Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich left for a training camp in Qatar on Friday with newly signed Netherlands defender Daley Blind but without Noussair Mazraoui who is sidelined “for the time being” with a heart issue.
Bayern said that Morocco’s Mazraoui had contracted the coronavirus during the recent World Cup in Qatar and that follow-up examinations in Munich revealed “a mild inflammation of the pericardium, which the defender will now cure.”
Bayern left back Alphonso Davis had missed several months of action with a different heart issue last year.
Marcel Sabitzer was meanwhile not on the plane due to flu, according to Bayern.
Also not among the 24 players were injured Manuel Neuer, Lucas Hernandez, Sadio Mane and Bouna Sarr, and the three French World Cup runners-up Dayot Upamecano, Kingsley Coman and Benjamin Pavard who were given an extended holiday and will join the team at a later stage in Qatar.
Bayern had hoped to have a new goalkeeper on board as Neuer is out for the rest of the season but board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic said at the airport that “we are weighing our options and will reach a decision in the near future.”
Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer, whose contract at Borussia Mönchengladbach expires after the season, appears to be the preferred candidate.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann will aim to get his team in shape for the second part of the season during the six-day camp in Doha.
Bayern had an early season slump but recovered strongly and take a four-point league lead into their next game on January 20 at third-placed RB Leipzig.
“We want to give our all and prepare very well,” Salihamidzic said.
