Cristiano Ronaldo’s positive test for Covid-19 is the big sport news of the day, as the Juventus star is now isolated from his teammates at the national squad base.
The Portuguese media has been giving big coverage to it today, and outlet A Bola now wonders the impact it will have on the future.
They bring a story claiming the United Kingdom and Premier League require incoming players to spend two weeks in quarantine when returning from a country not considered ‘low risk’, and say this is what has happened with Edinson Cavani and Manchester United.
Portugal’s squad currently features Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo and Ruben Dias from Manchester City; Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United; Daniel Podence, João Moutinho, Nelson Semedo, Rui Patrício and Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Liverpool’s Diogo Jota.
As far we know, this is incorrect for elite footballers, otherwise there’d be many players from many national squads having to quarantine. The added worry in Portugal is obviously because of the recent positive tests within the camp.
Before Cristiano Ronaldo, his teammates Anthony Lopes and José Fonte had already been tested positive. The remainder of the squad was tested on Tuesday morning and those tests all came back negative, but there’s obviously worry about the incubation period.
In theory, it’s possible there could be a change if a country’s national squad bubble turns out to be anything but Covid-free, yet there’s no indication yet of action in that regard.
TVI24, who are also worried, have been pointing out that youth players stay in the same hotel as the first team. So that could include João Virgínia from Everton; Gedson Fernandes from Tottenham Hotspur; Vitinha and Pedro Neto from Wolves.
Cavani’s situation was different because, being a free agent, he hadn’t been attached to a club and their bubble. So, as far as we know, A Bola’s worry is misplaced unless there’s a sudden change in approach.
