Former Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber has been taken to hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus and is currently in a “critical period”, his wife said late on Saturday.
“We have taken my husband Rustu to hospital with a Covid-19 diagnosis. While everything was normal, we are still in shock by the sudden and rapidly developing symptoms,” Isil Recber said on social media, adding that her and her two children had all tested negative.
Rustu, who is Turkey’s most-capped player having made 120 international appearances, renowned as they reached the semi-finals at the 2002 World Cup. He is revered at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, where he played for more than a decade. Rustu, 46, also had a short spell at Barcelona and retired from the sport in 2012.
Barcelona shows solidarity with its former colleague, saying on twitter “Get well Rustu! We love you and we as Barcelona stand with you!”
Turkey’s death toll from the coronavirus has reached 131, while 9,217 people have been confirmed with the virus.
Whereas, Obi Mikel has also quit Turkey football club over coronavirus fears, on 18 March.
Former Nigeria captain and ex-Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi has parted away with his football club Trabzonspor by mutual consent, days after expressing his concerns about the Turkish Super Lig continuing amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
The player’s two-year contract was cancelled yesterday following his social media post confirming he was not comfortable playing until the coronavirus outbreak was over.
Trabzonspor football club also confirmed that his contract had ended.
Obi wrote on Instagram: “There is more to life than football. I do not feel comfortable and don’t want to play football in this situation.”