Real Madrid and Serbian striker, Luka Jovic coupled face six-months behind bars in Serbia after flying back home to a party in Belgrade.

Jovic broke quarantine in order to travel back to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday despite Real Madrid’s order telling its players to self-isolate following the outbreak of the virus in March.

The 22-year-old striker is being prosecuted for breaking the rules and faces up to six months in prison, according to Serbian agency Tanjug, as reported by Marca.

Jovic was criticised in his hometown as well as by local media who explained that he had celebrated his girlfriend’s birthday on the streets of the capital city.

Blic wrote: ‘Instead of self-isolating, he enjoyed himself all over Belgrade,’ while Informer said: ‘Luka did something very stupid. He left quarantine in Madrid, with the club and, despite all the warnings, returned to Serbia.’

The Serbian prosecutor’s office claim that Jovic did not comply with the required health protocols upon his arrival in the country.

According to RTS, Jovic had to pay a fine of £27,000 which may help soften the punishment imposed.

Real said at the time the striker had special permission to fly home for medical reasons. All Real staff had been sent home after the club’s basketball player Trey Thompkins tested positive.

Jovic was among a number of Serbs playing abroad who was criticised by the country’s politicians for returning to the country during the height of the pandemic.

The Serbian government had called for nationals working abroad not to return from countries with a high infection rate. At the time, Spain had the fourth-highest death rate.

Jovic who managed just two goals in the whole of last season since joining Real in a £58million deal in 2019 failed to secure a move away in the summer despite Manchester United being linked with a loan deal.

Zidane recently insisted that the striker has a future at the Bernabeu after Real outcast Borja Mayoral, who is currently on loan at Roma, claimed the manager wanted to offload the 22-year-old in the summer.

Zidane said: ‘Jovic is a Real Madrid player. I want Jovic here.

‘Lots of people can have their opinion, they are entitled to their opinion. We have to live with that. But Jovic is a Real Madrid player.’

The forward has made four appearances this season but has not managed to find the back of the net. [Daily Mail]