Rome, April 6, 2021 (AFP) - Juventus on Tuesday announced that Federico Bernardeschi has become the latest Italy player to test positive for coronavirus following the international break.
The 27-year-old is at least the sixth Italy international to contract the virus following the Azzurri's World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
"Federico Bernardeschi tested positive for Covid-19. The footballer is in isolation and asymptomatic," Juventus said in a statement.
Defending Serie A champions Juve host Napoli on Wednesday in a game postponed from last October due to a Covid outbreak in the visitors' squad.
Since the international break, five other Italy players have officially tested positive -- Bernardeschi's club teammate Leonardo Bonucci, Paris Saint-Germain pair Alessandro Florenzi and Marco Verratti, Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo and Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno.
Several media reports suggested Torino 'keeper Salvatore Sirigu also has the virus, but although the club have confirmed a case, they did not identify the player.
The Italian football federation also confirmed after the game against Lithuania on March 31 that four members of staff had tested positive.
Italy coach Roberto Mancini had named 38 players in his squad to guard against a possible outbreak.
