Sports

Man City’s Mahrez, Laporte test positive for Covid-19

Madrid Desk, Sep 7 (efe-epa).- English Premier League club Manchester City on Monday said two of its first team players had tested positive for Covid-19.

The 2018/19 league champions confirmed that French center-back Aymeric Laporte and winger Riyad Mahrez, who also captains the Algeria national team, had tested positive for the virus but were asymptomatic.

“Both players are currently observing a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine. Neither is displaying symptoms of the virus,” the club said in a statement.

“Everyone at the Club wishes Riyad and Aymeric a speedy recovery ahead of their return to training and the new season.”

Tweeting in response to the news, Laporte, 26, said: “Thanks everyone for your messages, everything is going as well as possible, I am following the protocol for the next few days and I will be back soon. Take care of yourself.”

Mahrez, 29, said: “Thank you for all the nice messages, I’m good. Stay safe everyone.”

Man City are not due to start their Premier League campaign this year until 21 September due to their involvement in the Champions League, which was delayed and continued well into August. Their first fixture is set to be against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Other teams that were not involved in European competitions over the summer are scheduled to return to action — behind closed doors — on 12 September.

Manchester City came second to Liverpool in the 2019/20 Premier League, which was put on hold and later played without fans with a fast-tracked fixture list due to Covid-19.

They were sent packing from the Champions League by Lyon in the quarter-finals having knocked Real Madrid out in the round of 16. EFE-EPA

Related Articles

Back to top button