So Sad: Star Footballer Fell Into Depression After Catching Coronavirus [Details]

Atalanta star Josip Ilicic became depressed after he tested positive for Covid-19, team-mate Papu Gomez has revealed.

 

The city of Bergamo was hit hard by the spread of coronavirus earlier this year, with an average of 40 people dying each day at the height of the pandemic.

Ilicic missed the last seven games of the 2019-20 campaign, including the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, as he was allowed to return to Slovenia.

Reports in Italy claimed the 32-year-old was not in the right frame of mind to feature for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team and Gomez says he struggled after being diagnosed with Covid-19.

“He had the coronavirus and fell into depression,” Gomez said in an interview with TyC Sports.

“There comes a moment when the head explodes. Luckily he recovered and he’s fine now. He is very important to us.”

Gomez, 32, joined Atalanta from Ukrainian side Metalist in 2014 and was handed the captain’s armband in his third season with the club.

He expects to see out the rest of his playing career with the Serie A outfit, saying:

“I still have three years left on my contract, in February I will turn 33.

“I will surely stay here in Bergamo, we are very comfortable and I will have a position at the club in the future.”