Juventus' French midfielder Adrien Rabiot has mocked claims his delay in returning to Turin was because he had gone on "strike" in protest at the club's decision to defer players' wages due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 25-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain star has spent the two-month coronavirus confinement at his home on the French Riviera.
Italian newspaper La Stampa had claimed that the Frenchman was on "personal strike" in his Cote d'Azur villa in protest at the club's decision last month to cut staff wages.
"When you realise it's your last day on ... STRIKE!" Rabiot wrote on Instagram story, alongside two laughing emojis and a sad-looking photo of himself.
He then posted an image of a small vial with the accompanying words: "Newspapers-TV-Press, do not swallow".
Rabiot suggested he will return to northern Italy to begin his 14-day quarantine on Wednesday. A host of overseas players have now returned to Italy, including Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Italian clubs have been allowed to resume individual training since May 4, but this has been optional for players.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic returns to Italy
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MATCH INFO
Serie A
Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)
Match is on BeIN Sports
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