Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie completes Covid-19 isolation… before Cristiano Ronaldo

Juventus star Weston McKennie ready to return to action after returning a negative coronavirus test… but Cristiano Ronaldo’s return is still uncertain after testing positive for a second time

Weston McKennie has been set free from Covid-19 isolation after testing positive 10-days ago, while his team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo waits with his return uncertain.   

The whole Juventus first-team squad was plunged into lockdown on October 14 when the midfielder tested positive, just 24 hours after Ronaldo. 

McKennie has missed two games in isolation after Andrea Pirlo started the American in both of the Turin side’s opening Serie A games this season, and while he won’t be ready for Hellas Verona on Saturday he should be in line to face Barcelona.  

Weston McKennie can now complete his Juventus comeback after 10-days in isolation 

His team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting for his fate after a second Covid-19 positive

His team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo is still waiting for his fate after a second Covid-19 positive

McKennie impressed in his first two Serie A starts but has missed two more games in isolation

McKennie impressed in his first two Serie A starts but has missed two more games in isolation

‘Weston McKennie carried out, as per protocol, the control with a diagnostic test for the coronavirus-Covid 19,’ Juventus announced.

‘The examination gave a negative result. The player is therefore healed and no longer subjected to home isolation.’

There is no mention of Ronaldo whose initial test was a day earlier than McKennie’s, before the Portuguese star returned a second positive on Thursday.

The former Real Madrid forward is desperate to return in time for Juventus’ Champions League clash with Barcelona, hungry for his first face-off with Lionel Messi since leaving Spain in 2018.    

Ronaldo returned a positive test after returning from international duty with Portugal

Ronaldo returned a positive test after returning from international duty with Portugal 

Ronaldo would need to have tested negative a week before the Barcelona tie on October 28, but Juventus filed a medical report to UEFA demonstrating that the star’s test revealed a very low viral load. 

It means the Portugal talisman should get his way if he returns a negative result from another test on Friday. 

Ronaldo has had to brush off accusations from Italy’s sports minister that he broke coronavirus protocols, having flown from Portugal to Italy in a private helicopter on his way back from international duty. 

The forward wants to be ready to clash with his old foe Lionel Messi when Juve play Barcelona

The forward wants to be ready to clash with his old foe Lionel Messi when Juve play Barcelona

Ronaldo has been demonstrating he's asymptomatic on social media since a second positive

Ronaldo has been demonstrating he’s asymptomatic on social media since a second positive

The Juventus star called the claims a ‘lie’ and that he and the club: ‘Complied with all the procedures.’

The Italian champions could do with both McKennie and Ronaldo back in action after a frustrating 1-1 draw with Crotone on Saturday stalled their title defence. 

McKennie is on a season-long loan from Schalke, with the Serie A side able to trigger a £16.5m clause in his contract for a permanent deal. 

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