CR7 ‘may have violated COVID-19 protocol’, Ibra set for Milan derby

Italy’s sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday that Ronaldo may have violated Italian coronavirus measures by travelling to Portugal while Juventus were in isolation, returning to Turin this week after testing positive.

“Yes, I think so, if there were no specific authorisations from the health authority,” Spadafora told Radio Uno when asked whether the 35-year-old Portuguese star had breached COVID-19 rules.

Ronaldo risks a fine after joining his national side last week despite Juventus being in isolation after two staff members tested positive.

Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic prepares to return in Saturday’s Milan derby as Serie A swings back into action after the international break in the shadow of coronavirus.

In a week where Napoli were deducted a point and handed a 3-0 defeat to Juventus for failing to turn up for their match because of two virus cases, COVID-19 looks set to be a game-changer in a season already in turmoil going into round four.

But Ibrhahimovic has recovered and is keen to pick up where he left off after a double against Bologna before his illness, but also to make up for AC Milan’s defeat against Inter last season.

Ibrahimovic scored back in February only for Inter to power back and win a pulsating derby 4-2 in the San Siro.

The Swede has not played a game since Sept.21, but the 39-year-old continued to train intensely during quarantine.

In spite of his absence, Milan have made a decent start to the season, having climbed to second, with three wins from three games and reaching the group stages of the Europa League.

Agence France-Presse


Italian League fixtures:
On Saturday: Napoli vs Atalanta (1300GMT), Inter Milan vs AC Milan (1600), Sampdoria vs Lazio (1600), Crotone vs Juventus (1845GMT).
On Sunday: Bologna vs Sassuolo (1030GMT), Spezia vs Fiorentina (1300), Torino vs Cagliari (1300), Udinese vs Parma (1600), Roma vs Benevento (1845GMT).
On Monday: Verona vs Genoa (1845GMT)