The FIGC have confirmed two members of the Italy staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and more checks are being performed after rumours five players had caught the Coronavirus ahead of the World Cup play-offs.
There was panic when Dario Marcolin, who worked with Roberto Mancini at Inter, told Radio Kiss Kiss that he heard rumours of two members of staff and five players testing positive at the Coverciano training ground.
Within minutes, the Federation released a statement confirming two members of staff have tested positive and were placed in self-isolation.
Rumours of five players with COVID in Italy’s World Cup play-off squad
The statement also hints that “other positive cases emerged” in the support staff that organises behind the scenes for the Nazionale and they too were not allowed into the training ground.
Further “targeted tests” are being performed on players who had COVID cases within their clubs.
This would include Inter, as Lautaro Martinez and Matias Vecino already had to pull out of international duty with Argentina and Uruguay respectively after testing positive for COVID-19.
Manuel Locatelli of Juventus tested positive last week and will join the squad when he has recovered.
It is particularly worrying for Italy, because they face North Macedonia on Thursday in Palermo.
The winners of that game go on to play either Portugal or Turkey for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Nazionale, due positivi nello staff di Mancini. Proseguono i controlli: il comunicato della FIGC https://t.co/ENn6DsAQrY
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) March 22, 2022
Great news keep coming for Italy 😩
This team can never catch a break if it’s not half the team injured now it’s this, furthermore proves the whole qualifying needs to be revamped.
Hey Italian Stallion…Couldn’t beat Bulgaria, Switzerland or Notherrn Ireland…what break are you taking about? They screwed up. Simple.
OMG.
This incubation period could be messed up. Holy smokes.
I’m fine with any of these 5 players being either joao pedro, florenzi, de sciglio, jorginho, pessina, cristante, felipe or acerbi.
Let’s hope it’s Immobile as he is allergic to scoring for italy
Gazzetta dello sport is saying just two staff members and no players. knock on wood.
It was already difficult without Chiesa out and all these injuries now this ? we are toast no way we even make 2nd game especially if any midfield players are out .