COVID-19: Footballers who tested positive

Sodiq Oyeleke

A host of players tested positive for coronavirus in the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga among others.

While some of the players have recovered, others are still battling with the virus, among them is Juventus’ Paulo Dybala.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

The 19-year-old Chelsea player displayed symptoms similar to a mild cold on March 12 but confirmed positive on March 13. The Ghanaian born is the first Premier League player to test positive for coronavirus.



Daniele Rugani

Juventus announced on March 12 that defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus.

Rugani, who also plays for the Italian national team, is the first player in the country’s top football league to test positive for the virus.

Blaise Matuidi

On March 17, Juventus and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi tested positive for coronavirus.

The World Cup winner with France in 2018 is the second of Juve’s players to test positive after Daniele Rugani.

Paulo Dybala

According to reports, he is still battling the disease. Dybala has tested positive for coronavirus for the fourth time in just six weeks.

The Juventus forward confirmed to his over 37.9million Instagram followers on March 21 that both he and girlfriend Oriana Sabatini had caught the disease.



Ezequiel Garay

Valencia on March 15 announced that five people among the players and staff at Mestalla tested positive for coronavirus, including defenders Ezequiel Garay and Eliaquim Mangala.

The Argentine centre-back Garay, who was due to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last month, also confirmed his status on Instagram.

Marouane Fellaini 
Marouane Fellaini, the former Manchester United midfielder, was the first known Chinese Super League player to test positive for coronavirus.

Fellaini took a routine test upon his arrival in the Chinese city of Jinan, where he has played for Shandong Luneng since leaving United in January last year. His status was announced on March 22.

Paul Akpan Udoh
He is an Italian-Nigerian footballer who plays for Pianese in Serie C.

The 22-year-old player is believed to be the first case of a footballer in Europe to be infected with the coronavirus on February 28.

Timo Hubers
In Germany, Hannover defender Timo Hubers tested positive for coronavirus on March 12.

The club believe the 23-year-old contracted the virus at an event in Hildesheim.

Luca Kilian

Paderborn defender Luca Kilian was the first Bundesliga player to contract the disease.

After the positive test of Kilian, 45 Paderborn players and staff underwent a test for coronavirus, of which there were no further positive results.

Paolo Maldini

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini tested positive for the virus.

Sampdoria players

Sampdoria announced that Albin Ekdal, Antonino La Gumina, Morten Thorsby, Fabio Depaoli and Bartosz Bereszynski tested positive, as well as club doctor Amedeo Baldari.

On March 21, tragedy struck when former Real president Lorenzo Sanz died after contracting the virus.

Source:AFP