Thinking outside the box
With some countries still sitting on the United Kingdom’s coronavirus travel red list, several Premier League players have been forced to self-isolate after returning from international duty.
Due to current sporting guidelines, players who have returned from red list destinations are allowed to play and train with teammates but cannot participate in any other activities or enter any buildings at the training ground.
Due to this, many clubs have opted to put their stars up in hotels whilst they are forced to quarantine. The latest example being Leeds United’s Raphinha who has returned from Brazil and is currently staying at a hotel in Thorp Arch, Leeds.
Liverpool meanwhile have chosen to fly Brazilian duo Allison Becker and Fabinho straight to Madrid ahead of their Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.
But there’s two clubs who have decided to take a different approach, hiring rented vehicles for their players to stay in. Newcastle United are one of the sides, who rented one for Paraguay international Miguel Almiron after he featured for his country in games against Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.
The vehicles are supposedly similar to a Formula One motor house, its relatively comfortable temporary living quarters in comparison to some of the quarantine hotels around the country.
However, according to The Athletic, Almiron didn’t actually stay in the vehicle – which is located at the Newcastle training ground – after a late change in regulations allowed him to avoid having to quarantine.
The other side who followed suit was Brighton & Hove Albion, when they provided lodgings for Jeremy Sarmiento of Ecuador, who ended up staying in the vehicle, unlike Almiron.
It seems that both clubs have done this to act as an alternative to finding a hotel, allowing them to keep the players close to the training ground where they can easily get to sessions whilst also being able to eat food provided by the catering staff at both sides.
Seems like a clever move all-round and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more clubs pick up on it and try their own methods themselves in the future.
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