Real Madrid have defended Serbian striker Luka Jovic after he broke a club-enforced quarantine and flew to Belgrade last week.

The forward has been criticised in his home country after returning to Serbia from Madrid, despite the club having told players to self-isolate.

The Spanish club briefed on Thursday that the player did have special permission to fly home for medical reasons and took a flight on a private jet last week.

Real Madrid's striker Luka Jovic has broken the club-enforced quarantine to fly back to Serbia

All Real Madrid staff were sent home last week after the club's basketball player Trey Thompkins tested positive for coronavirus.

But Jovic is understood to be among a number of Serbian players playing abroad who have been criticised by the country's politicians for returning to the country in the last few days.

The Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabic said: 'We have the negative example of our football stars who earn millions and have ignored the obligation to self-isolate so they can return home.'

The comments follow calls from the Serbian government for nationals working abroad not to return from countries with a high level of coronavirus casees.

Spain currently has 767 deaths recorded, the fourth highest national total.

Media in Serbia have suggested the player came back to his home country to celebrate the birthday of his girlfriend in Belgrade.

The Serbian prime minister Ana Brnabic slammed those who have decided to return home

Jovic has had a tough time at Real Madrid since arriving in the summer after scoring 17 goals in 32 appearances in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt last season.

The 22-year-old Serbian international, who also scored 10 goals in 14 Europa League matches in that campaign, looked to be playing himself into the plans of Zinedine Zidane only to then be left out of the squad for three straight matches.

The £58million acquisition has been linked with a move at the end of the season with Napoli understood to be interested in the forward.