Kimmich to miss Bayern until early 2022

Bayern Munich announced today that its player Joshua Kimmich will be absent until January next year, after recovering from a lung infection caused by the Covid-19 virus.

Kimmich, who was not vaccinated, contracted the coronavirus last month.

In a statement on its website, the club quoted the midfielder, "I am happy that the period of isolation due to the Corona virus has ended. I am in good shape, but not yet able to fully exercise due to a slight pulmonary infiltration."

"So I'm going to do some qualifying training and look forward to being back fully in January," the 26-year-old added.

Kimmich will miss the Bavarian giant's match against Mainz on Saturday, the away meeting against Stuttgart on the fourteenth of this month, and the last match this year against Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena on the seventeenth.

Kimmich, who has not played since November 6, sparked controversy over the vaccine in Germany last month, after revealing that he had not received the vaccine for "personal reasons".

The news has angered some Bayern fans, as fans at football matches in Germany must provide proof that they have received two doses of the vaccine or have recovered from Covid, while it is enough for players to show a negative test result.

Bild and Kicker newspapers claimed that his fellow clubmates, Serge Gnabry and Jamal Musiyala, received the vaccine after they were placed in quarantine as contact cases.

Germany coach Hansi Flick also revealed last month that Kimmich may change his mind on the matter, "I think things are going in the right direction with regard to Yuzua receiving the vaccine."

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