Juventus have confirmed that midfielder Blaise Matuidi has tested positive for coronavirus.
The France international is the second player from the club to contract the illness after it was announced on Wednesday that defender Daniele Rugani had been infected.
The 32-year-old who was born to an Angola father and a Congolese mother is showing no symptoms associated with the virus but has been in self-isolation since Wednesday
His teammate Rugani was confirmed as the first professional player in Serie A to contract Covid-19. Matuidi, a regular for the Serie A side this season, has been in voluntary isolation since Wednesday and is following a similar procedure to his team-mate.
Blaise Matuidi has been tested positive with Covid-19, get well soon Blaise pic.twitter.com/OBwN6Yse1l
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristia73726449) March 18, 2020
Italy has been in lockdown in a bid to prevent further outbreak of the coronavirus, which has already affected several Serie A players.
The government has imposed strict measures, with public events and gatherings banned and all shops apart from food stores and pharmacies closed.
Football teams have been strictly following procedures set out by the government, but containment measures can only work so well as many continue to contract the virus.
BREAKING: Juventus have confirmed that Blaise Matuidi has tested positive for coronavirus.
— Chief Erican (@EricanSA) March 18, 2020
We wish him a speedy recovery. #COVID19SouthAfrica #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/Ae5lB69Pm1
All Serie A action has been suspended until at least April 3, with UEFA announcing on Tuesday that other competitions including the Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2020 will be postponed.
Juventus duo Matuidi and Rugani are just two of several confirmed cases in the Italian top flight, with several Fiorentina and Sampdoria players diagnosed with the illness.
