Guo’an midfielder Renato back in China

Beijing Guo’an’s Brazil international Renato Augusto has returned to China as he prepares for the start of the delayed Chinese Super League season.

The 32-year-old will observe a mandatory two-week quarantine before he can resume training with his Guo’an teammates, according to Brazil’s Globo Esporte news service.

Renato, who joined Guo’an in 2016, has spent the past seven months away from China because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The midfielder traveled to Brazil in December following the completion of the 2019 season and then joined his Beijing teammates for preseason training in Spain in January.

However, travel restrictions prevented the former Flamengo, Bayer Leverkusen and Corinthians playmaker from returning to China and he has spent the past four and a half months training alone in Brazil.

The Chinese Super League season will begin on July 25 in two hub cities — Dalian and Suzhou — almost five months after its scheduled start.

Guo’an finished second last term, just two points behind champion Guangzhou Evergrande. Lazio’s shock defeat at Lecce.

Maurizio Sarri’s men led through goals from Adrien Rabiot and Cristiano Ronaldo early in the second half, but were then blown away by a brilliant Milan display as Ibrahimovic scored and had an assist.

Milan coach Stefano Pioli, who could reportedly be fired at the end of the season, saw his side boost its hopes of European qualification by moving above Roma and Napoli into fifth.

“I am not remotely thinking about August 3 or the future. I am thinking of the next game,” Pioli told DAZN. “There have been some tough moments, but I love what I do.”

Juve remains on track for a ninth straight title, sitting seven points clear of Lazio with seven matches remaining, but could have rendered the race all but over with a victory.