Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero defied club orders to join up with Argentina during the international break; Lo Celso and Romero and Colombian Sanchez are able to train outdoors in Croatia and then return to England without quarantining
Monday 13 September 2021 07:38, UK
Tottenham trio Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Davinson Sanchez will not return to the club until next Saturday after they defied Premier League rules to go on international duty.
Argentines Lo Celso and Romero and Colombia's Sanchez travelled to South America for World Cup qualifiers last week, despite the clubs being allowed not to release them due to the games being in red-list countries.
All three are able to train outdoors in Croatia and then return to England without quarantining, rather than
having to do hard quarantine in a hotel in this country if they had come straight back.
They will definitely miss the game against Crystal Palace on Saturday, the Europa Conference League game with Rennes on Thursday and most likely the match with Chelsea next Sunday given their late return.
"I can tell you that they are in Croatia. That's what we decided to do to try to avoid more problems," said Nuno.
"So the solution was to try to get them in a country where, after that, they can join the group. Now they are working with the sports science, a physio, in Croatia.
"They will arrive the day before the match against Chelsea (on September 19) so they will not be available for the Conference League game."
The trio were set to be fined by the club, though Nuno said any actions would remain inside the club.
Spurs, who are top of the Premier League, resume against Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime but look set to be without Heung-min Son after the South Korean sustained an injury on international duty.
Nuno added: "Like some of our players, he came (back) with some issues. Sonny is not so well, but let's wait for the club to make the proper announcement and explain to you better what kind of injury he has."
