Football Italia’s transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà examines referee controversies from Torino-Cremonese and Parma-Lazio and criticises the reported proposal to reschedule a big game from Round 30 by just 45 minutes.

Pedullà’s latest video for Football Italia on YouTube touches on several issues in Serie A, including referee controversies in Torino-Cremonese and Parma-Lazio.

Cremonese were not given a penalty kick despite a clear Simeone handball, a kind of incident that previously led to opposite decisions from the referee and VAR.

“They need to explain how this works, because it can’t go on like this,” Pedullà said.

“VAR unplagged itself and decided not to intervene; that’s not a penalty! So they need to guide us on all the other situations that, in the same circumstances, should not be penalties either.”

The Italian pundit also praised Cremonese coach Davide Nicola for the sportsmanship shown in post-match interviews.

Pedullà also criticised the latest proposal, which appeared in the Italian media, to potentially postpone a big game of Round 30 by just 45 minutes in order to give Gennaro Gattuso more rested players for the World Cup play-off in March.

DAN referee pundit Luca Marelli claims that Christian Pulisic’s goal for Milan against Sassuolo shouldn’t have been disallowed, but the Neroverdi deserved a penalty kick for a Strahinja Pavlović foul.

Milan’s 2-2 home draw against Sassuolo saw referee Valerio Crezzini in the spotlight as he navigated several tricky incidents, with his decisions coming under criticism from the Italian media.

USMNT international Pulisic had a goal disallowed in the second half, with Milan already leading 2-1.

Referee controversies in Milan vs. Sassuolo

The American put the ball inside an empty net after Arijanet Muric palmed away a Pavlovic header from point-blank range. The referee, however, had spotted a Ruben Loftus-Cheek push in the build-up right behind Pavlovic.

“It’s a field assessment because there was contact. Loftus-Cheek placed his hands, but I don’t see any push,” said DAZN’s referee pundit Luca Marelli (via Calciomercato.com).

“Crezzini barely blew the whistle. This contact is below threshold; there isn’t a real push. This goal shouldn’t have been disallowed.”

Marelli spotted another mistake from the Milan-Sassuolo referee, claiming that the visitors should have been awarded a penalty kick for a Pavlović foul in the dying minutes, with the result set to 2-2.

“Pavlovic didn’t touch the ball, but with his right leg, he hit Cheddira’s left leg. VAR were too hasty. It was a penalty, and VAR should have intervened,” Marelli said.

Milan remain the Serie A table leaders with 32 points, but they will be overtaken by Napoli if the Partenopei beat Udinese away today.

Davide Bartesaghi is Football Italia’s MOTM in Milan’s 2-2 draw against Sassuolo, but Andrea Pinamonti was impressive for the Neroverdi, providing two assists.

Milan 2-2 Sassuolo: Player Ratings

Milan: Maignan 6.5; Tomori 5, Gabbia 5 (60′ De Winter 5), Pavlovic 5.5; Saelemaekers 6.5 (90′ Athekame N/A), Loftus-Cheek 6.5, Modric 5.5, Rabiot 6, Bartesaghi 8 (90′ Estupinan N/A); Pulisic 5.5 (73′ Ricci 5.5), Nkunku 6. Coach: Allegri 5.5.

Best Milan player: Bartesaghi 8 – First two goals in Serie A. A day he’ll not forget, but it wasn’t enough to secure all three points.

Lowest Milan rating: Tomori 5 – Lost track of Laurienté when the Frenchman scored the equaliser, and even later on, when he could have scored the third one for Sassuolo. Gabbia and De Winter were also equally disappointing.

Milan coach: Allegri 5.5 – Milan once again dropped points against a newly promoted side at San Siro. The Rossoneri boss didn’t have many options in attack, which is why Pulisic’s substitution will make people talk in the coming days.

Sassuolo: Muric 6.5; Walukiewicz 5.5, Idzes 5.5, Muharemovic 6, Candé 5.5 (60′ Doig 6.5); Thorstvedt 6, Matic 6.5, Koné 7.5; Volpato 6 (86′ Moro N/A), Pinamonti 7.5 (86′ Cheddira), Fadera 5.5 (60′ Laurienté 7.5). Coach: Grosso (suspended) 7.

Best Sassuolo player: Pinamonti 7.5 – Two fantastic assists to inspire Sassuolo’s big draw at San Siro. He now has four goals and three assists in 15 Serie A matches this term. Still looking for consistency, but also underrated. Koné was also brilliant today, besides his goal.

Lowest Sassuolo rating: Fadera 5.5 – He helped the team defensively, but took a big risk in the first half when he lost possession just outside the box.

Sassuolo coach: Grosso 7 – Just one loss in the last five games. The game plan was excellent, including leaving Laurienté on the bench to hurt Milan in the second part of the match. Sassuolo have 21 points, practically safe already, and it’s not even Christmas. Oh, and don’t forget they were without Berardi today.

Massimiliano Allegri insists he would have replaced Christian Pulisic even if Milan didn’t play in the Supercoppa next week, but feels it was ‘too easy’ for Sassuolo to score goals in a 2-2 draw.

Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by newly promoted side Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday.

The Rossoneri already dropped points against Cremonese and Pisa, two other teams coming from Serie B, earlier this season.

Davide Bartesaghi scored his first two goals in Serie A, but Ismael Koné and Armand Laurienté helped a brave Sassuolo return home with one point in their pocket.

