This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
Italian football clubs have been slowly returning to normalcy since May 4, when individual training resumed. However, some players, including Juventus's Adrien Rabiot, have been taking their time to return to their teams.
On May 13, Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that Rabiot was on a personal strike in his Cote d'Azur villa, protesting the club's decision to cut wages amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, the 25-year-old French midfielder quickly responded to the claims with a dose of sarcasm.
"When you realise it's your last day on... STRIKE!" Rabiot wrote on Instagram, 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".
It appears that Rabiot is set to return to Juventus on Wednesday, as he has been spending the two-month coronavirus confinement at his home on the French Riviera. The Frenchman's return will be a welcome relief for the team, which has been missing several key players, including Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Meanwhile, Portugal's Primeira Liga has announced that it will be able to restart the season from its coronavirus-forced suspension on June 4. The league's announcement comes after the Portuguese government said that the last 10 rounds of the season will have to be played according to strict medical protocol.
Players will have to pass coronavirus tests twice a week and matches will be played "in the fewest number of stadiums possible". Authorities will now identify which grounds matches can be played in.
