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Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has tested negative for Covid-19 and is now back in France. He is expected to resume training "in the coming days", the French club announced on Wednesday. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner had tested positive for the virus while in his native Argentina last week but flew back to Paris on Wednesday. He also missed PSG's 4-0 French Cup win against Vannes on Monday.
However, the club did not clear the air around Messi's availability for their first Ligue 1 match since the winter break, at Lyon on Sunday. "The test carried out by Leo Messi was negative for Covid-19. He has arrived in Paris and he will resume with the group in the coming days," PSG said in a statement.
The Argentine captain has endured a difficult start to life in the French capital since an emotional exit from Barcelona last summer. He has scored only one league goal in 11 league appearances for PSG, although he has netted five times in the Champions League.
Layvin Kurzawa tests positive
While Leo Messi has returned COVID negative, full-back Layvin Kurzawa tested positive for Covid on Wednesday and has been sent in self-isolation. "Layvin Kurzawa tested positive this morning for Covid-19. He has been placed in isolation and is undergoing the appropriate health protocol," wrote PSG in a statement.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defender Juan Bernat, backup keeper Sergio Rico, midfielder Danilo Pereira, and teenager Nathan Bitumazala have all also returned positive Covid test results in the past week. The nine-time champions PSG have performed really well in the tournament so far and sit at the top of the table with 14 wins from 19 games.