“I think we played a good game, we attacked well, and Sassuolo are always dangerous because they have quality in attack, so if you don’t recover the ball immediately, you are forced to track back for 90 minutes,” Allegri told DAZN.

“We played a good game, but in the end, we even risked losing it. Now we focus on the Supercoppa.

“The lads played a good game, regardless of the players’ characteristics. For now, we are still the table leaders, and our target is to qualify for the Champions League,” the Italian tactician continued.

“We know there’s a lot of work to do, and obviously, we must start conceding fewer goals. I can’t absolutely blame the lads today.”

Milan will face Napoli in Saudi Arabia in the Supercoppa Italia semifinal next Thursday.

Allegri replaced Pulisic in the second half and said he would have done the same even if Milan didn’t play the Partenopei next week.

“I would have done it anyway. Christian had joined us in Turin after a fever and then trained. He played well for 72 minutes, but at that moment, we needed one more midfielder. Loftus-Cheek held firm up front, but we had to defend better, especially for the second goal. We had to follow Laurienté, and it was too easy for them to score.”

Christopher Nkunku provided the assist for Bartesaghi’s second goal.

Allegri explains Pulisic’s substitution

“Today he played a good game, as in Turin. He was decisive for the second goal; he had a chance in the final minutes,” argued Allegri.

“He was very good. We know the team’s quality, we know we can’t win every game, and we must give consistency to the results. Today, we could have lost the match, but we took home a draw. Today it seems that we’ve thrown two points away, but in the end, it will prove to be useful.”

Matteo Gabbia was subbed off with a suspected knee injury in the second half.

“Let’s see. Hopefully it’s nothing serious. We’ll see tomorrow, but De Winter and Odogu will be ready to play,” concluded Allegri.

Milan talent Davide Bartesaghi scored his first two goals in Serie A, but Sassuolo bravely picked up a point thanks to goals from Ismael Koné and Armand Laurienté in a 2-2 draw.

Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog. 

The visitors were without their star Domenico Berardi, and Laurienté started on the bench in a defensive 4-3-3 set-up.

The Neroverdi still took the lead with Ismael Koné after winning the ball high up the pitch from a Milan defensive throw-in. Andrea Pinamonti laid it off for the Ivory Coast international who ran into the space to beat Matteo Gabbia with his first touch and Mike Maignan with the outside of his foot.

Adrien Rabiot had a big chance to level the score when he stole the ball from Alieu Fadera at the edge of Sassuolo’s box, but saw Arijanet Muric spread himself brilliantly to deny the equaliser.

It was just a matter of time for Milan anyway, as Bartesaghi scored his first Serie A goal at minute 33 when he headed towards the far post to meet a Ruben Loftus-Cheek driven pass from the right, finding the net at the far post with a left-footed finish.

The Italian left-back doubled Milan’s lead just one minute into the second half. This time around, Christopher Nkunku saw his late run on the left delivering a perfect through ball for Bartesaghi’s finish at the near post.

After scoring his first senior goal in the first half, 19-year-old Davide Bartesaghi gets a brace just a minute into the second half

@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/mBMVBpeqpp

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 14, 2025

Matteo Gabbia worringly twisted his knee and was forced to be subbed off around the hour mark.

Sassuolo’s Kristian Thorstvedt had a massive chance to level the score, but was denied by Maignan from point-blank range, and Milan had two goals disallowed.

Pulisic found the net from a corner kick routine, but the referee spotted a foul from Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the build-up. A few minutes later, Adrien Rabiot steered a Loftus-Cheek header into the net, but he was offside.

Sassuolo made attacking substitutions by introducing Armand Laurienté and Josh Doig, and forced the Rossoneri to defend inside their own box.

Laurienté made it 2-2 with an identical move to the first goal, Pinamonti laying it off and the scorer bursting in to finish at the far post.

The Frenchman had two more big chances to win the game for Sassuolo, but first, he didn’t find the net from an excellent position inside the box and then he hit the post from distance.

Milan 2-2 Sassuolo

I Kone 13 (S), Bartesaghi 34, 47 (M), Lauriente 77 (S)

14-12-2025 11:30

MatchDay 15

San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)

Milan

Sassuolo

2 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

		13'		Ismaël Koné (Assist: Andrea Pinamonti)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek		23'
		23'		Alieu Fadera
Davide Bartesaghi (Assist: Ruben Loftus-Cheek)		34'

2nd half

Davide Bartesaghi (Assist: Christopher Nkunku)		47'
		59'		Tarik Muharemovic
		66'		Kristian Thorstvedt
		77'		Armand Lauriente (Assist: Andrea Pinamonti)

Match statistic

59

Possession %

41

13

Total shots

8

5

Shots on target

3

5

Shots off target

2

3

Blocked shots

3

7

Corners

3

2

Offsides

1

12

Fouls

12

Milan

Sassuolo

Starting lineups

16

Mike Maignan

Goalkeeper

33

Davide Bartesaghi

Defender

90'

23

Fikayo Tomori

Defender

46

Matteo Gabbia

Defender

60'

31

Strahinja Pavlovic

Defender

12

Adrien Rabiot

Midfielder

56

Alexis Saelemaekers

Midfielder

90'

14

Luka Modric

Midfielder

8

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Midfielder

11

Christian Pulisic

Attacker

73'

18

Christopher Nkunku

Attacker

49

Arijanet Muric

Goalkeeper

5

Fali Candé

Defender

60'

21

Jay Idzes

Defender

6

Sebastian Walukiewicz

Defender

80

Tarik Muharemovic

Defender

20

Alieu Fadera

Midfielder

59'

