Neymar tests positive for COVID-19

Paris Saint-Germain‘s Neymar has tested positive for the coronavirus following a holiday to Ibiza, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

Neymar, who received the test results on Wednesday morning, is in good health and following protocol, sources said. He is now in self-isolation for 14 days at his house in Bougival, in the east suburbs of Paris, and will miss PSG’s first game of the season, against Lens on Sept. 10, and the Classique against Marseille on Sept. 13.

A further source confirmed that Neymar is due to be retested.

Neymar’s teammate Angel Di Maria is also in self-isolation in Paris after testing positive for COVID-19, sources told ESPN. The Argentina international also went on a holiday to Ibiza. Teammate Leandro Paredes, who spent his holidays with Di Maria on the Spanish island, has tested positive as well and is also in self-isolation, sources said.

Neymar is the latest high-profile player to test positive for the virus. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba was removed from the France squad following his test. Pogba has been replaced by Eduardo Camavinga in Didier Deschamps’ squad to face Sweden on Sept. 5 and Croatia on Sept. 8.

PSG are due to play at Lens for their first Ligue 1 game. Their first match against Metz at the Parc des Princes was postponed due to PSG’s participation in the Champions League final, where they lost to Bayern Munich.

The Ligue 1 protocol for the coronavirus is strict. If a club has four positive cases in their squad, their game is postponed. Such was the case for Marseille, whose clash with St Etienne on the opening day of the season had to be postponed. (ESPN)