stars through Covid, injury and suspension last week and the coronavirus outbreak continues to impact the squad.

Players Luka Modric, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Andriy Lunin all tested positive for the virus earlier this month, while Isco and Alaba contracted the virus last week.

Real's rivals Barcelona are also struggling with a Covid outbreak as they revealed Ousmane Dembele, Samuel Umtiti and Gavi had all been forced into self-isolation after returning positive tests on Wednesday.