This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On May 13, 2020, Italian football club Juventus was dealing with the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. The club had cut wages, and some players were yet to return to Italy for training.
French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 25, was one of them. He had been confined to his home on the French Riviera for two months. However, he suggested that he should be back in Turin on Wednesday.
Italian newspaper La Stampa had claimed that Rabiot was on 'personal strike' in his Cote d'Azur villa in protest at the club's decision to cut wages. In response, Rabiot posted a humorous message on Instagram, writing, "When you realise it's your last day on... STRIKE!" alongside two laughing emojis and a sad-looking photo of himself.
He later posted a drawing of a small vial with the words "Newspapers-TV-Press, do not swallow". This was seen as a tongue-in-cheek comment on the media's reporting of his situation.
Most foreign Serie A players have now returned to Italy, including Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Italian clubs have been allowed to resume individual training since May 4, but this has been optional for players.
