Rangers fans will miss out on seeing superstar Karim Benzema in action at Ibrox after the Real Madrid striker tested positive for Covid ahead of their friendly.
The French ace produced a stunning individual display on his last trip to Govan when he scored a double in Lyon’s 3-0 Champions League win over the Light Blues in 2007.
But Benzema won’t be in the La Liga giants squad when they take on Steven Gerrard’s men for their final friendly before the start of the defence of their Scottish Premiership crown against Livingston.
Real Madrid have also confirmed that new signing David Alaba, who joined on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, won’t play at Ibrox.
The Scottish champions take on the Spanish giants in front of 12,750 fans in what will be a glamour friendly.
However, Madrid - who were set to be without most of their stars anyway - have now revealed Benzema has gone down with Covid.
Benzema only returned to training yesterday along with fellow Euro 2020 stars Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Raphael Varane and Toni Kroos.
Belgian stars Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois have both been given additional time off and won't return until next week, while Brazilian stars Eder Militao, Vinicius Junior and Casemiro - who played in the Copa America Final against Argentina - won't report for pre-season training until next month.
It means new manager Carlo Ancelotti will play a shadow XI at Ibrox and keep his key men for their next friendly - against AC Milan in the Austrian city of Klagenfurt on August 8 - instead of travelling to Glasgow.
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