Despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases among players in Serie A and B, the medical experts working with the FIGC assure there’ll be no delay to the new season.

There was a brief gap between the end of the 2019-20 campaign and pre-season training for 2020-21, during which players and staff went on vacation.

They eased the strict anti-COVID-19 bubble and it proved just how pernicious the virus can be, as several clubs including Roma, Napoli, Torino, Fiorentina, Cagliari and even Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic had positive tests.

There are genuine concerns the 2020-21 Serie A season could be delayed after numerous clubs found players and staff positive for COVID-19.

The campaign is due to kick off on September 19, so pre-season training has either already begun or is ramping up over the next few days.

This means, as per protocol, that all players and staff are receiving blanket blood and swab tests to identify the presence of the Coronavirus.

Bologna confirm that coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has tested positive for COVID-19, potentially a very serious situation, as he is in a high-risk group.

The Serbian tactician was diagnosed with leukaemia in July 2019, undergoing chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

He has made a full recovery, but is still in a high-risk group due to his recent history of serious illness.

A statement confirms Mihajlovic is asymptomatic and has been placed in quarantine for two weeks.

Lorenzo De Silvestri is reportedly on the verge of making his move from Torino to Bologna, reuniting with Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The 32-year-old right-back is a free agent, as his contract runs down this month.

He had also been linked with Parma and Serie A new boys Benevento.

However, Sky Sport Italia claim the lure of Bologna and his old Toro coach Mihajlovic proved too strong.

He’s already played 132 games under Mihajlovic at Fiorentina, Sampdoria and then Torino.

It was a long, tough season for everyone due to the COVID crisis, but Bologna had even more life or death situations to deal with, writes Susy Campanale.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has more reason than most to be ‘glad this agonising season is over’ and reveals he’s started giving Bologna the silent treatment.

The game with Torino kicks off on Sunday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.

“We want to win the final match and I think all of Italian football cannot wait for this agonising season to be over,” said the coach in his press conference.

Bologna forward Riccardo Orsolini struggled to explain the Rossoblu’s poor form and revealed he confronted coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. ‘I didn’t like certain things he said about me’.

The Rossoblu have only picked up one win in their seven last games and Orsolini admitted that the players ‘don’t know what happened’.

Sinisa Mihajlovic admits his rapport with Fiorentina fans was poor, as he visits with Bologna tomorrow. ‘They jeered me even when we won games.’

It kicks off on Wednesday at 20.45 UK time (19.45 GMT), click here for a match preview.

“We’ll certainly make some changes compared to the Lecce game, but I haven’t decided yet,” said the coach in his press conference after a 3-2 thriller.

Sinisa Mihajlovic said it was a ‘source of great pride’ after becoming an honorary citizen of Bologna.

The Felsinei coach has helped Bologna sit 11th in Serie A with two games remaining and have a great chance of climbing into the top half when they face Fiorentina and Torino in their last two games this campaign.

It has been a difficult season for the Rossoblu, who initially went through uncertain times and had to cope without their coach for months.

Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic is no fan of playing Lecce behind closed doors. ‘It’s frigid football. It feels worse than a training session.’

It kicks off on Sunday at 16.15 UK time (15.15 GMT), click here for a match preview.

The Felsinei have struggled since the lockdown, aside from a single comeback victory away to Inter, and the fiery coach believes the atmosphere isn’t helping.