As confirmed by the Italian club, Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt has tested positive for coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the Netherlands international played the full 90 minutes of Juventus’ 3-1 win at leaders AC Milan, but now a time of self-isolation will begin.
“Juventus Football Club announces that Matthijs De Ligt has been positive with Covid-19 during the checks provided for by the protocol in force,” read a statement on the website of the club.
“The player has been put in solitary confinement already.”
After undergoing shoulder surgery during the summer, De Ligt missed the start of the season but has played in every game for Juventus since returning to fitness at the end of November.
Since De Ligt returned to the side, the Bianconeri have lost only once in 12 matches in all competitions, helping them rebound from an uneven start to the season that saw them fall behind the early pacesetters in the Serie A table.
Juventus are chasing a 10th consecutive Italian title, led by new manager Andrea Pirlo.
Pirlo’s side is seventh, seven points behind AC Milan’s leaders, while on all the sides above them they have a game in hand. On Sunday, they host Sassuolo in Turin with just one point on the side of Roberto De Zerbi and one place behind them in the table.
In the space of a week after Alex Sandro returned to the positive test on Monday, De Ligt is the second Juventus player to test coronavirus positive.
Currently, the Brazil international is also self-isolating after displaying mild virus symptoms. In Sunday’s 4-1 league win over Udinese in Turin, Sandro played alongside fellow defender De Ligt.
