Jose Mourinho Urges Arsenal Midfielder Granit Xhaka To Get COVID-19 Jab In Social Media Post

AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho has urged Granit Xhaka to "get the jab and be safe" after the Arsenal midfielder tested positive for COVID-19 while on international duty.

The 28-year-old missed Switzerland's 2-1 win against Greece on Wednesday evening after testing positive on the morning of the game.

He is currently isolating himself from the rest of his teammates and is expected to stay in Switzerland for ten days as he recovers from the virus.

Image credit: PA

The Swiss Football Association have since confirmed that Xhaka opted to turn down a COVID-19 vaccine before he tested positive.

Xhaka, who received a red card in the club's 5-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend, is the first Premier League player confirmed to have turned down the COVID vaccine, according to The Daily Mail.

And after the news emerged online, plenty of people have had their say on the matter, including Jose Mourinho, who wanted to sign the midfielder this summer.

The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager wrote on Xhaka's latest Instagram post, saying: "Get the jab Granit and be safe".

Adrian Arnold, who is the Swiss FA's head of communications, confirmed the Arsenal player turned down the option to take the vaccine.

"Granit Xhaka was not vaccinated," Arnold said per Swiss publication Blick.

"He's a player who isn't vaccinated. We left this up to each player, it's a personal decision of each player - just like any other person in Switzerland.

"We have issued a recommendation that everyone vaccinate. But he decided for himself personally. And it is also his right not to be vaccinated."

"All the other players in the team have been vaccinated or have recovered [from Covid] - so they are more or less safe, at least from a medical point of view. One is never quite sure. Accordingly, we have a very high vaccination rate.

"Now, unfortunately, Granit got caught. From a sporting point of view, it is a shame for us at this important moment."

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Football, AS Roma, Granit Xhaka, Premier League, Arsenal

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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