Italian clubs will be allowed to train in groups from Monday 18 May, after Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte gave Serie A preparations the go-ahead, despite the ongoing battle against the coronavirus.
The sporting calendar was brought to a halt at the beginning of March by the deadly virus, and there was little hope that the season would be completed as Italy became the most infected country in Europe.
But the situation has vastly improved in recent weeks, and Prime Minister Conte announced that ‘team training will restart on May 18, including football’, although the Italian government is waiting for some ‘guarantees’ before confirming the return date of the fixture list, as reported by Goal.
“Team training will restart on May 18, including football,” Conte said. “[Minister of Sport Vincenzo] Spadafora is following the situation with great attention and is very responsible.
“We must wait for conditions to be achieved to guarantee maximum safety for the resumption of the championship.
“We need some more guarantees which at the moment have not been met. We hope this will happen as soon as possible.”
The wheels are in motion for the return of calcio, and Serie A clubs have already begun recalling players back to Italy, who had previously returned to their homeland to spend lockdown with their families.
Teams are desperate to get their players back into the country as soon as possible, as those who return must spend two weeks in isolation before joining any group training or activities of any kind.
Serie A viewers are keen to see the league recommence, after Lazio launched a pulsating title challenge against champions Juventus, with only one point separating the two teams. I Bianconeri will have Paulo Dybala in contention for immediate action, after the Argentine star overcame his lengthy battle with the coronavirus.