Former Leeds United chairman Massimo Cellino confirms symptoms of coronavirus as authorities are slammed

Speaking to La Repubblica, Cellino confirmed that both himself and his daughter had been feeling the effects of COVID-19.

Cellino - now chairman of Serie A side Brescia - has also slammed the Italian authorities over their handling of the coronavirus outbreak with the 63-year-old now tempted to take a British passport.

“I’ve been in Cagliari for a few days, after completing three weeks of quarantine in Brescia," said Cellino.

“Then I spent Easter in Sardinia with my family, I took a private plane and I returned. After two weeks of quarantine in Cagliari I went to the hospital for checks.

"It turned out that my daughter had the virus, my son didn’t have it. And that I have it.

“I have excessive tiredness and severe pain in my bones. It is bad for the liver."

Voicing his strong discontent that the notion of even continuing the current Serie A campaign is being entertained, Cellino added: "For football, it is absurd that there is still a debate as to whether or not to start playing.

"We are fortunate men, I have a villa in Cagliari and one in Miami, but there are nine million Italians living under the poverty line.

"The country should be closer to its people and a €600 cheque isn’t going to do much. I am embarrassed by the lack of sensitivity shown by this Government. I’m seriously thinking about taking a British passport.

"The people of Brescia defend me, they tell me that I wish to honour their dead and will be offended if I let the team play again. I am not afraid of relegation, I’ll gladly go into Serie B, but I will not lack respect for this town.

“There is not the slightest sensitivity and there is not the slightest respect in asking me to start the championship in Lombardy again.

“I am not afraid of getting relegated, in Serie B maybe we would do the same but we will return to Serie A, I have young players and the accounts are fine.

“In Serie A there is about £155million destined for the top ten of the final table. And these prizes have already been invoiced by these clubs.

“Now, if you don’t finish the championship and Sky won’t pay, what happens to those who have already spent that money?

“If the churches do not reopen in phase two, how do you restart Serie A?

“I ask the FA and league presidents to take responsibility. Next year we risk having ten Serie A clubs go bankrupt.”

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