7

Cristian Volpato

Midfielder

87'

90

Ismaël Koné

Midfielder

42

Kristian Thorstvedt

Midfielder

18

Nemanja Matic

Midfielder

99

Andrea Pinamonti

Attacker

87'

Substitutes

1

Pietro Terracciano

Goalkeeper

30

Ardon Jashari

Midfielder

37

Matteo Pittarella

Goalkeeper

27

David Odogu

Defender

5

Koni De Winter

Defender

60'

4

Samuele Ricci

Midfielder

73'

2

Pervis Estupiñán

Defender

90'

24

Zachary Athekame

Defender

90'

12

Giacomo Satalino

Goalkeeper

16

Gioele Zacchi

Goalkeeper

25

Woyo Coulibaly

Defender

44

Edoardo Iannoni

Midfielder

77

Nicholas Pierini

Attacker

26

Cas Odenthal

Defender

40

Aster Vranckx

Midfielder

35

Luca Lipani

Midfielder

45

Armand Lauriente

Attacker

59'

3

Josh Doig

Defender

60'

24

Luca Moro

Attacker

87'

9

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

87'

Milan director Igli Tare keeps the door open for Mike Maignan’s contract extension and trusts Christopher Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez, but refuses to rule out the signing of a new centre-forward in January.

Milan host Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday. You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Milan vs. Sassuolo – Tare’s pre-match quotes

“We’ve started with a fantastic group. Every day we work together, we realise it’s one of the best groups we’ve ever worked with,” Tare told DAZN before kick-off.

“They have determination and desire, and you can see it with results on the pitch. We know there’s work to do and we need consistency, but we are happy for now.”

With the January transfer window just around the corner, Tare was inevitably asked to provide updates on Milan’s negotiations, starting with the future of Maignan.

Tare on Maignan’s contract extension

The goalkeeper’s contract runs out in June and according to reports in Italy, he’s asked for a new €8m-a-year contract.

“We’ve never discussed the figures, I’ve never heard these numbers, but it’s easy to talk about Mike because he’s a fantastic lad, he’s a leader and a man of the group,” Tare replied.

“We are happy with him, he likes to stay at Milan and Milan want to extend. Today we have a game we want to win, then we’ll have time to discuss the matter.”

Former Chelsea striker Nkunku starts alongside Christian Pulisic in attack today, while Rafael Leao and Gimenez are injured.

Will Milan look for a new centre-forward in the winter transfer window?

“It’s hard to find players who can make a difference in the January window, but we’ll keep our eyes open to see if there’s something that can improve the situation of the team,” Tare said.

“If there’s a chance, we’ll take it, but the team is improving. Nkunku sent important messages in the second half against Torino. Today it’s a big chance for him to show the real Nkunku we all expect.

“As for Gimenez, he has this physical problem; we are waiting for him, but he’s also an important player for this team.”

Milan are the joint-Serie A table leaders alongside Napoli with 31 points. The Partenopei will play later today, away at Udinese.

Multiple sources confirm Juventus’ interest in Davide Frattesi, but Inter will likely ask for Khephren Thuram when, and if, negotiations begin.

Tuttosport newspaper reported earlier this week that Frattesi’s agent Beppe Riso had resumed talks with Juventus as the Inter midfielder seeks more playing time in the second part of the season.

Frattesi seeks Inter exit

The best Italy goal-scorer during the Luciano Spalletti era, Frattesi, will be glad to reunite with the ex-Azzurri boss, but negotiations between the two clubs might not be so easy.

Inter expert Pasquale Guarro and Gazzetta, in fact, claim that the Nerazzurri will likely ask for Khephren Thuram if Juventus knock on their door for Frattesi.

Inter eager to reunite the Thuram brothers

The move would allow the Nerazzurri to reunite the two Thuram brothers at San Siro, as Marcus has been playing for Inter since 2023.

According to Guarro, Khephren Thuram was already an Inter target last summer, alongside Roma’s Manu Kone and Atalanta’s Ederson.

The Nerazzurri ended up signing 22-year-old Andy Diouf last summer, but the Frenchman has only collected 150 minutes of football on the pitch this season.

Christian Pulisic and Christopher Nkunku lead the Milan attack against Sassuolo, who reply with Alieu Fadera and Andrea Pinamonti.

It kicks off at 12:30 CET (11:30 GMT) at the Stadio Meazza in San Siro, Milan.

Milan vs. Sassuolo and Serie A Week 15 live on Football Italia

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the Liveblog.

Gimenez, Fofana, Leao are unavailable for the Rossoneri, but while the Mexican’s return date remains unclear, Leao and Fofana will be available for the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four next week.

Sassuolo have travelled to San Siro without the injured Romagna, Skjellerup, Pieragnolo, Turati, Berardi and Boloca and their coach Fabio Grosso, a 2006 Italy World Cup winner, is serving a one-game ban.

Pulisic and Nkunku will start up front for Milan. Ruben Loftus-Cheek gets the nod in the middle of the park, pushing Samuele Ricci to the bench.

Cristian Volpato replaces the injured Berardi for Sassuolo.

Milan vs. Sassuolo – official line-ups

Milan (3-5-2) Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlović; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Modrić, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Nkunku, Pulisic.

Milan bench: Pittarella, Terracciano; Athekame, De Winter, Estupiñan, Odogu; Jashari, Ricci.

