Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 3:01 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 15:20

It remains to be seen whether Zinedine Zidane will have Marcelo during the return match in the semi-final of the Champions League against Chelsea. The Real Madrid defender has been called up to help in a polling station the day before the game and may therefore have to pass up the duel with Chelsea. Real has indicated that they will do everything they can to allow Marcelo to travel to London.

Polling station workers in Spain are traditionally randomly chosen by the Spanish government. Similarly next Tuesday, when the elections are held in Madrid. El Mundo was able to report on Wednesday that Marcelo is one of the chosen citizens to help at the polling station. Victor Chust, who plays football in Real’s youth academy, is also expected at the polling station next Tuesday.

However, Real will play the return match in the semi-final of the Champions League against Chelsea a day after the elections, where the team has to make up for the 1-1 draw from the first leg. Zidane travels with the selection to England on Tuesday. The club hoped to take Marcelo on the plane that same day, but now seems to have to give up. Various reasons to keep the left back away from the polling station have not worked so far.

Finishing a football match is not seen by the Spanish government as a valid reason for not showing up. In addition, Real only plays a day later, so that the defender can simply still fly on Wednesday, according to the authorities. Real does not like that. On Tuesday evening, Marcelo still wore the captain’s armband at Real, in the absence of the still injured Sergio Ramos. Real had a difficult time against Chelsea, but thanks to Karim Benzema, they did win a point: 1-1.