Italy based Nigerian footballer, King Paul Akpan Udoh, has become the first footballer to be infected with coronavirus.
According to reports by TheSun, King Paul who currently plies his trade with Pianese, an Italian Serie C side was diagnosed of the disease on February 27, and he has been quarantined.
The 22-year-old started his career with Reggiana before moving to Juventus in 2011, where he was loaned back for a year.
After progressing through the youth ranks of Juventus, Udoh secured a loan move to Virtus Lanciano, a Serie B side, in 2016, with an option to buy at the end of the season.
Failing to impress, he was returned to Juve, and then loaned to Lega Pro side, Pontedera, later the same year. He had a loan stint with Pontedera, Fernana, Fano and Viareggio before joining Pianese on July 14, 2019.
Coronavirus has spread from China to countries in Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Africa.
Italy is the country in Europe with the highest number of reported cases. Some Italian Serie A matches were postponed last weekend as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus.
On Friday, the Lagos State government and the federal ministry of health confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Nigeria. The index patient is an Italian who arrived in the country on February 25.
