Blaise Matuidi
Juventus and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Turin-based Serie A club said in a statement on Tuesday.
Juve said Matuidi, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, was in self-isolation at home and not showing any symptoms.
He is the second player at the club, one of the biggest in Europe, to test positive after Daniele Rugani last week.
The Juventus statement read, “Blaise Matuidi has undergone medical tests that have revealed his positivity to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
“The player, as of Wednesday 11 March, has been in voluntary home isolation. He will continue to be monitored and will follow the same regime. He is well and is asymptomatic.”
Later on Tuesday, former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, who led the club from 1995 to 2000, has been admitted to a hospital in critical condition with the coronavirus.
The 76-year-old was placed in the intensive care unit after having symptoms of COVID-19 for the last week, his son Fernando Sanz said to Radio Marca.
Under Sanz presidency, Real Madrid won the Champions League title in 1998 and 2000 after beating Juventus and Valencia in the finals.
In more news out La Liga, Espanyol said six of their players had tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We had confirmation this afternoon that six members of the first team and the technical staff of RCD Espanyol de Barcelona have returned positive results for COVID-19 tests carried out during the last hours,” Espanyol said in a statement.
“All of them are suffering from mild symptoms and they are complying with the medical recommendations.”
Serie A clubs Fiorentina and Sampdoria have also had players test positive for the coronavirus, as did Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.