Celtic star Nir Bitton has opened up on the coronavirus hell he faced after contracting the virus while on international duty with Israel.
The midfielder admits he underestimated Covid-19 and after it left him unable to stand he has urged the public to take increased care during unprecedented times.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun, he said: “I went through some hard days with this virus. It wasn’t easy at all. Before I got the disease I underestimated it, but it was not pleasant.
“I had headaches, my muscles ached and I could not stand up. I had to sit.
“You do not know what you are heading towards.
“Everyone knows how the disease starts, but not how it ends.
“If it affected me, a young and athletic guy, I do not know how it affects older people.
“We see deaths and I need to say to people, watch out. Stay at home and look after your relatives. This is not an easy disease.
“I am still without taste and smell, but I hope it will come back soon and that the hardships are behind me.”
He added: “At Celtic we have been in a regime for four months since I returned from Israel.
“No families, no restaurants, no friends and almost no leisure life. We take care of ourselves.
“Then you go to the national team and suddenly there is a sick player.
"You find out after a few days and you know there will probably be more patients.
“There is no solution. The only solution is to cancel the squad meetings and it will not happen.
“If a team suddenly has some positives, sometimes you should not take a risk.
"You have to keep players in an environment that is comfortable and sterile.
"If that means not inviting players from a team that has had an outbreak, then that’s what it should be.”
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