Juventus players Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi have both made a full recovery after initially testing positive for coronavirus, the club have confirmed.
French international midfielder Matuidi confirmed he had been diagnosed with the virus on March 18, just a week after it was revealed that defender Rugani had contracted it.
The Serie A side confirmed both players had undergone swab tests which had come back clean, meaning they no longer need to self-isolate.
A club statement read: “Rugani and Matuidi underwent, as per protocol, a double-check with diagnostic tests (swabs) for the coronavirus. The tests came back with negative results. The players have, therefore, recovered and are no longer subjected to the home isolation regime.”
Matuidi had previously announced via his Instagram that he had tested positive for coronavirus, although he had not shown symptoms.
He wrote: “I am an asymptomatic carrier of the virus, aware of the privilege of being a professional footballer and as such benefit from regular and excellent medical monitoring. If it weren’t, I probably never would have known.”
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While in isolation, it was revealed Matuidi has ensured he will remain at the club for a year longer after signing a contract extension through to 2021 on February 14. The midfielder’s deal had previously been due to expire at the end of this campaign.
However, Rugani had minor symptoms of the virus but had also sought to assure supporters via social media that he was not in any immediate danger.
In a message posted on his Twitter, the Italian said: “You will have read the news and that’s why I want to reassure all those who are worrying about me, I’m fine.”
His girlfriend Michela Persico had told Corriere Della Sera: “Daniele recorded three mild fever lines, he was at a temperature of 37.5.
“He asked to be checked and, the next day, the test was positive, but he already had no fever, nor did he have or had a cough or something else. So we didn’t expect it. We don’t have a clue how the infection happened.”
DYBALA’S RECOVERY
Another Juventus player, Paulo Dybala, also contracted the and has since recovered, although he described his symptoms as being more serious than those of Rugani and Matuidi.
“I had a bad cough, I felt tired and when I slept, I felt cold. At first, I didn’t think about what it could be but it had happened to two other team-mates and the last one was me,” Dybala said during an interview with the official AFA website.
“We had headaches, but it was advisable not to take anything. The club gave us vitamins and over time we felt better. It’s psychological. You were scared at first, but it’s OK now. These days we haven’t had any symptoms.”
