Manchester City defender Eric Garcia and one member of club staff have tested positive for COVID-19, the club have confirmed.
Manchester City Duo Test Positive for COVID-19
More COVID-19 Cases in the Manchester City Camp
The news will be alarming for both the Manchester club and the Premier League. On Christmas Day, Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus and two members of staff also tested positive, enforcing the club to close the training ground as a precaution.
On Monday, the players and staff returned to the City Football Academy after the entire bubble was tested. The training facility was deep cleaned, with only essential operations around training resuming.
As a result, the City players were tested again on Tuesday after their game against Everton was postponed.
That fixture, along with games involving Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley, were also halted and will be rescheduled for a later date.
Manchester City Statement on Eric Garcia and Member of Staff
NEWS | Manchester City can confirm that Eric Garcia and one member of staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5rehttps://t.co/4UiymweyBw
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 3, 2021
In a brief statement issued on Sunday afternoon, the club said: “Both personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.
“Everyone at the Club wishes our colleagues a speedy recovery ahead of their return to work, training and competition.”
Garcia has recently been linked with a return to Spain to rejoin Barcelona. There has been talk of the defender leaving this month, but it seems likely that both clubs will wait until the player becomes a free agent in the summer.
Upcoming Fixtures
Talk of a Premier League circuit break have been mooted but seem to have dissipated in the past few days.
City are due to face Chelsea on Sunday afternoon before continuing in their pursuit of defending the Carabao Cup when they face rivals Manchester United on Wednesday.
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