Ahead Of The Italian League Continuation Match, Chiellini Forced Out Due To Positive COVID-19

JAKARTA - Juventus will undergo a continuation match of the Italian League 2021/2022 against Napoli on Friday, January 7 next. However, ahead of the match, the Bianconerri have certainly lost their captain, Giorgio Chiellini.

Chiellini certainly missed the match because he had to undergo isolation. Because, on Sunday, January 2, 2022, the club announced that their captain had tested positive for COVID-19.

"Juventus announces that during the observation period prior to the resumption of competition, Giorgio Chiellini has tested positive for COVID-19," read a Juventus statement.

"The player's condition has been monitored and has been isolated in accordance with applicable health protocols," explained the club from Turin.

Giorgio Chiellini is a pillar player in the Juventus defense throughout the 2021-2022 season. The 37-year-old defender has started in 11 of Juve's 25 games this season.

Chiellini was actually prepared to appear in the main squad when facing Napoli in the Italian League after the Christmas and New Year's 2022 holiday break. However, Chiellini was forced to miss the match because he tested positive for COVID-19 during a test at the training ground on Sunday local time.

Before being tested positive, the Italy international had already received the full vaccine. Chiellini even spent time in quarantine due to close contact with someone who was positive for the virus.

Positive Chiellini became the third Juventus player to be absent, because previously there were Arthur and Carlo Pinsoglio who tested positive first. But both players have recovered and returned to training this weekend.

Not only Juventus, Napoli were also hit by the COVID-19 storm. Luciano Spalleti's club is confirmed without Hirving Lozano, Lorenzo Insigne and Fabian Ruiz because these three players also tested positive for COVID-19.