Montpellier's Sambia out of coma after contracting COVID-19

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Montpellier midfielder Junior Sambia is now breathing without assistance after testing positive for COVID-19 and being placed in a medically induced coma.

Sambia’s agent, Frederic Guerra, confirmed Saturday that the Frenchman is out of his coma and has been taken off a respirator:

"They have stopped assisting Junior's breathing," Guerra told Radio Tele Luxembourg, as translated by ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson. "It is a long process. He is no longer in a coma. We are, undoubtedly, moving towards good news.

"Junior is starting to breathe by himself so that is already a good thing. The protocol put in place on Friday, which was to wake him up, is ongoing. He is still under surveillance."

On Tuesday, Sambia's first test for COVID-19 came back negative after he experienced breathing difficulties, according to Guerra.

But Sambia's condition swiftly worsened and he was transported to the intensive care unit at the CHU Arnaud-de-Villeneuve in Montpellier on Wednesday. At that point, a second test for COVID-19 returned a positive result.

Sambia, who penned a permanent deal with La Paillade in 2018, appeared in 17 Ligue 1 matches this term before the campaign was suspended indefinitely on March 13.

The Lyon-born midfielder is the first Ligue 1 player with a confirmed case of the coronavirus. Hyun-jun Suk, who plays for Ligue 2 outfit Troyes, was the first professional player in France to contract the virus on March 13.