Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez will not be able to face Barcelona after testing positive for Covid-19.
The forward left Camp Nou in acrimonious circumstances in the summer for the Spanish capital and would surely have been relishing the opportunity to face his former side on Saturday.
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Those hopes, though, appear to have been dashed after he was one of two players on international duty with the Uruguay side to return a positive test for the virus.
In a statement, the Uruguayan FA (UAF) said: “The UFA has swabbed all of the members of the national team, resulting in the player Luis Suarez and Rodrigo Munoz, as well as official Matias Faral returning positive for Covid-19. All the others members of the delegation have tested negative.
“All three are in good health and have implemented the measures corresponding to their case.”
Suarez was due to face Brazil with the national team on Tuesday but will necessarily miss the match as well as the weekend’s clash with Barca. He should be considered doubtful for the Champions League clash with Lokomotiv Moscow and the league trip to Valencia on 28th November.
The news is a major blow to Atleti, who lie third in the Primera Division, three points behind leaders Real Sociedad but having played two games fewer. Suarez had been the undisputed ace of Diego Simeone’s side, having scored five goals and added one assist in six league matches.
He is just the latest in a succession of high-profile players who have tested positive for coronavirus since a global pandemic was declared in the spring. Indeed, international team-mate Matias Vina of Palmeiras returned a positive test on Saturday.
Among the other leading figures in the game to have contracted the virus are Juventus ace Cristiano Ronaldo as well as Paris Saint-Germain duo Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba is another example of a player who has returned a positive test.
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