Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday announced that three more players tested positive for COVID-19, with the overall number of infected players rising to six. The club did not reveal the names of the players, but said that they are following “appropriate health protocol”.
French daily L’Équipe has said that the three new players to contract the novel coronavirus are defender Marquinhos, goalkeeper Keylor Navas and striker Mauro Icardi.
Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes had tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. Players who are in isolation are not allowed to train with the squad, and must produce two negative tests within 48 hours in order to play.
With six players unable undergoing self-isolation, the start of the new season for PSG has been disrupted. All players were on holiday in Ibiza after the Champions League final, which PSG lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich last month.
PSG’s opening match of the new season against Lens was postponed to September 10 after the club authorised the players to go on holiday, a decision which drew sharp criticism. Others also panned the club for letting players go on holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier, four players from Marseille tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the season-opener against St Etienne. In addition, Strasbourg, Lyon, Rennes, Nantes and Montpellier have also reported confirmed cases of COVID-19.
