Lionel Messi is isolating at home in Argentina after testing positive for Covid-19—one of four Paris Saint-Germain players to do so ahead of the team’s return from winter break.
PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino is not sure when the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will be able to return to France—or if he can even recover in time to play away to Lyon in the league next Sunday.
Clubs across Europe have been depleted by Covid—reflecting the wider surge the omicron variant has taken. England has been the most affected, as the Premier League has played through the Christmas holidays amid other postponements.
Liverpool announced three further suspected coronavirus cases—goalkeeper Alisson, forward Roberto Firmino and defender Joel Matip; manager Jürgen Klopp had already entered isolation and missed the trip to London—ahead of its Sunday matchup with Chelsea.
French clubs were back playing for the first time in 1 1/2 weeks.
“With regards to Leo, he’s in contact with our medical service,” Pochettino said. “I don’t know if he’ll be able to play in Lyon. He tested positive in Argentina (and) until he’s negative, he won’t be able to travel to France. We’ll see when he gets back.”
“It’s the risk everyone runs in football on a world scale,” Pochettino said. “Contact is unavoidable in football, it’s obvious that there are more risks. “We’ve taken all the steps necessary to avoid a player transmitting the virus to another. I do what the medical service personnel tell us to.”
