Angel Correa & Sime Vrsaljko Tested Positive For Coronavirus

The two positive coronavirus cases reported in the Atletico Madrid camp have both been returned by first-team players Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko, the Spanish side have confirmed.

News broke on Sunday that two members of the party set to travel to the Champions League quarter-finals in Portugal had tested positive for the virus, but there was no further indication whether those affected were members of the playing or backroom staff.

Tests Are Being Conducted To Find Possible Transmissions

The players are isolating at home and will miss the rest of the tournament.

The two positive cases were discovered after players and staff travelling to Lisbon were tested in Madrid on Saturday.

Players and staff have since been retested with all results negative.

Relatives of Argentina winger Correa, 25, and 28-year-old Croatia right-back Vrsaljko were also tested and cleared.

The club said they decided to name the players to put an end to “speculation”.

They are in a stable condition and are observing isolation protocols in their own homes. 

In response to the two positive tests, a fresh round of testing was carried out on Atleti’s first team and members of staff who will travel, while there were also checks made on those who have come into close contact with the players.

The club confirmed, however, that these new tests did not throw up any unwelcome results.

“The first team and members of coaching staff underwent new tests yesterday [Sunday], the results of which have been negative in all of them,” the club stated.

UEFA’s medical protocol indicates that as long as there are 13 available players from the A list, the match will take place, with Atleti confirming on Monday that 21 members of the first-team squad will travel alongside academy players Alex Dos Santos, Manu Sánchez, Riquelme and Toni Moya.

It’s Getting Hot On Twitter

Meanwhile, Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, who is currently in Germany with his side as they seek to win the Europa League, previously took to social media to defend Thomas Lemar after the attacker was subject to abuse on the platform.

“I see messages wishing that it’s Thomas Lemar who has covid. You really are scoundrels. Show a little respect. This is human life we are talking about, it’s not a joke,” the 21-year-old former Bordeaux man wrote on his Twitter account.

Spain has been one of the European countries most heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 360,000 people testing positive for Covid-19, while more than 28,500 have died.

The Present Findings

The first team returned to training on Monday and the club said Correa was “asymptomatic and self-isolating at home”, while Vrsaljko “was recovering from an injury and not training with the group”.

“The Croat is also asymptomatic and will remain at home by decision of the medical services, although his case is considered to be resolved by the health authorities, having generated antibodies several months ago,” Atletico said in a statement.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Champions League is concluding with a ‘final eight’ tournament in Lisbon, with single-leg games held behind closed doors.