This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On May 13, 2020, Juventus's French midfielder Adrien Rabiot reacted to reports of his delayed return to Turin, Italy, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
However, Rabiot took to Instagram to express his skepticism, writing, 'When you realise it's your last day on … STRIKE!' alongside two laughing emojis and a sad-looking photo of himself.
He also posted a drawing of a small vial with the words 'Newspapers-TV-Press, do not swallow', suggesting that the media should be cautious in their reporting.
As Italian clubs resumed individual training on May 4, 2020, Rabiot, 25, was expected to return to Turin on May 13, 2020. However, he remained in his French Riviera home, joining Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain as one of the few Juventus players yet to return.
Most foreign Serie A players, including Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic, had already returned to Italy.
