Atletico coach Simeone among five Covid cases at club

By : Guardian Nigeria

Date: 30 December 2021 6:13pm WAT

Atletico Madrid's Argentinian coach Diego Simeone holds a press conference at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on October 30, 2017 on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group C football match between Atletico Madrid and Qarabag FK. OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone and forward Antoine Griezmann have tested positive for Covid-19, as the La Liga champions announced five new cases on Thursday.

Atletico said Simeone and 2018 World Cup winner Griezmann were asymptomatic and isolating along with Koke, Hector Herrera and Joao Felix.

The club’s crosstown rivals Real Madrid announced their Serbia striker Luka Jovic has also tested positive.

He joined keeper Thibaut Courtois, Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde and France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga who tested positive on Wednesday.

La Liga rivals Barcelona also confirmed three new cases, bringing the total to at least nine at the Catalan club, with the league set to resume this weekend after the winter break.

Barca’s Sergino Dest, Philippe Coutinho and Abde Ezzalzouli join the list of players infected, the club said, after Ousmane Dembele, Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, Jordi Alba, Gavi and Dani Alves tested positive.