Lionel Messi wears face mask and gloves as Barcelona squad arrive back in training and squad are tested for coronavirus

Posted Thursday, May 07, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk

LIONEL MESSI wore a face mask and gloves as he returned to training for the first time in almost two months.

The Argentine was one of several Barcelona stars to arrive wearing PPE on Wednesday morning before being tested for coronavirus.

Lionel Messi wears face mask and gloves as Barcelona squad arrive back in training and squad are tested for coronavirus
Lionel Messi wore a face mask and gloves on his return to training

The players have not been to Barca's sprawling training complex since March 13 after the Covid-19 pandemic hit Spain particularly hard.

But they are finally making their way back to begin isolated training after the country relaxed its strict lockdown rules this week.

Barca's training ground was inspected on Tuesday and given the all clear by LaLiga for players and coaches to return.

Sergi Roberto, Ivan Rakitic, Clement Lenglet and Marc-Andre ter Stegen were the first four squad members to arrive.

Frenkie de Jong, Nelson Semedo, Arthur Melo and Martin Braithwaite soon joined them at the complex.

And they were followed by captain Messi and Luis Suarez.

The pals often arrive together, but are now forced to travel in separate cars rather than sharing a lift.

Testing of players and staff will continue throughout Wednesday and Thursday - if everyone is clear, the club hope to start group training in the coming weeks.

To begin with, they will train completely alone and work individually while wearing gloves and always keeping at least two metres away from each other - with the coaching staff doing the same.

After that initial phase, the next step would see the players starting to work in small groups together and then a return to regular 'pre-season' training.

Protocols sent to the Nou Camp club suggested players should avoid contact with family and other people.

According to reports, there is an option for the players to move into La Masia, the on-site accommodation for the academy, because the youngsters have returned home - but this is not thought to be wanted.

There is still no set date for when LaLiga will resume its season, although an early June date is being targeted in order to complete the campaign by the end of July.

Barcelona sit top of the table, two points clear of rivals Real Madrid with 11 games remaining.

Atletico Madrid and city-rivals Real Madrid also returned to training on Wednesday.

Spanish league president Javier Tebas has always been adamant the season WOULD finish, saying a cancellation to the season would cost a staggering £840million.

In a statement, Tebas said: "People's health is paramount. We have a comprehensive protocol to safeguard the health of everyone involved as we work to restart LaLiga.

"Circumstances are unprecedented, but we hope to start playing again in June and finish our 2019/20 season this summer."

In England, some clubs are following similar training methods with the likes of Arsenal opening their London Colney base to allow players to work alone with a pitch each.

It is a similar situation in Italy with champions Juventus heading back in on Tuesday for the first time.

But in Germany, Bayern Munich have been training since April 6 and the Bundesliga are hoping to get matches back underway behind closed doors, potentially as early as May 15.