Ashley Young has claimed “football is not important right now” as he urged everyone to see quarantine as a chance to spend time with families.
The former Manchester United captain, now at Inter Milan, said: “There is a global pandemic: football is not important right now. People are dying.
“People say they can't stay indoors for three weeks. I often call a friend of mine. He was ill, had cancer, and stayed in hospital for six months suspended between life and death. He tells me how difficult it was.
"I think of him, of what he went through. Staying at home is not difficult, you rediscover affection, the family for whom we never have time.
"It helps to be together in such a period. In the end I would say it is a great opportunity: let's not waste it.”
Asked if he was fearful of becoming ill, the former England star told Corriere della Sera: “There was some (fear). The club and the medical staff have, however, managed the situation perfectly.
"Nobody likes isolation, but it was not a drama: it was the right choice to defend our health and that of others.
“In Italy the lockdown is total. Italy has given a great example to the world, in England people still go to work and the underground is too crowded.
"At home I saw greedy scenes with people emptying the shelves in the supermarket.”
Young left the Red Devils for Inter Milan in January and made five Serie A starts, scoring and assisting once, before coronavirus led to the postponement of matches in Italy.
Italian football chiefs met on Monday to discuss whether the season will be able to eventually resume in one of the countries worst-impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should members of the Italian Footballers’ Association decide the season cannot continue, the campaign could be cancelled.
