Paul Pogba trains in Juventus jersey but insists: 'I'm just supporting my friends'

French midfielder and United teammate Lindelof uploaded clips from sprint drills with both players wearing Serie A shirts

Manchester United's Paul Pogba applauds the fans after the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. PA Photo. Picture date: Thursday December 26, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Man Utd. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.Show less

Paul Pogba, like most athletes around the world, has been working on his fitness at home, but the French midfielder has caused a stir by doing drills in a Juventus shirt.

The World Cup-winner uploaded two video clips to Instagram of himself and Manchester United teammate Victor Lindelof doing sprint drills at his home, with Pogba filmed going through his paces in the jersey of his former club.

However, the 27-year-old midfielder insisted in the captions accompanying the clips that he was wearing the jersey of Blaise Matuidi as a show of support after his former teammate and international colleague contracted the coronavirus.

"I know the cheeky ones will talk about the Juventus jersey," he wrote. "I'm just supporting my friends ... that's all, nothing more."

Lindelof also adorned a Serie A jersey, wearing the Sampdoria No 6 shirt of Sweden colleague Albin Ekdal, who was among four players from the Italian club to test positive for Covid-19.

"Get well soon @EkdalAlbin. Stay safe everyone," the Swedish defender wrote on Twitter.

Pogba, who returned to United in 2016 in a then world record €105 million (Dh420m) deal, has been linked with a move back to Juventus as well as Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Last summer, the midfielder said he was keen on a "new challenge" and although he remained at United, injuries have limited his contribution this season to just eight matches.

______________________

Sports stars to test positive for Covid-19

Former Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini tested positive in China where he plays for Shandong Luneng. He has now been discharged. Reuters

Juventus' Paulo Dybala said both he and his girlfriend Oriana tested positive though both were in "perfect conditions". AP Photo

Milan's sports director and club legend Paolo Maldini and his son Daniel, who plays for the same club, tested positive for Covid-19. A statement from the club said both are well. EPA

Wu Lei of Espanyol. "Wu Lei has mild symptoms and is currently undergoing treatment," the CFA said in a statement, adding that they had been given the news by La Liga strugglers Espanyol. The 28-year-old striker, China's best-known player, is in self-isolation at home in Barcelona, Xinhua news agency said. Getty Images

Kevin Durant is reportedly among four Brooklyn Nets players who have tested positive for the coronavirus and are in isolation. The injured Durant, who has yet to play for the Nets since signing for the team last year, confirmed to The Athletic website he had tested positive for the virus. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant was quoted as saying. AFP

Juventus confirmed on Tuesday night that French midfielder Blaise Matuidi had become the second player from the club to test positive for the coronavirus. Italian defender Daniele Rugani was the first player to play in Serie A to test positive last week. EPA

Valencia's Eliaquim Mangala, left, was one of five players and staff at the club to test positive. "I'm feeling good and I have no symptoms associated with the virus. However, I am confined in house and separated from my family," he said on Twitter. AP Photo

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive on March 14 but said he was "feeling better already" the following day. Staff who had been in contact with him were self-isolating. AFP

Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert, who apologized for his careless actions before he was diagnosed with novel coronavirus, has pledged to donate more than half a million dollars to health services and arena workers affected by the pandemic. AFP

Valencia's Ezequiel Garay was the first La Liga player to test positive on March 15. "I tested positive for coronavirus, I feel very well and now all that's left is to do what the health authorities say, which is to isolate myself," he said on Instagram. All football is suspended in Spain. EPA

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi was the first Premier League player to test positive. He said on Twitter on March 13: "As you may be aware I had the virus for the last couple of days which I have recovered from. I am following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week. I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon. Reuters

Juventus' Italian defender Daniele Rugani was confirmed to have the virus on March 12. "You've read the news, so I want to reassure everyone who's worried about me, I'm fine," Rugani said on Twitter. The entire Juventus squad is to spend two weeks in quarantine. AFP

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the second NBA player to contract the virus. The NBA season has been suspended. AP Photo

Manolo Gabbiadini of Sampdoria is one of five players to have tested positive at the club. "I still want to tell you that I'm fine, so don't worry. Follow all the rules, stay at home and everything will work out," said Gabbiadini on Twitter. PA Wire.

Sampdoria's Omar Colley, right, was confirmed to have coronavirus. Lapresse via AP

Albin Ekdal of Sampdoria tested positive. Italy is one of the worst affected countries. Getty Images

Fabio Depaoli, left of Sampdoria, said on Instagram that he was "fine" after testing positive. Getty Images

Morten Thorsby, left, was one of five Sampdoria footballers to test positive. Lapresse via AP

Fiorentina foward Patrick Cutrone, on loan from Premier League Wolves, is one of three players to test positive at the club. EPA

German Pezzella, right, of Fiorentina, said on Instagram that his symptoms had disappeared after he tested positive. EPA

Fiorentina's Dusan Vlahovic was another confirmed case. Fiorentina said in a statement on March 13: "The club is in the process of undertaking all the necessary isolation procedures in accordance with the regulations, starting with identifying all the people who have had contact with the player." EPA

Hannover's Timo Hubers, right, was the first player in Germany to be diagnosed. Reuters

Paderborn's Luca Kilian tested positive. The Bundesliga has been suspended until April 2. EPA