A Barcelona player has tested positive for the coronavirus, the club confirmed Wednesday, as Spanish clubs’ preseasons continue to be disrupted by the virus.
The player has not been named but was one of nine players who returned for preseason training this week.
Barca confirmed in a statement he has not had any contact with the players or staff due to travel to Lisbon for the Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich on Friday.
La Liga ended on July 19, but clubs have already returned to training with Sept. 12 slated as the provisional start date for the 2020-21 season.
However, clubs returning to work have been hit by a number of coronavirus cases. Ten other clubs across Spain’s top two divisions have confirmed positives.
Real Betis announced that striker Loren Moron had contracted the virus and was isolating at home, while Valencia, Granada, Alaves, Huesca, Espanyol, Mallorca, Las Palmas and Tenerife also confirmed cases.
Atletic Bilbao also confirmed on Wednesday that they have six positive cases among first team players and staff
The majority of the identities of players who have contracted the virus remains anonymous.
Barca’s first-team squad are involved in the Champions League, but new signings Pedri and Francisco Trincao and those returning from loans were due to begin preseason training this week.
In total, a group of nine players underwent coronavirus tests Tuesday, and one result came back positive.
“The player has no symptoms, is in good health and has been quarantined at his home,” Barca said.
A La Liga spokesperson told ESPN the league is focused on finishing the second division playoffs — which have been delayed by coronavirus cases at Fuenlabrada, Real Zaragoza and Almeria — and will then move on with plans to start the new season on Sept. 12.
“Of course we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and, as was the case with the restart back in June, we will do what we can to play in a safe, responsible way,” the spokesman said.
The latest round of positive results come after further positives at Sevilla, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in recent weeks ahead of their respective European campaigns.
Madrid’s Mariano Diaz tested positive before the Champions Leagues game against Manchester City, while Sevilla midfielder Nemanja Gudelj also contracted the virus as they prepared for the resumption of their Europa League campaign.
Atletico duo Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko returned positive tests last weekend and have not traveled to Portugal for Thursday’s Champions League quarterfinal against RB Leipzig.
Atletico Madrid’s women’s team have also been hit by the coronavirus. The Rojiblancas confirmed five active cases Tuesday, with all training and activity halted just nine days before their Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona.
Cases throughout Spain have continued to rise throughout July and August following the easing of lockdown restrictions in May and June.
On Tuesday, the Spanish health authorities announced that 8,618 new cases had emerged since Friday, with 1,486 diagnosed in the preceding 24 hours, taking the total of registered cases since the outbreak in the country to 322,980. Nearly 30,000 people have died.
