Concerned Aberdeen star Ronald Hernandez is desperately trying to get his family out of troubled Venezuela and across to Scotland.
The defender, who arrived from Stabaek in January, has been in isolation on his own in the north-east during this COVID-19 shutdown but on top of that he has been left worrying about his family who are back home in his crisis-torn homeland.
US president Donald Trump has declared sanctions on the South American country and that has reduced its means of selling their major asset, oil, and has left it in a real economic crisis, along with the added growing threat of coronavirus.
Manager Derek McInnes explained: “His family are still back home and he is trying to get them across.
“We are hoping he can get them over in the next couple of weeks.
“We are trying to get the paperwork sorted to get them over.
“Everything is just more complicated with the situation we are all facing just now (COVID).
“I think the re-assuring thing is that his family are still with family back in Venezuela and that has helped keep his mind at ease although it will be better when they are all in Scotland and are back together as a family again.”
McInnes admitted it must be a trying time for the Venezuelan international. He is still adapting to life in Scotland and suddenly can’t go out and mix with his team mates.
The Aberdeen management team and players are keeping in regular contact with him via conference calls.
“I could only imagine how hard it has been for him,” the Aberdeen boss stated. “Try and put yourself in that same situation.
“He is in a new environment, is on his own, it is a different language and his family are still back home.
“There is no doubt it has been hard for him but we have kept in regular touch with him and he is also friendly with a lot of the lads.
“Tomas Cerny speaks Spanish but Ronny’s English is also good.
“Funso Ojo looks out for him as well.
“They are keeping in contact through their various group chats, which has been good.
“We have a good bunch of lads and they all look out for each other, which is important especially at times like these.
“There is no doubt it must be having an impact on him but what I can say is that he is a positive, positive lad.”
