Serie A clubs given the all-clear to resume group training on May 18

The first-full week of May saw something take place that we haven’t seen in two months: Juventus players, one by one, rolling up to J Medical to undergo exams and then return to the training fields at Continassa. Not all of Juve’s players have been seen for obvious and quarantine reasons, but the group that has spent the entire coronavirus pandemic in Italy have slowly but surely (and safely) made their way back to individual training.

There’s about to be a few more players taking part in training soon.

The Italian government announced Monday that clubs are just a few minor details away — mostly pertaining to the FIGC’s medical protocol — from resuming team training on Monday, May 18. This is in accordance with the timetable that was first put together in late April before the individualized training rules ahead of the May 4 reopening of team facilities as well as some of the lockdown restrictions being eased across Italy.

A joint statement from Ministers Vincenzo Spadafora and Roberto Speranza

“The scientific committee has given its verdict, requested by the Government, on the medical protocol and confirmed the prudent approach taken so far by the ministers. The indications of the committee, which are to be considered stringent and binding, will be transmitted to the Federation for the required adjustments to the protocol so that teams can resume training in safety from May 18.”

Based on the small batch of photos Juventus’ official website and social media accounts have been posting over the past seven days, it looks as though just a few players have been taking part in individual training each day. On Monday, just before the Italian government essentially gave the all-clear to resume team training on May 18, Juve posted the following briefing on its website:

The Juventus players are continuing to undergo individual training. Bentancur, Bernardeschi, Bonucci, Buffon, Chiellini, Cuadrado, De Sciglio, Dybala, Pinsoglio, Pjanic, Ramsey and Rugani have all been present at the JTC in the last few days.

Meanwhile, Merih Demiral has been continuing his rehabilitation at J | Medical.

The biggest arrival to check back in at Juventus Training Center was, obviously, Dybala due to his six-week battle with the coronavirus. Rugani, another one of the three Juve players who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in March, has also been at the team’s training grounds over the last week, as noted by the team’s statement.