Sassuolo (4-3-3): Murić; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muhamerović, Candé; Thorstvedt, Matić, Koné; Volpato, Pinamonti, Fadera.

Sassuolo bench: Satalino, Zacchi; Coulibaly, Doig, Odenthal; Iannoni, Lipani, Vranckx; Cheddira, Laurientié, Moro, Pierini.

Kenan Yildiz will lead the Juventus attack in a tricky match at Bologna this evening.

It kicks off at 20:45 CET (19:45 GMT) at a sold-out Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna.

The Rossoblu and Juventus compete for a spot in the top four, and the home side has three points more than the Old Lady in the Serie A standings.

Bologna will be involved in the Supercoppa Italiana next week, so their coach, Vincenzo Italiano, could slightly rotate his squad.

As reported by Sky Sport and other Italian media, Jhon Lucumì will return to the starting XI, joining Torbjorn Heggem in central defence and Lewis Ferguson is also expected to feature in the Rossoblu line-up after starting on the bench against Celta Vigo earlier this week, as he was not fully fit.

Thijs Dallinga and Santiago Castro compete for a starting spot in attack.

Juventus will make no changes in defence as Gleison Bremer is available, but still not fit to start. Jonathan David is expected to start again up front with Yildiz and Francisco Conceiçao playing as attacking midfielders.

Bologna vs. Juventus – where to watch on TV

The match will be televised on TNT Sports 1 and DAZN in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will cover today’s Serie A action with a liveblog.

Bologna vs. Juventus – probable line-ups

Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Heggem, Lucumí, Miranda; Ferguson, Moro; Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi; Castro.

Juventus (3-4-2-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Kelly, Koopmeiners; McKennie, Locatelli, Thuram, Cambiaso; Conceição, Yildiz; David.

Francesco Pio Esposito is expected to partner with Lautaro Martinez in the Inter attack in an away game at Genoa.

It kicks off at 18:00 CET (17:00 GMT) at the Stadio Ferraris in Genoa.

Inter must cope without Denzel Dumfries, Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, Hakan Calhanoglu and third-choice goalkeeper Raffaele Di Gennaro.

Maxwel Cornet, Benjamin Siegrist and Leo Ostigard are unavailable for the home side.

Acerbi’s injury means Yann Bisseck will join regular starters Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni in central defence.

Luis Henrique is expected to start as a right midfielder to replace Dumfries. Petar Sucic competes with Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a spot in central midfield, while Carlos Augusto is favourite over Federico Dimarco, according to Sky Sport Italia and Gazzetta.

Italian media claim that Marcus Thuram will start on the bench, making room for Pio Esposito and Lautaro Martinez in attack.

Genoa vs. Inter – where to watch on TV

The match is available on DAZN in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will cover today’s Serie A action with a liveblog.

Genoa vs. Inter – probable line-ups

Genoa (3-5-2): Leali; Marcandalli, Otoa, Vasquez; Norton-Cuffy, Thorsby, Frendrup, Malinovskyi, Martin; Vitinha, Colombo.

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Barella, Zielinski, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Lautaro Martinez, Pio Esposito.

Antonio Conte will make little changes to his Napoli XI as they visit Udinese in Serie A Week 15.

It kicks off at 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT) at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine.

The Partenopei are still without several key players, Romelu Lukaku, Alex Meret, Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour, but Stanislav Lobotka is back in the squad and is expected to start on the bench.

Napoli will face Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal next week, but Conte still can’t rotate much, so he’ll make just one change to the XI that lost 2-0 away at Benfica in the Champions League earlier this week.

According to several sources, including Corriere dello Sport, Leonardo Spinazzola is expected to start as a left midfielder in a 3-4-3 system, while David Neres and Noa Lang remain favourites to start up front alongside Rasmus Hojlund, leaving Matteo Politano on the bench.

Udinese are without Hassane Kamara, Arthur Atta and Jordan Zemura, but Nicolò Zaniolo is fit to start and will lead their attack today.

Udinese vs. Napoli – where to watch on TV

The match is available on DAZN in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will cover today’s Serie A action with a liveblog.

Udinese vs. Napoli – probable line-ups

Udinese (3-5-2): Okoye; Solet, Kabasele, Bertola; Zanoli, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Piotrowski, Ehizibue; Davis, Zaniolo

Napoli (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Di Lorenzo, Elmas, McTominay, Spinazzola; Neres, Lang; Hojlund

Christopher Nkunku and Christian Pulisic will lead the Milan attack today in a Serie A match against Andrea Pinamonti’s Sassuolo.

It kicks off at 12:30 CET (11:30 GMT) at the Stadio Meazza in Milan.

It’s a big day of football in Serie A with all the top sides taking to the pitch. After today’s lunch-time game at San Siro, Inter will visit Genoa (15:00 CET), Napoli will play away at Udinese (18:00 CET) and Bologna will host Juventus (20:45 CET).

Milan are still without Santiago Gimenez, Youssouf Fofana and Rafael Leao, while the Neroverdi must cope without their star Domenico Berardi.

Massimiliano Allegri will field the best possible Milan XI despite next week’s Supercoppa semifinal against Napoli.

Nkunku and Pulisic will start up front, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek is favourite over Samuele Ricci in central midfield.

Cristian Volpato will replace Berardi on the right flank for Sassuolo, with Pinamonti and Armand Laurienté completing the Neroverdi’s attack.

Milan vs. Sassuolo – where to watch on TV

The match will be televised on TNT Sports 1 and DAZN in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will cover today’s Serie A action with a liveblog.

