Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli has tested positive for COVID-19, the Bianconeri announced.
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Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli has tested positive for COVID-19, the Bianconeri announced. The Italian footballer played 82 minutes in the Turin club’s 3-0 Champions League loss to Villarreal on Wednesday. Given Locatelli was exposed to Villarreal’s players for the majority of the encounter, however, the Spanish club are going to have to conduct a round of tests and follow the necessary precautions.
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Manuel Locatelli tests positive for Covid-19.https://t.co/h2a5MhSPju pic.twitter.com/yJ84rPlBjT
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 17, 2022
“Juventus Football Club announces that today Manuel Locatelli has tested positive for Covid-19. The player, in agreement with the local health authority, is already self-isolating,” a club statement read.
Locatelli was supposed to get a call-up for Italy’s World Cup play-offs. Roberto Mancini will name his squad list tomorrow and is now unlikely to include the 24-year-old in the team.
Following the Champions League round of 16 second leg loss to Villarreal at the Allianz stadium the Turin club crashed out of the competition with an aggregate scoreline of 4-2. Villarreal produced a clinical performance to thrash the Serie A giants.
Although Juve had started the match brightly as Dusan Vlahovic and Alvaro Morata went close to scoring but was denied by the visiting keeper Geronimo Rulli. And then, with 15 minutes remaining, against the run of play, Coquelin won a penalty for Villarreal after being brought down inside the box by Daniele Rugani. The referee awarded the spot-kick after VAR intervention. Gerard Moreno stepped up and converted the penalty to put the La Liga side ahead.
The opening goal shifted the momentum in Villarreal’s favour and they doubled the lead through Pau Tottes on 85 minutes. Juve pushed men forward for a goal and left lots of space open and the back which the visitors exploited to score the third goal.
Once again, it was through a spot-kick which the visitors won for De Ligt’s handball inside the box. Arnaut Danjuma slotted home from the penalty spot to make the score 3-0 and seal the win for Villarreal. The win helped Uai Emry’s side to reach the last-8 of Europe’s elite competition for the first time in 13 years.
