Real Madrid: What does Martin Odegaard’s positive COVID-19 test mean?
By Ben Sundock
Though Real Madrid has yet to release the official statement, reports are saying that midfielder Martin Odegaard has tested positive for COVID-19.
What comes next and how do we proceed? Those are the two questions Real Madrid fans are likely asking tonight as reports from AS.com and television show OndaMadrid say that Norwegian international Martin Odegaard has tested positive for COVID-19.
The news comes just two days after Odegaard started for Los Blancos against the team he spent last season on loan with, Real Sociedad. The 21-year-old playmaker played 69 minutes Sunday before being replaced by Casemiro in the 0-0 draw.
So, what comes next for Real Madrid and will this affect the La Liga schedule?
This situation is very different from when Mariano tested positive. The game this weekend is definitely in jeopardy.
Manager Zinedine Zidane gave the majority of the first team squad the day off on Tuesday, but five players who are rehabbing from injury – Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Eder Militao, Lucas Vazquez, and Isco – were at the facilities Tuesday afternoon.
Even though there was no training the day the results came back, Odegaard was with his teammates recovering from the match on Monday. He is shown in this short video on the team’s website jogging with the likes of Vinicius Junior, Toni Kroos, and many others.
When Mariano Diaz tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of July, the first-team was returning from a week of vacation and were not in close contact. In this case, Martin has been around many of the players, coaches, and staff in the last few weeks and month.
According to the report from Onda, “players will now have to undergo new PCR tests to rule out more being infected.”
Will the match against Real Betis be played on schedule this weekend?
We know for a fact that Martin Odegaard will miss at least this match and will most likely miss two more matches. Real Madrid hosts Valladolid on September 30 and travel to face Levante on October 4.
Los Blancos will likely be limited in training this week as everyone who has interacted with Odegaard is retested and cleared.
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There has been a COVID outbreak at Paris Saint-Germain, but that has not stopped them from playing league matches. They have now taken part in three ties despite several players, including Kylian Mbappe, testing positive.
So, I cannot say with any certainty whether or not the match against Real Betis will take place. It all depends on what we learn from testing the rest of the squad tomorrow.
Keep those fingers crossed and think good thoughts!