Juventus's French midfielder Adrien Rabiot reacted with irony yesterday to reports his delay in returning to Turin was because he was on "strike" in protest at the club cutting wages amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"When you realise it's your last day on ... STRIKE!" Rabiot wrote on Instagram, alongside two laughing emojis and a sad-looking photo of himself.
Shortly after, the former Paris Saint-Germain player posted a new image, a drawing of a small vial on which was written "Newspapers-TV-Press, do not swallow".
The 25-year-old, who has spent the two-month coronavirus confinement at his home on the French Riviera, suggested that he should be back in Turin on Wednesday.
Italian newspaper La Stampa had claimed that the Frenchman was on "personal strike" in his Cote d'Azur villa in protest at the club's decision to cut wages.
Most foreign Serie A players have now returned to Italy, including Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Italian clubs have been allowed to resume individual training since May 4, but this has been optional for players.
At Juventus, besides Rabiot, Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain has also yet to return to northern Italy.
Meanwhile, Portugal's Primeira Liga will be able to restart the season from its coronavirus-forced suspension on June 4, the country's football league announced on Tuesday.
"We wish to guarantee stadiums are rigorously inspected and the professionals are tested. June 4 is the date when the 25th round of matches of Liga Portugal can resume," the league said statement said.
At the end of last month Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa had announced the final weekend of May as the restart date for the country's top flight.
The Portuguese government have said the last 10 rounds of the season, which was suspended on March 12, will have to be played according to strict medical protocol.
Players will have to pass coronavirus tests twice a week and matches will be played "in the fewest number of stadiums possible". Authorities will now identify which grounds matches can be played in.
The league's announcement comes a day after Benfica announced their midfielder David Tavares had tested positive for Covid-19.
Benfica said that Tavares, 21, who is not a regular first-team player, was asymptomatic and in quarantine. His positive test follows Vitoria Guimaraes confirming three positive cases on Saturday and Moreirense one more.
The overall tally for positive cases in the Primeira Liga is at least eight players.
For More of This and Other Sports Stories Subscribe to the Standard Epaper
