QUITO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Real Valladolid's Stiven Plaza will return to Spain on Thursday on a charter flight from his native Ecuador, according the forward's agent.
Plaza has been in Ecuador for more than a month after being given permission by Valladolid officials to return to his homeland during the coronavirus outbreak.
"He ... will arrive in Madrid on Thursday on a direct flight paid for by Stiven," agent Jonathan Auer said on Twitter.
Ecuadorians have been under a strict national lockdown since mid-March as the Andean country grapples with one of South America's worst outbreaks of the virus.
It was unclear if Plaza would be quarantined upon arriving in Spain, casting doubt over when he will be able to resume training.
Capped twice for Ecuador's national team, the 21-year-old has been beset by injuries since joining the Spanish club from Independiente del Valle in January last year.
His most recent setback occurred in early March when he suffered a grade two quadriceps tear.
Spanish football has been suspended since March 12, a day after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.
Clubs in Spain have been allowed to resume training since last week under strict hygiene and distancing protocols. Enditem