Milan vs. Sassuolo – probable line-ups

Milan (3-5-2) Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Rabiot, Modric, Ricci, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Nkunku.

Sassuolo (4-3-3) Muric; Walukiewicz, Idzes, Muharemovic, Doig; Thorstvedt, Matic, Koné; Volpato, Pinamonti, Laurienté.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

We play for the top spot

Sunday with the big sides: Napoli and Milan to remain at the top

Traps for the leaders: Allegri with Nkunku-Pulisic, Conte relies on Neres

Offer rejected

Elkann to Tether: ‘Juve are not for sale.’

‘History and value of the club are not for sale.’ The value is too low. Spalletti in Bologna (20.45), he must win to climb.

Inter idea, the two Thurams

Chivu at Genoa’s home, thinking of Pio and Lautaro

Golden Vlasic

Toro restart with a win. Cairo: ‘Fundamental victory.’

Lazio win down to ten men

Incredible: two players sent off, then Noslin scores.

Corriere dello Sport

Who gets it wrong goes down

Hot Sunday in the race for the title

Milan begin at lunchtime, then Napoli, Inter and Juve: 360 minutes waiting for the Supercoppa

Pulisic and Nkunku up front. Max: ‘Napoli and Inter still favourites.’

Conte chases the 11th win, Lobotka returns and goes to the bench. There’s Spinazzola.

Chivu hits back: ‘They said we were finished.’ Zielinski and Bisseck in.

Space for Dallinga. David with Yildiz. Lucio: ‘I told DeLa to get Italiano.’

‘History is not for sale.’

Elkann holds Juventus tight: ‘It’s a love lasting one century.’

Exor’s CEO says no to Tether’s offer: ‘Juventus have been my family’s club for 102 years. We’ll continue to support the team and look to a winning future.’

Lazio feat: victory down to nine men.

Tuttosport

Petrachi, happy debut as a director: Toro return to winning ways with Cremonese

Vlasic saves Baroni

Gobbo pride

Elkann strongly confirms he won’t sell Juve, Spalletti demands a performance in line with history

Exor’s CEO has rejected the offer from Tether. John: ‘Our values are not for sale.’ The coach: ‘I’m happy to feel his passion, now it’s up to us to honour the past and work to build the same or a better future.’ David towards the confirmation. Cautious with Bremer, but…

Frattesi for Thuram: Inter try the coup

Trap for Chivu in Genoa today after the defeat with Liverpool: ‘They said we were finished, but we’re still here. Too many labels, I don’t like it.’

Milan-Napoli: head-to-head with Ryiad on the horizon.

Allegri defends the leadership against Sassuolo without Leao. Conte still in emergency in Udine. On Thursday, the Supercoppa semifinal.

Nine-man Lazio beat Parma! Dea climb back with Scamacca

Luciano Spalletti says Juventus will no longer go into a training retreat before games and confirms he has suggested ‘everyone’ to hire Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano, ‘not just to President Aurelio De Laurentiis.’

Spalletti’s Juventus will visit Bologna at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Sunday, meeting a direct rival in the race for the top four.

Bologna, in fact, are three points above the Old Lady, who ranks 7th in the Serie A table.

Spalletti previewed tomorrow’s match at a press conference, starting with team news.

Bologna-Juventus: Spalletti’s press conference

“Daniele Rugani can already be deployed. As for Bremer, because of his previous injury, he still needs time, and we must be cautious even if he’s available and wants to be there,” Spalletti told reporters via Ilbianconero.com.

Asked whether he’ll have more time next week to test a four-man defence in training, Spalletti replied: “I’m still surprised when I hear about systems in the field. In today’s football, it has changed a little. You don’t win by occupying positions, but spaces, deciding where you want to bring the game. We are going towards one-on-one across the pitch, and we have to adapt. It’s true that I want to use a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, trying to do something different, but it’s just the starting point because the game forces you to use other systems during the match.”

Francisco Conceiçao made a substitute appearance in Wednesday’s Champions League win over Pafos, contributing to a 2-0 win, but Spalletti expects a further step forward from the Portuguese.

“His development lies in becoming more decisive. He needs to increase the chances of scoring and be more determined in the attacking phase,” said the Juventus boss.

“He has this lethal outburst of pace that puts you in real trouble when he accelerates. Let’s also add some defensive phases, some duels, but I’ve seen great willingness to track back and help out, so we’re on the right path.”

The Juventus tactician was full of praise for Bologna and their coach, Italiano, confirming he had suggested Napoli hire the Bologna boss in 2023.

Spalletti on Italiano

“There are certainly things you can learn from Italiano. For me, he’s one of the best young coaches we have, and I’ve told everyone to get Italiano, not just President De Laurentiis.

“Credit goes to the coach and those who built the team. They have great quality and know exactly where they want to go,” continued Spalletti.

“They fear nothing and force you into a huge number of duels; they don’t care about how much space they leave behind. We have to break down these fences, not go man against man, but beyond the man. If we are not ready for this, it will be a complicated evening for us to talk about.

“Personality is a fundamental aspect of football. In the past, it only belonged to those who dared a risky play; today, is about accepting a full-pitch battle, pushing the opponents into the spaces you want, beyond the technical gesture,” Spalletti added.

“One single play might be enough to get a passing grade [from the media], but to play like a champion, you have to be in the heart of the team for 90 minutes and close to the ball.

“No one will convince me not to expect great things from these lads; no one will convince me that they aren’t good. A coach has to be obsessed with the idea of improving the team.”

