Cavani had COVID-19 and thought of quitting before Man Utd move

 Cavani had coronavirus and thought of quitting before Man Utd move

Edinson Cavani had coronavirus and thought about quitting football before signing with Manchester United.

Veteran striker Cavani and his girlfriend tested positive for COVID-19 following a holiday that saw them join former Paris Saint-Germain team-mates in Ibiza, a trip that also saw Neymar, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Mauro Icardi, Keylor Navas and Marquinhos contract the virus.

At that point the 33-year-old Cavani was without a club following the expiration of his PSG contract in June, but United handed him a one-year deal, with an option for another, on deadline day.

Cavani spent some of his time working on farmland in his native Salto, Uruguay, and thought about packing in life as a professional footballer.

"It was something we kept to ourselves and I was going to say it at some point," Cavani told Uruguayan outlet 2 de punta of testing positive for coronavirus.

"There was nothing to be gained by saying it at the time if you were complying with the protocol that had to be followed.

"We spent many days in quarantine, even longer than necessary. There was no need to tell anyone.

"It was after we arrived in Paris from Spain. At first we were negative, but when my girlfriend started to get symptoms we took the test again and we were positive.

"My family's health comes first. Of course I thought about quitting football. It is true I considered that option and the possibility of stopping playing and dedicating myself to life in the countryside."

Cavani, whose last competitive match was in March due to the cancellation of the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season, was linked with Gremio and Benfica before signing with United on Monday.

Asked about what it was like spending so long without a team, he said: "It's normal that you start to feel anxious. The leagues had started and of course I wanted to have a team.

"I believe that in life things come when they are meant to and sometimes, no matter how much you want something, if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen.

"There was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Days began to pass and I saw my family, friends and everyone wanting to know where I was going to play.

"Now we're here, happy with the decision and wanting to put on the shirt."

Shaqiri becomes third Liverpool player in a week to test positive for COVID-19

Xherdan Shaqiri has become the third Liverpool player to test positive for coronavirus over the past week.

The forward, who remained at Anfield despite having been linked to the likes of Sevilla and Lazio ahead of deadline day, travelled to link up with the Switzerland squad on Monday.

However, the Swiss Football Association on Tuesday revealed Shaqiri returned a positive test for COVID-19 and he will now undergo a period of self-isolation.

"Xherdan Shaqiri has tested positive for Covid-19. In consultation with the health authorities, he is in isolation," a statement read.

"The strict protective measures and requirements of UEFA for national teams in accordance with the 'UEFA Return to Play Protocol' have been strictly adhered to since the move began.

"Based on this, clarifications are currently underway with the local health authorities about how to proceed."

Shaqiri consequently misses Switzerland's friendly against Croatia and Nations League fixtures with Spain and Germany.

He is the third player in Liverpool's squad to test positive for the virus since last week, with Thiago Alcantara – who arrived from Bayern Munich in the transfer window – confirming he had contracted COVID-19 last Tuesday.

It was then revealed Sadio Mane had also tested positive last Friday, with Liverpool then going on to lose 7-2 at Aston Villa on Sunday.

All three players could still play against Everton in the Merseyside derby on October 17, though, as protocols require those with positive tests to go through a quarantine period of 10 days.

Dubois and Edouard test positive, ruled out of French plans

Lyon defender Leo Dubois has tested positive and will miss France's games against Ukraine, Portugal and Croatia, the French Football Federation has announced.

Real Madrid's Ferland Mendy has been called up to fill in for Dubois by national coach Didier Deschamps and will join the squad after Wednesday evening's friendly against Ukraine at the Stade de France.

The French federation (FFF) said on its website that Dubois was tested by UEFA on Tuesday morning and received his result at the end of evening training at the France team's Clairefontaine headquarters.

The outcome meant he was placed in solitary confinement ahead of being sent back to Lyon.

France play Portugal on Sunday in Paris before travelling to play Croatia in Zagreb on the following Wednesday, with both games part of their Nations League campaign.

The FFF also said Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard had tested positive for COVID-19 and was separated from his team-mates after training with the France Under-21 squad before being put into isolation.

It means Edouard will miss the France Under-21 team's Euro 2021 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Slovakia.