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Cristiano Ronaldo has returned a second negative coronavirus test, but will not start Sunday’s game against Spezia, Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo said on the eve of the game.
“The negative result of the second swab has also arrived, so today Cristiano Ronaldo will be called up to the team,” Pirlo said.
“He’s fine and he’s been training individually this morning. I don’t think he’s starting from the beginning, we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has missed four games with Juventus, including a midweek Champions League defeat against Barcelona.
But the 35-year-old will travel with the team to Cesena, on the Adriatic coast, where Ligurian Spezia are playing their home games while their Stadio Picco is modernized for its first season in the top flight.
Juventus are fifth in Serie A, having drawn three matches out of five, including 1-1 against the promoted Crotone, and are four points behind leaders AC Milan.
“Tomorrow is a game that we must win,” said Pirlo de Spezia, 14th placed, who has five points in as many games.
“It will be difficult, as it was in Crotone, Spezia is a newly promoted team that is doing well.
“I know his coach (Vincenzo Italiano) well, we were on the same training course together,” continued Pirlo, who obtained his coaching diploma just before the start of the season.
“I’m not surprised by the pressure, I have always been the center of attention and I am used to having responsibilities.”
Ronaldo has been named alongside his fellow forwards Paulo Dybala and Álvaro Morata.
Defender Leonardo Bonucci is expected to play after a minor thigh problem, but Giorgio Chiellini will not.