Last but not least, Spalletti said the team would no longer go into a training retreat before matches, which means they won’t travel to Bologna until tomorrow morning.

“A training retreat isn’t a place, but a mental condition,” concluded Spalletti.

“We won’t do it anymore because, as far as I’m concerned, it’s an extra burden. If you are dealing with a group of players with the right mental condition, like those at Juventus, you don’t go into a training retreat. Whoever plays for Juventus is always in this mindset, so we’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

• More from the press conference – Spalletti reacts to Elkann claims after offer to buy Juventus: ‘It’s up to us’

Luciano Spalletti is ‘happy’ to ‘feel the strength’ of John Elkann but pushes the team to ‘give substance’ to the owner’s ‘passion.’

• More from Spalletti’s press conference – Spalletti confirms permanent Juventus changen and Italiano suggestion

Juventus are preparing to visit Bologna at the Stadio Dall’Ara tomorrow, but the eve of the game has been shaken by the news that minority shareholders Tether have made an offer to buy a majority stake from Exor.

Spalletti’s response to Elkann’s message

Minutes before Spalletti’s pre-match press conference, Elkann released a statement through the Juventus website insisting that the club was not for sale: “We’ll continue to support our team and look to the future to build a winning Juve,” said the club owner.

“Even though I arrived only recently, it makes me happy to feel the strength and passion that John Elkann and family have for this club,” Spalletti said (via Ilbianconero.com).

“It is clear that it is up to us to give substance and concreteness to this passion, honouring the last and building a future on the same level, or even a better one, as John Elkann himself told us when he came to visit us.”

Spalletti and Elkann met on Friday

The Italian tactician revealed he had spoken to Elkann on Friday: “Yes, and I saw him too, a few hours ago, just yesterday,” he said.

“Sometimes, he sends me his thoughts, and I’m glad about it. In this case, he mentioned the future as well and clearly, as I said when I arrived, the objective is to always aim for the top when you are part of this kind of club.”

Tether’s offer to buy Juventus is worth €1.1 billion, but according to several sources, the club’s actual value is closer to €2 billion.

Regardless of the club’s worth and Tether’s offer, however, Elkann and his family are unwilling to sell the club, as the Juventus owner clarified.

Juventus currently sit 7th in the Serie A table with 23 points, three below their next rivals, Bologna.

• Read more – ‘Make Juventus great again’ – What’s behind the €1.1bn offer to buy the club

Denzel Dumfries hasn’t played a competitive match since November 9 and is not expected to return to action before January 2026, but next week he’ll have a specialist visit abroad, reports Gazzetta.

Inter defender Dumfries is not expected to play again in 2025 and will have a specialist visit abroad next week to receive a clear diagnosis.

Dumfries’ injury explained

The Netherlands international was subbed off after 56 minutes during Inter’s home game against Lazio on November 9 and has not returned to action since.

Dumfries had suffered a suspected sprain in his left ankle, and even if he joined his national team during the break last month, he was not involved in matches against Poland and Lithuania.

The right-back returned to Italy for treatment, and it was believed that he would have recovered for the derby against Milan on November 23, but that wasn’t the case.

Dumfires to miss Supercoppa Italiana Final Four

Gazzetta reports that Dumfries has been training in the gym and has tried to increase the workload, but the pain is still there.

Even MRI scans and other tests have not highlighted any particular damage to the injured ankle, so Inter have decided to change their approach, arranging consultations with several orthopaedic specialists focusing on ankle problems.

Next week, he’s expected to fly abroad for a specialist visit, but Dumfries is highly unlikely to return to action before January 2026, missing next week’s Supercoppa Final Four.

Milan striker Santiago Gimenez continues to train separately, even if, according to Gazzetta, the Rossoneri doctors believe the Mexico international has fully recovered from an ankle injury.

Milan striker Gimenez has missed one and a half months of action due to an ankle injury that even prevented him from playing with the Mexico national team in November.

Gimenez continues to train separately

The former Feyenoord star continues training separately at Milanello even if, according to Gazzetta, the club’s medical staff believe the striker has clinically recovered from his ankle issue.

The pink paper explains that, technically, there isn’t a diagnosis for the Mexican striker and that Milan have never released an official statement regarding his injury.

Even Massimiliano Allegri hasn’t entirely clarified Gimenez’s issue as the Italian tactician keeps telling the media that he hopes the 24-year-old will return to action “soon.” Today’s press conference made no exception.

According to the report, the striker’s perception of pain and mental discomfort also play a role in his slow return to action.

Gimenez’s return date still unclear

As of today, his return date remains unclear as the striker could even miss next week’s Supercoppa Italiana Final Four in Saudi Arabia.

Milan are looking for a new striker in the January window, but Gimenez is not considering leaving the club as his agent recently confirmed.

Massimiliano Allegri feels Christian Pulisic still has room for improvement but the American star has proved to be ‘diabolical’ in front of the goal.

Allegri praised Pulisic during today’s press conference on the eve of a Serie A match against Sassuolo.

Pulisic inspired Milan’s 3-2 win over Torino on Monday and is the joint Serie A top-goalscorer alongside Inter’s Lautaro Martinez with seven goals.

Allegri comments on Pulisic

“He still has room for improvement. In his private life, he’s very reserved, but he transforms on the pitch. He’s diabolical when he’s in front of the goal. He still needs to find his best condition,” Allegri said via Milan News.

