Man Utd Issue Statement on Alex Telles Coronavirus Confusion
Manchester United have publicly questioned the situation regarding Alex Telles and a statement on Sunday from the Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) that the left-back has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty.
Telles has only played once for United since completing a £15.4m transfer from Porto on transfer deadline day in October because he tested positive for coronavirus soon after his sole appearance in the 2-1 Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.
The 27-year-old was obviously deemed to have recovered and no longer carry a threat of spreading the virus, otherwise he wouldn’t have been called up or travelled to Brazil in the first place. But now there is confusion that he appears to have returned a fresh positive test.
Telles appeared as a last minute substitute in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Friday. But now the Selecao have called up uncapped left-back Guilherme Arana as additional cover and will cut Telles from the squad if another round of testing yields a positive result.
The CBF have already said that the United defender is ‘no longer in a transmissive stage’, having first contracted the virus in October. But news of a positive test has left United perplexed and they are in touch with the Brazilian setup to check on their player.
The Old Trafford club are openly hoping that whatever the situation, whether it be a false positive or a remaining trace of the virus that Telles, presumably, tested negative for at some point after he first had it, will not prevent him from being involved against West Brom next Saturday.
A statement from United read: “Reports in Brazil have suggested Telles has tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time…however, it is understood Alex’s positive test does not necessarily mean he has contracted the virus again.
“United’s medical staff at the Aon Training Complex are monitoring the situation in Brazil and will make an assessment when Telles returns to England later this week. It is still hoped our recent signing from FC Porto will be available to play in Saturday's Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford.”
Luke Shaw’s absence for the next month or so with a hamstring injury adds extra importance to the Telles situation. Should the Brazilian also end up unavailable to face West Brom, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only Brandon Williams left as a recognised left-back.
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