CORONAVIRUS CRISIS IN ITALY: Juventus star Paulo Dybala is latest to test positive, while Roberto Mancini and Marcello Lippi want Serie A completion

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS IN ITALY: Juventus star Paulo Dybala is latest to test positive... while Roberto Mancini and Marcello Lippi want Serie A completion and Antonio Cassano claims country could be gripped by COVID-19 for another 20 years!

•     Italy is currently the worst country affected by coronavirus in the whole world
•     Over 4,000 people have died since the COVID-19 outbreak in the country
•     Juventus' star Paulo Dybala is latest Serie A player to test positive for virus
•     Roberto Mancini, Marcello Lippi and Antonio Cassano have had their say on the coronavirus crisis and how the Serie A season should be completed 
•     Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala tested positive for coronavirus and is in isolation

Out of all the countries in Europe affected by coronavirus, Italy has by far had the most devastating consequences, with the country in lockdown and the streets eerily deserted.

Over 4,000 people have died from the pandemic in Italy, making the near-future of Serie A the least of the country's worries.

Yet with the Italian top-flight suspended until April 3 and inevitably months beyond, famous names and personnel in Italian football have had their say on what they're currently experiencing and what should happen next.

Juventus forward Paulo Dybala tested positive for coronavirus and is in isolation

'No play beyond end of June' - Damiano Tommasi, President of the Italian Football Association 

Damiano Tommasi, a former Roma and Verona midfielder, insists the health and safety of the public must be the priority and that the league cannot go beyond June 30.

'Cancelling everything is a serious possibility and that hypothesis exists,' he said.

Elaborating further, Tommasi explained why the threat of a void season remains very real: 'In the north the coronavirus is constantly growing, as in the rest of Europe,' he told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero.


'It was right to give a temporary solution, almost as a form of optimism. But there is still a lot to do.

'It is not about being catastrophic or optimistic, I just try to be realistic. We will start again but only in safety. We cannot play beyond June 30.'

'If Italians don't stay at home... we will live like this for 20 years!' - Antonio Cassano, former Italy, Roma and Real Madrid forward

The ex-Italy striker, who retired from football in 2018, was blunt when asked his opinion on the current crisis gripping Italy.

'I have underestimated the problem,' he told Italian TV programme Mediaset.

'There are still too many people leaving the house. If we continue like this, we will be in this situation for 20 years!'

While Roberto Mancini admits the resumption of players training in April is unlikely

While Roberto Mancini admits the resumption of players training in April is unlikely, he is hopeful play can continue very quickly once the very serious situation in the country dies down.

'If we solve the situation we can play in June,' he told Italian outlet Radio Uno.


'I am worried. Many people are dying, what is happening is terrible.

There are teams that have been stopped for a long time - 10-15 days is a long time but little by little we can recover from this situation no one has every experienced.

'If [the country] recovers, then matches will be really close.' 

'Health and safety must come first' - Ivan Gazidis, AC Milan CEO

The former Arsenal managing director Ivan Gazidis, now in the boardroom at AC Milan, emphasised the need to think about the wellbeing of the public before anything else as Italian football attempts to find a solution.

'Football will return at the most appropriate time but not before this world emergency is over,' Gazidis said.

AC Milan CEO says the health and safety of the public must come before football resumes

 'For me and AC Milan, the health and safety of our players and staff, of our community and especially the most vulnerable comes first.

Milan are one of the most active clubs in providing assistance for local charities and hospitals in the fight against coronavirus.  

'I hope my test will be negative' - Giorgio Chiellini, Juventus and Italy captain

The 35-year-old centre back has been self-isolating since Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus and he has been explaining his daily routine and situation to former Juve striker David Trezeguet, on the club's TV channel via Skype.

Juventus and Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini is awaiting his test results for coronavirus

'I hope my Coronavirus test will be negative,' he said. 'I decided to stay here at the Juventus Hotel because my family were down in Livorno.

'I am spending the day like everyone else. I do some exercise and try to pass the time.

'I read a little, I watch some TV. I play Playstation like when I was younger and video call my family and friends, nothing more.

'We all await a decision on how the football season will be continued.'

'Season's future in hands of the government' - Marcello Lippi, Italian World Cup winning manager

Marcello Lippi, who guided the national team to World Cup glory in 2006 and most recently managed China, is against any form of playoffs to decide the final Serie A standings.

Instead, he's convinced the season needs to be played to its conclusion, though he admits that is entirely in the hands of the Italian government.

Marcello Lippi, who most recently managed China, says the season has to be fully completed

 'Stopping Serie A depends on the Italian government. It should be cancelled but only if they say so,' the 71-year-old told Corriere dello Sport.

'I would like to see Serie A play all their matches with a final table. I hope we can do this by playing every three days.

'I would not like play-offs. I would like the season to end normally. Otherwise everything would be improper.' 

 Paulo Dybala, Juventus forward is latest star to test positive

The forward wrote: 'Hi everyone, I just wanted just to inform you that we have received the results for the Covid-19 test and both Oriana and I have tested positive. Luckily we are in perfect conditions. Thanks for your messages.'

Dybala's team-mate Rugani was one of the first professional Serie A players to contract the illness and unsurprisingly a number of his fellow Juventus players are at risk.

Elsewhere, Paulo Maldini's son Daniel tested positive for coronavirus after it was revealed his father had the illness.