Gazzetta dello Sport reported earlier this week that Pulisic needed just ten shots on target to score seven league goals this term.

Pulisic has covered any role in the Milan attack during his stay at the club. Could he be deployed as an attacking midfielder in the future?

“I don’t know if in the future he’ll have to play deeper. I’ll just say that we have to try to get Gimenez back, hopefully,” Allegri replied.

Allegri needs ‘more options’ in attack

“Above all, to have four forwards to choose from, especially because we’ll have many matches in January. Getting Athekame, Fofana and Leao back already gives us more options on the pitch; that’s why recovering Gimenez is important.”

During his press conference, Allegri confirmed that Fofana and Leao would miss tomorrow’s match but will be available for the Supercoppa semifinal against Napoli next week.

The Coppa Italia Final Four will be staged in Riyadh next week, involving Milan, Napoli, Inter and Bologna.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says his players must ‘respect’ Sassuolo and feels Christopher Nkunku should ‘smile more.’

• Read more – Pulisic ‘diabolical’ in front of the goal, says Milan coach Allegri

Allegri’s Milan host Sassuolo at San Siro on Sunday. The Rossoneri are the Serie A table leaders, level on 31 points with Napoli.

Milan-Sassuolo: Allegri’s pre-match press conference

Allegri previewed tomorrow’s game at a pre-match press conference, primarily providing injury updates: “Leao won’t be available tomorrow, but will recover for the Supercopppa. Fofana has recovered, but I’ll leave him at home because he hasn’t trained at all. Athekame has been called up, Gimenez is working, and we hope to have him back as soon as possible,” Allegri said via Milan News.

“Sassuolo can make you struggle at any time, so we must have great respect and order in the defensive phase. If we wander around the pitch, they will cause trouble for you, and the game will become more complicated. Tomorrow we need a serious performance under every aspect; technically, physically and mentally.”

Christopher Nkunku started against Torino, but hasn’t yet scored in ten Serie A appearances.

“He must be more serene, because we all wanted him here,” Allegri said.

“His teammates and the club trust him. I told him he has to smile more. If he does so, things will improve. He’s an important player with technical skills, and I’m convinced he’ll do excellent things.

“He has worked a lot. In Turin, we scored the third goal because he attacked the near post well, freeing he space for Pulisic. He has extraordinary technical qualities and can score goals.”

Allegri has been repeating that Milan’s main objective is to qualify for the Champions League, while Inter and Napoli are the favourites for the Serie A title.

“If I’m not wrong, they finished first and second last season, so normally they are the favourites,” he said.

“We’ve changed many players, and we’ve welcomed excellent players. We are at Milan, so we must have the ambition and the desire to give our best, knowing that we must return to the Champions League. Tomorrow, we need to make a further step forward. We are table leaders, but we still need many to reach our main target, which is to qualify for the Champions League.”

Is it an advantage for Milan not to be involved in any European competition?

“I’d be happy if I could play one game every three days and in the Champions League, because we work for this,” insisted Allegri.

“There are all these rumours about the advantages or disadvantages. I believe the advantage is to have a strong team with strong players, a strong club and an environment that can support physically, mentally and technically a game every three days; otherwise, you can’t be in a top team. I like to play in the Champions League, and we are working for this. I don’t think that playing one game every three days leads to worse preparation, but it’s possible.”

Santiago Gimenez is still injured and hasn’t yet scored in Serie A. Does it mean Milan will look for a new centre-forward in January?

“I must find solutions internally in a group of players who are offering it to me,” insisted Allegri.

“The club will keep an eye on the market, but we must focus on tomorrow’s game. Once we’ve done it, we’ll focus on the Supercoppa.”

Is Ardon Jashari ready to replace Luka Modric if the Croat needs to rest ahead of next week’s Supercoppa?

“Jashari has really improved. Tomorrow’s game is the closest one, so I’ll base my assessments on tomorrow’s match,” noted Allegri.

“After tomorrow’s game, we’ll see the dead ones, the ones who are alive and those who are wounded.”

Milan have won all their big games this season, but dropped points against teams in the bottom half of the table. Fikayo Tomori has had drops in focus, but Allegri refused to blame the Englishman.

“It’s not about Tomori. We all have it as a team. We conceded two goals against Torino, Pisa, Parma and Cremonese,” he said.

“There are situations we must improve; we can’t be two goals down after 12 minutes. It happens sometimes, but we must try to avoid it.

“This is a team that never complains about the work and what we ask them. They have a clear target, they want to seize the opportunity to stay at Milan and leave something important recorded in Milan’s history,” concluded the coach.

“We must remain focused without listening to what is being said. The target is to be in the top four on May 25 because, I repeat, Milan must play in the Champions League next season.”

Former Inter star Gianluca Pagliuca believes Guglielmo Vicario is a ‘very good goalkeeper’ but is not ‘top-class’ while Gigio Donnarumma is the best in the world.

La Gazzetta dello Sport has reported that Tottenham keeper Vicario is open to joining Inter next summer as the Nerazzurri will be looking for a replacement for Yann Sommer in 2026-27.

“It would be a good idea, with full respect for Sommer,” Pagliuca, a former Inter goalkeeper, told Gazzetta via Fcinter1098.it

‘Vicario not a top-class goalkeeper’

“Yann is a reliable goalkeeper and has experience. I don’t know what Inter want to do, but the fact that he’s been questioned over two mistakes seems a bit excessive to me.”

