In the re-presentation of the squad for tests and exams in the pre-season, this Wednesday (5), five Palmeiras players tested positive for Covid-19.
Those infected are goalkeeper Weverton, midfielders Patrick de Paula and Gustavo Scarpa and forwards Rafael Navarro and Breno Lopes.
According to the club, all are asymptomatic and have been instructed by the Medical Department to remain in isolation immediately.
“Athletes who had a positive result are in perfect health and asymptomatic. They were promptly isolated in their homes and will follow the medical care that we determined as part of the protocol”, said Pedro Pontin, a doctor at Palmeiras, in a statement.
“Now, we will carry out daily monitoring of the clinical condition of each one of them”, he added.
The other players underwent cardiac examinations, physical tests and other laboratory evaluations at the club’s Football Academy to plan the pre-season.
The current champion of Libertadores returns to the field only at the end of the month. On the 26th, Palmeiras will face Ponte Preta for the 1st round of the Campeonato Paulista, at Allianz Parque.
In February, Palmeiras will go to Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The club will play the semifinal match against Al Ahly, from Egypt, or against Monterrey, from Mexico.
Palmeiras and Chelsea, being champions of South America and Europe respectively, enter the semifinals of the competition.
Therefore, Verdão’s opponent in February 2022 should be the winner between the two drawn teams.
In the first phase, the match will be between Al Jazira (United Arab Emirates) and Auckland City (Australia).
In the second phase, they play Al Ahly against Monterrey, and Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) against the winner of the first phase match.
In the semifinals, Palmeiras and Chelsea face the winners of the previous brackets.
Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, the World Cup brings together all the continental champions of 2021.
It is the second time that Palmeiras will compete in the Worlds in this format. In the last edition, the team from São Paulo was in fourth place after being defeated by Tigres, from Mexico, in the semifinals.
Check out the World Cup participants:
- Chelsea, England (European Champions League champion)
- Palmeiras (Copa Libertadores da América champion)
- Al Hilal, from Saudi Arabia (Asia Champions League champion)
- Al Ahly, from Egypt (Africa Champions League champion)
- Al Jazira, from the United Arab Emirates (champion of the national league and representative of the host country)
- Auckland City, New Zealand (chosen to represent Oceania)
- Monterrey, Mexico (CONCACAF Champions League Champion)
Remember the celebrations of the title of Palmeiras in Libertadores 2021
Reference: CNN Brasil
