Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid has been hit by the coronavirus pandemic as a defender at the club Renan Lodi tested positive for the virus. Besides him, 9 other footballers at the club were said to have tested positive for antibodies, meaning that they are free from the virus.
Atletico Madrid subjected all its players and backroom staff to COVID-19 test on Wednesday, 6 May 2020 at the club’s training ground. The testing was in preparation for the commencement of individual training sessions this weekend.
Media in Spain reported that Renan Lodi and the other 9 Atletico Madrid‘s players who have developed antibodies against the virus were exposed to it recently. Unfortunately for the Brazilian international, he was the only one who tested positive for the virus.
The 22-year-old Brazilian footballer will have to be isolated from the rest of the Atletico Madrid’s players until he tests negative for the virus. Hence, Renan Lodi will be subjected to continues testing until the tests return negative.
While the other footballers who were not named and who have developed antibodies against the virus are free to associate with other members of the squad. They are also permitted to start individual training like every other member of the Spanish La Liga club.
Lodi is said not to be displaying any symptoms as at the last check but he first complained of flu-like symptoms in March. The youngster has been consistent with the club since he gained promotion from the club’s junior team to the senior team in 2019. The defender has made 23 appearances for the club and managed to score one goal in all competitions.
His absence from the Spanish club will not stop the club from commencing individual training this weekend as planned. The club, like other clubs in the Spanish La Liga, is expected to commence group training four weeks from now which will signal the restart of the La Liga 2019-2020 season.
Unlike Atletico Madrid, players of the other two Spanish La Liga giants – Barcelona and Real Madrid all tested negative for coronavirus. This development has broadened the hope of fans that the season which has been halted since March 11 could resume in mid-June, all things being equal.
