Inter’s players have no chance of going on international duty next week due to Italy’s COVID-19 rules, as highlighted by a report in the Italian media tonight.
Croatia’s football federation insisted earlier that it would ‘do everything’ to ensure Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic could join them for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
However, as per La Repubblica, via FcInterNews.it, this is simply not possible after Milan’s local health authority banned Inter’s players from travelling anywhere for 14 days, until March 31.
The ban is effective from yesterday because that is when the team were last in contact with Matias Vecino and Stefan de Vrij – both of whom returned positive COVID-19 tests today – and it applies to everyone, including those who have previously had the virus and recovered.
Inter’s entire squad is to remain in fiduciary isolation until Monday, the date upon which sporting activity at the club is expected to resume.
The report goes on to add that the protocol requires all of Inter’s players to be subjected to another round of molecular testing within 48 hours after 13:00 CET today, which is when the Nerazzurri players last got tested.
But it cannot be excluded that these tests will take place sooner.
Inter’s Serie A fixture at home to Sassuolo has been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.