The reason why Hirving Lozano was not called up for today's Napoli game

Alarm bells were ringing among fans of Mexico's Hirving Lozano, who today was not called up by Napoli for the match against Juventus. The reason? He is still infected with COVID-19.

Although the player remains in isolation and at his home in Mexico and has not had any symptoms that would require hospitalization, his infection has ruined the progress he had made with the Italian team. 

It was only recently that Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti had trusted Lozano to be a starter in the team after he had been inactive due to injury. 

And while the player managed to heal from that injury to return to the starting lineup in the match against Empoli, it was soon confirmed that the player had caught COVID-19.

For this reason, and in order to follow the health protocols imposed by Serie A, the player must remain isolated at his home in Mexico, as he has not been able to travel back to Italy due to his infection.

Lozano's numbers at Napoli still not picking up

It is a reality that the COVID-19 contagion is one more obstacle in Lozano's career in Italy, which adds to the long time he has spent on the bench due to the injuries he has faced. 

So far, the player has made 26 appearances for Napoli, scoring three goals and assisting three goals, far from what he had achieved at PSV Eindhoven. 

In the Eredivisie, the Dutch top flight, the player scored 40 goals and provided 23 assists in just 79 games. 

That is why many Italian media began to rumor a possible exit in the winter transfer market for the Mexican player.

But so far that has not happened, which could mean that after recovering from COVID-19, the player could look to be a starter again at Napoli. 

COVID-19 has caused problems for Serie A

However, he is not the only one affected by the virus in Serie A, as four matches of Matchday 20 have been suspended. 

The four suspended matches in Serie A for Matchday 20 were Bologna vs Inter, Atalanta vs Torino, Fiorentina vs Udinese, and Salernitana vs Venezia. 

Other matches, such as Juventus vs. Napoli, could be added to this list of canceled matches, which is still in doubt.

These new contagions have already started to generate administrative problems between Serie A and its teams. 

Bologna, for example, was the one that presented positive cases and for that reason did not even show up at their stadium, something that the visitors, Inter, did do.

On this issue Beppe Marotta, CEO of Inter said:

"There is no guideline, we want to make a new protocol. The recovery of the match? Bologna was ready to play but suffered the decision of the ASL. There are no guidelines between the sport and the Ministry of Health, we have to decide the protocol to follow. implemented".