FC BARCELONA on Wednesday confirmed three more COVID-19 cases in their first team squad, with Samuel Umtiti, Ousmane Dembele and Gavi all testing positive for the virus.

They join Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Dani Alves and Alexandre Balde, who returned positive results Monday and Tuesday, and will have to spend a week in isolation after the Spanish Government on Wednesday decided to reduce the time spent in quarantine for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases from 10 to seven days. The seven positive cases have further complicated Barca coach Xavi Hernandez’s job for Sunday’s visit to Mallorca, given that Gavi and Sergio Busquets are suspended for the game after completing a cycle of five bookings.

Meanwhile Pedri, Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay, Martin Braithwaite and Sergio Roberto are all injured, and although the first three have returned with the squad, none are expected to be in condition to play at the weekend.

There is a chance that Barca could still be hit with more positive tests, as Neto, Philippe Coutinho, Gerard Pique and Ronald Araujo enjoyed an extra day’s holiday and haven’t been tested yet.

New arrival Ferran Torres is still not available for selection as he is still putting the final touches to his recovery from an ankle injury and neither the former Manchester City forward nor Dani Alves, who will only be able to play until Barca move some players on to lower their wage ceiling.

(Xinhua)