Former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been diagnosed with the coronavirus following his return to China, the Belgian's Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng announced on their official website on Sunday.
Fellaini, who joined Shandong last January from the English Premier League side, returned to the country on Friday and was placed in immediate 14-day self-isolation upon his arrival in the city of Jinan where he was then tested.
Dear friends, I have been tested for coronavirus and my test result is positive. Thanks to the fans, medical staff and the club for their care and attention. I will follow the treatment and hope to return to the game as soon as possible. Please everyone stay safe.❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/xTczNLoz1w
— Marouane Fellaini (@Fellaini) March 22, 2020
The former Belgium international did not have a fever and was asymptomatic, the club said.
A statement read: "The official test confirmed that Fellaini tested positive for the coronavirus during his quarantine observation period. The player's body temperature has been normal and he is comfortable. He has received further treatment at a designated medical institution.
"The club will do its best to cooperate and provide help for the player's treatment and rehabilitation, and wishes for his swift recovery.
"Fellaini has expressed his gratitude to the fans and his friends at the club, adding that he will get better soon and be stronger than ever when he returns."
Chinese football has been hit hard by the outbreak, with the start of the Chinese Super League pushed back indefinitely from its intended Feb. 22 start date.
Fellaini, however, is the first player in the country's top flight to have returned a positive test for the virus. Brazilian striker Dori, who plays for second division side Meizhou Hakka, was confirmed as having the virus last week while Spain-based China international Wu Lei, who plays for Espanyol, said he was recovering from the condition on Saturday.
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Fellaini is the latest high profile person in football to test positive for the virus.
Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala has tested positive but has no symptoms, the Serie A club said on Saturday, making him the third Juve player to be infected so far. Fellow Juventus teammates Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi both tested positive for the virus earlier this month.
Former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, a player for the same club, have both contracted the coronavirus, while the former president of Real Madrid, Lorenzo Sanz, has died at the age of 76 after contracting the virus.
Fellaini scored 22 goals in 177 appearances for Manchester United, from 2013-19. His former club, along with Manchester City, have donated £100,000 between themselves to help the vulnerable during the pandemic.
Information from Reuters was used in this report.