Berlin (AFP)
Bayern Munich announced Thursday that its player Joshua Kimmich will be absent until January next year, after recovering from a lung infection caused by the Covid-19 virus.
Kimmich, who was not vaccinated, contracted the coronavirus last month.
In a statement on its website, the club quoted the midfielder: I am happy that the period of isolation due to the Corona virus has ended, I am in good condition, but not yet able to fully train due to a slight pulmonary infiltration.
The 26-year-old added, “So I’m going to do some qualifying training and look forward to being back fully in January.”
Kimmich will miss the Bavarian giant’s match against Mainz on Saturday, the away meeting against Stuttgart on the 14th of this month, and the last match this year against Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena on the 17th.
Kimmich, who has not played since November 6, sparked controversy over the vaccine in Germany last month, after revealing that he had not received the vaccine for “personal reasons”.
The news has angered some Bayern fans, as fans at football matches in Germany must provide proof that they have received two doses of the vaccine or have recovered from Covid, while it is enough for players to show a negative test result.
Bild and Kicker newspapers claimed that his two club colleagues, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiyala, received the vaccine after they were placed in quarantine as contact cases.
And Germany coach Hansi Flick revealed last month that Kimmich may change his mind on the matter: “I think things are going in the right direction with regards to Yuzua receiving the vaccine.”
And it was reported last month that Bayern Munich decided to deduct the wages of five unvaccinated players in its ranks.
One of the first steps that newly elected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will take as head of government is expected to be to pass a law to make vaccination mandatory from February or March of next year.
Bayern leads the “Bundesliga” standings, four points behind Borussia Dortmund, the second, and also finished Wednesday the group stage of the Champions League with a full mark with a sixth victory that came at the expense of Barcelona, to bring the latter out of the first round of the main continental competition for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.
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