Lionel Messi, three others at PSG check COVID optimistic | Soccer Information

Defender Juan Bernat, back-up goalkeeper Sergio Rico and midfielder Nathan Bitumazala are the opposite gamers to return optimistic checks.

Paris St Germain ahead Lionel Messi and three different gamers have examined optimistic for COVID-19, the French Ligue 1 membership has stated.

Argentina worldwide Messi joined PSG from boyhood membership Barcelona in August and the 34-year-old has scored six objectives in 16 video games in all competitions for the Parisian facet.

Defender Juan Bernat, back-up goalkeeper Sergio Rico and midfielder Nathan Bitumazala have been the opposite gamers who returned optimistic checks.

PSG stated the 4 gamers have been in isolation and topic to acceptable well being protocols.

Mauricio Pochettino’s staff are high of the Ligue 1 standings on 46 factors after 19 matches, 13 factors above second-placed Good. They’re on account of journey to third-tier membership Vannes on Monday for a French Cup round-of-32 match.

“That is the chance with which we stay, on a world scale,” stated Pochettino.

“In soccer, contact is inevitable, we share the dressing room. The chance of contamination is there, however we take all the mandatory measures to attempt to stop a participant from infecting others.”

Pochettino stated he was uncertain if Messi, who’s presently in Argentina, would characteristic of their subsequent league recreation, at Olympique Lyonnais on January 9.

“Messi has been in common contact with our medical staff and when he has a damaging check, he’ll journey to France, however we don’t know any greater than that. I don’t know if he might be concerned in opposition to Lyon,” he stated.

“Till he will get a damaging check in Argentina, he won’t be able to journey to France. So, it’s all all the way down to the check by way of when he can journey … we’ll assess when he is able to play.”

France reported 219,126 new confirmed COVID-19 instances in a 24-hour interval on Saturday, the fourth day in a row that the nation has recorded greater than 200,000 instances.

France has joined america, India, Brazil, the UK and Russia in having greater than 10 million instances reported thus far.

PSG additionally stated Brazil ahead Neymar, who’s out with an ankle harm, was about three weeks away from returning to coaching.

“Neymar Jr will proceed his therapy in Brazil till 9 January with members of the Paris Saint Germain medical and efficiency workers. His return to coaching remains to be anticipated to be in about 3 weeks,” PSG stated in an announcement.