Retired Roma captain Francesco Totti said he has recovered from COVID-19 but only after a "long 15 days".
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"With a certain relief I can tell you that it was not a walk in the park," the 44-year-old former Italy star wrote on Instagram, adding that he felt weak, with low oxygen levels and a fever.
When doctors told him he had coronavirus-related double pneumonia "it was a blow to the heart," Totti said, noting he managed to be treated at home, rather than hospital, due to a speedy diagnosis.
Totti's father Enzo died last month from the coronavirus at 76.
Luka Jovic became the latest Real Madrid player to test positive for coronavirus, leaving the Spanish champions without their top two strikers for their match at Villarreal on Saturday.
Jovic joined teammates Casemiro and Eder Militao in isolation after testing positive.
However, Belgian star Eden Hazard is cleared to play at Villarreal after missing the previous La Liga round due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Zinedine Zidane's team will also be without captain Sergio Ramos, striker Karim Benzema and midfielder Federico Valverde who are all injured.
Meanwhile, Fiji had a third Autumn Nations Cup rugby match cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak among their squad.
The Flying Fijians have been grounded with their November 28 clash with Scotland at Murrayfield called off.
Fiji's players are in isolation after 29 members of the touring squad tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
Matches against France last weekend and Italy this weekend have already been cancelled but organisers hope Fiji will be able to play their final scheduled match of the tournament on December 5.
The Toronto Raptors will start the NBA season based in Tampa, Florida, because travel restrictions by the Canadian government stemming from the pandemic won't allow non-essential cross-border travel.
With training camp less than two weeks away and a season starting on December 22, the Raptors were pressed to make a decision and selected Amalie Arena - home of the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
In the NFL, Cleveland Browns' defensive star Myles Garrett tested positive for COVID-19.
The loss of Garrett - NFL's leader in sacks this season - for at least one game and most probably more dealt the Browns a major blow as they try to end an 18-year play-off drought.
The New York Giants, who have a bye this weekend, had three more players - a total of eight - test positive for COVID-19.
The Denver Broncos will ban fans from their home games for the rest of the season after Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.
Australian Associated Press