Covid-19: Diego Llorente the second Spain player to test positive
In the wake of Sergio Busquets' positive test on Sunday, the RFEF has now announced that Diego Llorente has also contracted covid-19.
Defender Diego Llorente has become the second member of Spain’s Euro 2020 squad to test positive for covid-19, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed late on Tuesday.
“The RFEF regret to announce that the international footballer Diego Llorente has returned a positive test in the latest round of PCR tests carried out this morning at the Spain team’s camp at Las Rozas,” the federation said in a statement.
“The player will leave the Spain camp tonight in a medicalised vehicle, following all the established health protocols.”
Llorente joins Busquets in testing positive for covid-19
Spain’s preparations for Euro 2020 were thrown into chaos when midfielder Sergio Busquets tested positive for covid-19 on Sunday, just eight days before La Roja are due to kick off their campaign.
The rest of the Spain squad have been placed into isolation and are training individually at the squad’s base just outside Madrid.
Sextet called up to train in parallel bubble
Head coach Luis Enrique has also called up a group of six further players - Rodrigo Moreno, Pablo Fornals, Carlos Soler, Brais Méndez, Raúl Albiol and Kepa Arrizabalaga - who will train in a separate bubble and will be on standby should covid-19 leave Spain with a depleted squad.
According to UEFA regulations, Spain can make unlimited changes to their squad “in the event of serious injury or illness” up until Saturday at 21:00 CEST.
This provision includes players who have tested positive for covid-19.
Under-21s take seniors' place in Lithuania friendly
With the seniors in isolation, Spain’s Under-21s had to deputise in Tuesday’s Euro 2020 warm-up against Lithuania, Luis de la Fuente’s side running out 4-0 winners in Leganés.
Spain face Sweden in their Group E opener in Seville on Monday at 21:00 CEST.