This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
On Tuesday, Juventus players returned to individual training at the team's sports centre in Turin, marking a significant step towards the resumption of the 2019-20 season.
Giorgio Chiellini, the team's captain, led the way, arriving early with Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci, who wore a black face mask. Midfielder Aaron Ramsey was among the first to arrive, followed by playmaker Miralem Pjanic, Juan Cuadrado, Mattia De Sciglio, Federico Bernardeschi, and Daniele Rugani in the afternoon.
According to Juventus, the training sessions will take place on an individual basis, with staggered arrivals to ensure compliance with the regulations in force. The team added that the players had undergone tests and exams at J Medical the previous day, marking the official start of their recovery to regain competitive form.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, returned to Turin with his family on Monday, but is currently in quarantine awaiting tests. His return to Italy comes after two months of confinement on his native island of Madeira, where he played Juventus' last match against Inter Milan on March 8 behind closed doors.
The Italian interior ministry's green light has allowed players to return to club training facilities two weeks ahead of schedule, offering a glimmer of hope that the season might yet be saved. Top-flight clubs Atalanta, Bologna, and Udinese also resumed training on Tuesday, with Sassuolo and Lecce leading the way on Monday.
However, sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned that group training must wait until May 18, and it remains uncertain whether matches can restart as the country battles the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed over 29,000 in Italy.
Spadafora denied wanting to call a halt to the season, stating, 'A realistic prediction can be made in mid-May.' He added, 'It would be surreal for a sports minister to demonise football.' The government will decide on the restart, with Spadafora committing to limit the financial damage to clubs and support the whole world of sport, investing around one billion euros ($1.08 billion) for the sector as a whole.
