Valencia confirm two positive tests for coronavirus

Valencia have been hit by two positive cases for coronavirus, the La Liga club announced, a day after players and staff returned for pre-season.

The identities of the two individuals have been kept anonymous.

They are both isolating at home while the club have notified the Spanish health authorities.

It continues a rise in the number of confirmed infections among La Liga teams after Atletico Madrid’s Sime Vrsaljko and Angel Correa both tested positive on Saturday.

Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz and Sevilla midfielder Nemanja Gudelj have also been infected in the last two weeks.

La Liga completed the 2019-2020 season on July 19 and the plan is for the 2020-2021 campaign to begin on Sept 12, following the conclusion of the Champions League and Europa League.

Spain is one of the worst-hit countries by the pandemic and has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks.

The Spanish health ministry on Monday reported 8,618 new coronavirus infections since Friday and 65 deaths from the virus over the previous seven days.

Valencia were starting their pre-season preparations this week under new coach Javi Gracia, who was appointed two weeks ago following the sacking of Albert Celades in June.

They were one of the first clubs to confirm cases of coronavirus in March, when 35% of the squad, including players and coaches, tested positive after playing a Champions League match against Atalanta in Italy at the end of February.

Valencia finished ninth in La Liga after a miserable season for the club, during which supporters grew increasingly disillusioned with the ownership of Singaporean businessman Peter Lim.

A club statement yesterday confirmed the two positive cases for coronavirus.

“The PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and blood serum tests carried out on Monday for the first team, coaching staff and employees have detected two positive cases of Covid19,” it read.

■ TOKYO: The manager of Japanese top flight side Sagan Tosu, Kim Myung-hwi, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the club said yesterday.

Myung-hwi felt unwell before Sagan Tosu’s game at Kashima Antlers on Saturday but as his symptoms did not include a fever the 39-year-old remained involved in the match, they said.

Myung-hwi developed a fever on Sunday evening and after having a PCR test he received the positive result on Monday.

The club said all players and staff had since been tested and would know their results before today’s Levain Cup match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, which is currently scheduled to go ahead. — Agencies