Barcelona player tests positive for coronavirus after returning for pre-season

Unidendtified player not part of Champions League squad

The empty entrance to Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. AFP

A woman in a face mask walks past Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. EPA

View of the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. EPA

Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. Bloomberg

Pedestrians pass Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium. Bloomberg

The Camp Nou stadium, home to FC Barcelona. Bloomberg

Empty seats and a trophy sit inside the Camp Nou stadium. Bloomberg

A visitor on the Barcelona FC tour takes a selfie inside the Camp Nou stadium before the coronavirus gripped Spain. Reuters

A visitor on the Barcelona FC tour inside the Camp Nou stadium before the coronavirus gripped Spain. Reuters

A visitor on the Barcelona FC tour inside the Camp Nou stadium before the coronavirus gripped Spain. Reuters

La Liga giants Barcelona said on Wednesday that one player has tested positive for the coronavirus upon returning to pre-season training.

Barca did not reveal the identity of the player but said he had not come into contact with any members of the senior squad, who are in Lisbon to compete in the Champions League "Final Eight" tournament.

"Following PCR tests conducted this Tuesday afternoon on the group of nine players due to begin the preseason today, one of them has tested positive for Covid-19. The player has no symptoms, is in good health and has been quarantined at his home," Barca said in a statement.

"The club has reported the matter to the relevant sporting and health authorities. All persons who have been in contact with the player have been tracked to perform the corresponding PCR tests.

"The player has not been in contact with any of the senior team players who are scheduled to travel to Lisbon this Thursday to compete in the Champions League."

The positive test at Barcelona comes a day after fellow La Liga club Valencia reported two positive cases upon their return to pre-season.

It continues a rise in the number of confirmed infections among La Liga teams after Atletico Madrid's Sime Vrsaljko and Angel Correa both tested positive on Saturday.

Real Madrid striker Mariano Diaz and Sevilla midfielder Nemanja Gudelj have also been infected in the last two weeks.

La Liga completed the 2019/20 season on July 19 and the plan is for the 2020/21 campaign to begin on September 12, following the conclusion of the Champions League and Europa League.

Barcelona are still involved in the Champions League, where they face German champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Spain has been one of the worst-hit countries by the pandemic and has seen an increase in cases in recent weeks. The Spanish health ministry on Monday reported 8,618 new coronavirus infections since Friday and 65 deaths from the virus over the previous seven days.