CR7 left out of Nations League tie vs Sweden after positive COVID-19 test

Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Portuguese soccer federation said on Tuesday.

The federation said Ronaldo was doing well and had no symptoms. It did not say when he tested positive.

Ronaldo played in the 0-0 draw at France in the Nations League on Sunday, and also in the 0-0 draw against Spain in a friendly last week.

Ronaldo is in isolation and has been dropped from the country’s Nations League match against Sweden on Wednesday in Lisbon.

On Monday, the Juventus forward posted a photo on Twitter showing him and the rest of the Portugal squad having a meal together. The players were all close to each other at a table, with Ronaldo apparently taking the photo himself at the front end.

Along with the tweet, Ronaldo wrote, in Portuguese, “United on and off the field!”

The federation said Ronaldo’s result prompted another round of tests for the rest of the Portugal squad. It said everyone else in the team tested negative. Tuesday’s practice session was moved from the morning to the afternoon so there was time for all the results to come back.

Two other Portugal players had tested positive for COVID-19 recently, José Fonte and Anthony Lopes.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos said last week the positive results among players were “happening everywhere in the world.”

“We are the most tested people and we have the guarantee that everyone who will be traveling to France with us are negative,” Santos said before the match against France.

Portugal and France lead Group 3 with seven points each after three matches.

The Portuguese federation did not immediately release details about where Ronaldo was in isolation, or for how long he would stay there.

He could miss Juventus’ Serie A match at Crotone on Saturday and the team’s Champions League opener at Dynamo Kyiv next Tuesday. And depending on his condition and the results of future tests, he could also miss the much-anticipated match against Barcelona on Oct. 28.

Juventus had been in isolation following positive tests for two staff members with the club. There has been some controversy that Ronaldo and six other players were allowed to leave the isolated group and join their national teams.

CAVANI’S UTD DEBUT DELAYED: Manchester United’s Edinson Cavani will have to wait to make his Premier League debut after the club confirmed on Tuesday that the Newcastle United game this weekend comes too soon for the Uruguayan striker who is still self-isolating.

Cavani, a deadline day signing who joined United on a free transfer from Paris St Germain last week, must self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in the United Kingdom due to the guidelines in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.The 33-year-old, who will don the club’s iconic No. 7 jersey, will however be available for United’s first Champions League group stage match next week against his former club PSG.

Cavani, who left the Ligue 1 champions after his contract expired last season, is the French club’s most prolific scorer with 200 goals but has not played since March -- prior to the league season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

United play Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will also be without French striker Anthony Martial, who was sent off in their last match — a 6-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.

Martial will be suspended for United’s home games against Chelsea and Arsenal as well.

CZECH, SLOVAK SQUADS HIT: Meanwhile, Czech coach Jaroslav Silhavy will once again miss his team’s Nations League clash with Scotland as he has tested positive for Covid-19, the Czech FA said on Monday.

Silhavy, who has no symptoms of the disease, already missed the Czech Republic’s home clash with Scotland in early September over a virus scare.

Also, Slovakia’s football team coach Pavel Hapal has tested positive for Covid-19, the Slovak Football Association said on Tuesday, bringing the number of infected players and technical staff to nine.

Agencies