Second Juventus player test positive for coronavirus

Matuidi was tested after the diagnosis of teammate Rugani Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Second player tested positive for COVID-19https://t.co/y1c3b62lCE pic.twitter.com/gr6rNQrZfB — JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) March 17, 2020

The club on Tuesday evening released a statement on the club's official website detailing the midfielder's condition. 

“Blaise Matuidi has undergone medical tests that have revealed his positivity to the Coronavirus-COVID-19,” read a statement.

“The player, as of Wednesday 11 March, has been in voluntary home isolation. He will continue to be monitored and will follow the same regime. He is well and is asymptomatic.”

Matuidi turns 33 next month and only recently extended his contract with Juventus until June 2021.

The Frenchman, 32, becomes the second Juventus player to test positive for the illness after defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have it last Wednesday.

On March 11, Rugani was the first player in Serie A to test positive for COVID-19, sending 121 members of his club into voluntary isolation.

Juventus defender Daniele Rugani. Reuters

Rugani has spent the last seven years at league leaders Juventus apart from a two-year loan spell at Empoli.

A source close to Juventus said the entire squad will have to spend two weeks in quarantine, meaning they would not be able to face Olympique Lyonnais in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on March 17.

According to the latest report, more than 31,000 people were affected by the disease in Italy, and 2,503 died from it.