Arsenal star Granit Xhaka was recently sidelined after testing positive for the Coronavirus while on international duty with Switzerland.
Apparently, the 28-year-old midfielder turned down the chance of vaccination before he tested positive.
Roma manager Jose Mourinho has now sent out a message to the player on social media asking him to get vaccinated.
The Swiss FA’s head of communications said: “Granit Xhaka was not vaccinated. He is a player who isn’t vaccinated. We left this up to each player, it’s a personal decision of each player – just like any other person in Switzerland. We have issued a recommendation that everyone vaccinates. But he decided for himself personally. And it is also his right not to be vaccinated.”
He added: “All the other players in the team have been vaccinated or have recovered [from Covid] – so they are more or less safe, at least from a medical point of view. One is never quite sure. Accordingly, we have a very high vaccination rate. Now, unfortunately, Granit got caught. From a sporting point of view, it is a shame for us at this important moment.”
Xhaka was heavily linked with a move to Roma during the summer transfer window but the Swiss international ended up staying at Arsenal.
The 28-year-old also signed a new deal worth around £100,000 a week and he is set to stay at the London club for at least two years with the option of another year.
Xhaka was outstanding for Switzerland during the European Championships earlier on in the summer and that prompted the interest from Roma.
The Italian outfit had an agreement with the player as well but they failed to convince Arsenal with their offer.
Since then, the midfielder has not been able to replicate his form at club level and Xhaka has made a poor start to the Premier League season.
The midfielder is currently serving a suspension and he is set to miss the next Premier League clash for Arsenal.
The Gunners have been quite underwhelming on a whole and it will be interesting to see if they can bounce back strongly after the international break.
