Ex-Valencia CF goalkeeper beats Covid-19

“I stopped coronavirus from scoring”

A former goalkeeper for Valencia CF and Villarreal CF has sent out 'positive thoughts' and well-wishes to Covid-19 sufferers after having spent the last fortnight in hospital with the condition.

Andrés Palop is now back at home in L'Alcúdia (Ribera Alta) after his 12-day ordeal in Valencia's 9 d'Octubre hospital following his diagnosis of the serious respiratory viral infection, and has thanked his family for their 'affection and support' and medical staff for their excellent care.

Palop's most recent tests for coronavirus showed up negative, and now he has been discharged, he is required to spend 14 days quarantined at home, isolated from the rest of the human race.

During this time, he will not be allowed to go out for any reason, not even to the supermarket – his family will have to run his errands and drop off whatever he needs in his doorway, keeping a distance.

The ex-Valencia player, 46, posted an emotive message on social media – including the hashtag #Feliz DíaInternacional DelPortero ('Happy International Goalkeeper's Day'), for which he said he had not, this time around, posted the usual photos of his time in the aforementioned role.

“Today, I've saved another goal – I've stopped coronavirus from scoring and I'm now at home,” Palop wrote on Instagram.

“Time to keep going now, in isolation at home for 14 days and looking forward to this being over so I can hug my family again.

“Big hugs to everyone, keep your spirits up those of you who are going through this and I hope you manage to stay positive and muster all your strength to beat this, don't lose heart, stay strong mentally, too. You can and will get out of this. Look after yourselves, a lot.”