DIEGO COSTA is the latest big-name star to test positive for coronavirus.
The Atletico Madrid striker was tested on his summer holiday and will now spend two weeks in quarantine.
Diego Costa has tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Reuters
Colombian team-mate Santiago Arias also tested positive and both will struggle to be fit for their season curtain-raiser against Granada on September 27.
A statement released by the club read: “Today [Thursday} all the members of the first team passed the preliminary tests required by the protocol at the beginning of the new 2020/21 season at the Wanda de Majadahonda Sports City.
“The first team attended, except for the internationals who are concentrated with their respective teams and who will be incorporated into the group’s discipline as the commitments with their countries go by.
“Neither did the players Diego Costa and Santiago Arias, who underwent a PCR test on their own with a positive result during their vacation period outside Madrid. Both cases are asymptomatic, in quarantine and complying with the protocols of the corresponding health authorities and La Liga.
“For this reason, both players will not be incorporated at the start of the preseason, scheduled for September 4 at the Wanda de Majadahonda Sports City, until they complete the relevant quarantine.”
Atletico’s training was set to commence on September 4 but the pair will now remain inside their homes in quarantine.
Costa, 31, joins a whole host of big-name players who have tested positive for the virus during the off-season.
On Wednesday it was confirmed Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes had tested positive.
Santiago Arias, left, also tested positive for the virusCredit: Reuters
PSG announced Neymar had tested positive for the virus on WednesdayCredit: Reuters
And French stars Paul Pogba and Tanguy Ndombele were forced to pull out of international duty with Covid-19.
The English top flight was hit by 14 mystery cases at 12 pre-season camps.
It sparked fears that players were catching the deadly virus on their summer holidays and bringing it back to their clubs.
Eight Chelsea players were also forced to stay home after either testing positive or having been in close contact with those who have caught coronavirus.
England internationals Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori and American star Christian Pulisic were all house-bound.
And Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Emerson and Michy Batshuayi also faced a period of self-isolation.
Most recently, Wolves winger Adama Traore had to pull out of Spain duty after a positive test result scuppered his chance of a first cap.
Neymar ‘tests positive for coronavirus’ after Ibiza holiday as PSG confirm three cases just eight days before season
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
