Valencia’s Garay first La Liga star to get Covid-19
MADRID: Valencia and Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay said yesterday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the first La Liga player to confirm he has the virus that has wreaked havoc on global sport.
“It’s clear that I have got off to the wrong start in 2020. I’ve tested positive for the coronavirus, I feel very good and now I just have to listen to the health authorities and for now remain isolated,” Garay wrote on his official Instagram account.
The 33-year-old was already ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in February.
In line with most major sports worldwide, all organised football in Spain has been postponed for at least two weeks in a bid to prevent further spread of the virus. Spain is the second worst-affected country in Europe after Italy.
Since Saturday, Spain has been in partial lockdown as part of a 15-day state of emergency to combat the epidemic.
Spain has so far suffered 196 coronavirus deaths and recorded almost 6,400 cases.
Meanwhile Atalanta forward Josip Ilicic has donated the ball with which he scored four goals in the Champions League last week to a hospital in Bergamo, at the centre of Italy’s coronavirus drama.
Ilicic scored four times in a 4-3 win over Valencia to power the Champions League newcomers into the quarterfinals, a welcome boost back home in the north of Italy.
“We too are by your side, our angels, to win the most important match of all,” said Ilicic, who gifted the ball to the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in the city.
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne donated €100,000 to a local hospital in Naples, with Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci donating €120,000 to a Turin hospital.
Meanwhile to fill the void left by the lack of live football in Italy where sports have been suspended until April 3, Sky Sport will broadcast all of Italy’s matches on their way to lifting the 2006 World Cup.