Parma Staff Member Becomes First Virus Case since Serie A Restart

A general view inside the empty stadium prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on June 28, 2020 in Parma, Italy. (Getty Images)
A general view inside the empty stadium prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on June 28, 2020 in Parma, Italy. (Getty Images)
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Parma Staff Member Becomes First Virus Case since Serie A Restart

A general view inside the empty stadium prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on June 28, 2020 in Parma, Italy. (Getty Images)
A general view inside the empty stadium prior to the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Ennio Tardini on June 28, 2020 in Parma, Italy. (Getty Images)

A member of the first team staff at Parma has tested positive for COVID-19, the Serie A club said on Saturday, adding that all squad staff and players have returned negative results.

It was the first case of the new coronavirus at any of the 20 clubs since Serie A restarted on June 19.

“The person is completely asymptomatic and was promptly isolated according to federal and ministerial directives,” the club said in a statement, without giving the person’s identity or area of work.

Parma said that, under the Italian government’s health guidelines, the players would be isolated at the club’s training ground but would be able to continue normal activities under constant monitoring.

The statement did not specify whether this included matches, but several Italian media said Parma would be able to fulfil their fixture at home to Bologna on Sunday provided all players tested negative again on the day.



Atletico Madrid Reaches Deal to Sign Argentina International Thiago Almada

Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Colombia - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - June 10, 2025 Argentina's Thiago Almada celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Colombia - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - June 10, 2025 Argentina's Thiago Almada celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
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Atletico Madrid Reaches Deal to Sign Argentina International Thiago Almada

Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Colombia - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - June 10, 2025 Argentina's Thiago Almada celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)
Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Colombia - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - June 10, 2025 Argentina's Thiago Almada celebrates scoring their first goal. (Reuters)

Atletico Madrid has reached an agreement to sign Argentina international Thiago Almada from Brazilian club Botafogo.

Atletico said Tuesday the 24-year-old attacking midfielder, who was playing on loan with French club Lyon, will sign his contract with the Spanish club after passing a medical.

Atletico did not disclose the transfer fee or give details on the length of the contract.

Spanish media said the transfer was worth about 25 million euros ($29 million), with Botafogo receiving a percentage of a possible future transfer to another club.

Almada arrives after forward Ángel Correa left Atletico to sign with Mexican club Tigres. He'll join an attack that includes countryman Julián Álvarez, Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth.

Atletico had already boosted its squad by signing midfielder Álex Baena from Villarreal and 22-year-old Italian left back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta.

Diego Simeone’s team finished third in the Spanish league last season, behind Real Madrid and champion Barcelona. It was eliminated in the group stage of the Club World Cup.