Bayern tests show World Cup star Mazraoui has post-COVID heart-related problem

The
Morocco
international
tested
positive
for
COVID-19
at
the
World
Cup,
Bayern
said
on
Friday
(January
6).

He
returned
to
the
team
for
the
Qatar
2022
semi-final
against
France
after
missing
the
last-eight
clash
with
Portugal,
but
subsequent
tests
have
shown
Mazraoui
has
mild
inflammation
of
the
pericardium,
which
is
the
fluid-filled
fibrous
sac
surrounding
the
heart.

Bayern
travelled
without
him
on
Friday
to
a
training
camp
in
Doha,
and
the
club
have
not
specified
a
timeframe
for
Mazraoui’s
absence
from
the
squad.

Newspaper
Bild
has
reported
the
25-year-old
former
Ajax
player
could
be
out
of
action
for
four
to
six
weeks.
That
would
make
Mazraoui
a
doubt
for
the
February
14
first
leg
of
Bayern’s
Champions
League
last-16
tie
against
Paris
Saint-Germain.

The
Bundesliga
leaders
said
in
a
statement
on
their
website:
“Noussair
Mazraoui
was
not
able
to
fly
with
the
Bayern
team
to
Doha
on
Friday
as
they
prepare
for
the
second
half
of
the
season
at
their
training
camp.

“The
25-year-old
Morocco
international
tested
positive
for
COVID-19
during
the
World
Cup
in
December,
meaning
he
missed
the
quarter-final
against
Portugal.

“During
a
follow-up
examination
in
Munich
after
the
World
Cup,
FC
Bayern
team
doctor
Professor
Dr
Roland
Schmidt
diagnosed
a
mild
inflammation
of
the
pericardium,
which
the
defender
will
now
cure.

After
testing
positive
for
Covid-19
during
the
World
Cup,
a
follow-up
examination
in
Munich
has
revealed
that
Noussair
Mazraoui
has
been
diagnosed
with
a
mild
inflammation
of
the
pericardium.

Wishing
you
all
the
best
for
a
full
and
quick
recovery,
Nous!

—
FC
Bayern
Munich
(@FCBayernEN)

January
6,
2023

“This
means
that
Mazraoui
will
not
be
available
to
coach
Julian
Nagelsmann
for
the
time
being.”

Bayern
signed
up
Dutch
defender
Daley
Blind
on
Thursday
to
fortify
their
squad
ahead
of
the
resumption
of
the
Bundesliga
after
its
extended
winter
break.

The
10-in-a-row
German
champions
return
to
domestic
action
against
RB
Leipzig
on
January
20.

Midfielder
Marcel
Sabitzer
also
missed
the
beginning
of
the
training
camp
due
to
flu,
with
plans
for
him
to
make
the
trip
to
Qatar
once
well.