As for Vicario, the former Italy international seems to have clear ideas: “He’s a very good goalkeeper, the second choice for our national team. He has experience in Italy and also in the Premier League,” Pagliuca said.

“However, I don’t see him as a top-class player yet. He has experience because he’s been between the posts for a long time; he’s 29, but he doesn’t give me the feeling of being a top player.”

Pagliuca, Italy’s starting goalkeeper in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, also praised Inter’s second-choice goalkeeper Josep Martinez: “I really like him,” he said.

Pagliuca ranks the top three goalkeepers in the world

Lastly, he ranked the top-three goalkeepers in the world: “In an overall ranking of No.1s, I’d put Gigio [Donnarumma] first, then Courtois and then Dibu Martinez, who, I don’t know whether will remain in Birmingham.”

Pagliuca played for Sampdoria, Inter, Bologna and Ascoli in Serie A, collecting 592 appearances in Italy’s top flight.

The former goalkeeper won the Scudetto in 1990-91 with Sampdoria and the 1997-98 UEFA Cup, now Europa League, with Inter.

He retired after spending the last season of his career at Ascoli in 2006-07.

La Gazzetta dello Sport notes that Tether’s offer to buy Juventus is below the actual club’s value which is ‘realistically’ between €1.8 and 2 billion.

• Read more – ‘Make Juventus great again’ – What’s behind the €1.1bn offer to buy the club

Crypto giants Tether, a minority Juventus shareholder, announced an €1.1 billion offer to acquire a majority stake in the club on Friday, but the Agnelli family replied through a spokesperson that the club is not for sale.

Juventus’ financial issues in recent years

Gazzetta examines the Bianconeri’s financial situation, describing the Serie A giants as a ‘sleeping giant’ with considerable assets, including a club-owned stadium and training centres worth €450m, but also a poor financial situation with losses of nearly one billion in the last eight years that forced club owners to make cash injections for over €900m.

When Andrea Agnelli became the club’s President in May 2010, Juventus’ stock market capitalisation was €162m, and it peaked to €1.5 billion in 2019, driven by the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo a year earlier. Currently, Juventus are valued at €915m on the Milan stock exchange.

Football Benchmark’s latest report gives Juventus a value of €1.651 billion; according to Forbes, the club’s worth is slightly higher at €1.9 billion. Realistically, according to Gazzetta, the range lies between €1.8 billion and €2 billion.

With their statement, however, Tether assigned to Juventus an equity value of €1.1 billion. Considering the financial debt of around €300m, the enterprise value would be €1.4 billion, according to the crypto giants, below market estimates.

Don’t forget that, back in 2022, Elliott sold Milan, who didn’t have a club-owned stadium, to RedBird for €1.2 billion, while more recently, Atletico Madrid’s majority stake was acquired by Apollo with an enterprise value of €2.5 billion.

Four Juventus four capital increases in recent years

Even if Juventus have solid assets, they’ve been falling short financially in recent years, accumulating €999m in losses between 2014-15 and 2024-25. Juventus have not been profitable for the past eight seasons, requiring four capital increases.

The last one worth €98 was completed just a few weeks ago, when Exor and Tether subscribed their stakes, 65.4% and 11.5% respectively, for a total of €77m, while the remainder came from institutional investors.

However, there have been positive signals in recent months as, last season, the deficit was cut to €58m compared to €199m from the previous financial year.

The updated business plan targets break-even by the end of the 2026-27 campaign, but that will largely depend on results on the pitch, with access to the big Champions League prize money, and the increase of the players’ worth.

Football Italia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà provides the latest transfer updates on Serie A-linked Mauro Icardi, Joshua Zirkzee, Kobbie Mainoo and Napoli striker Lorenzo Lucca.

Milan will be looking for a new striker in the January transfer window, and Pedullà argued in his latest YouTube video for Football Italia that the Rossoneri should sign another striker next month, regardless of Santiago Gimenez and Christopher Nkunku, who have failed to match expectations this season.

Other media have linked Mauro Icardi, a former Inter captain, with a move to Milan. Pedullà says that the Argentine, whose Galatasaray contract expires in June 2026, was not offered to Milan through official sources, but perhaps other intermediaries held informal talks with the Rossoneri.

Icardi has offers from four countries

Icardi has important offers from Mexico, Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Icardi isn’t yet 36, but he wants to wait. The request is a €10m salary.

As for Zirkzee, the Dutchman is a priority target for Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but Manchester United must sign another striker because Zirkzee has had more playing time recently, and the Red Devils are only open to selling the player for an appropriate transfer formula, which means not a loan with an option to buy.

Mainoo’s situation is different because he’s younger than Zirkzee and is not getting much playing time at Old Trafford. The English midfielder is Napoli’s priority target in midfield for the January window.

Last but not least, the Partenopei won’t give away Lucca in the January window; they might allow him to leave on loan, but it will also depend on Romelu Lukaku’s fitness once he returns to action.

Tuttosport newspaper reports that Juventus are ready to make a new offer to extend Kenan Yildiz’s contract as the striker’s father, Engin, has landed in Turin.

Juventus are expected to continue talks over Yidiz’s contract extension in the coming days, according to Tuttosport.

The Turin-based paper claims that members of the Yildiz family have landed in Italy, and not just to spend holidays together.

Juventus set to resume Yildiz contract talks

The striker’s father Engin, in fact, is expected to meet with club directors for contract negotiations, helped by a well-known intermediary, Jorge Mendes.

Yildiz’s contract expires in June 2029, but the Bianconeri’s No.10 has now become a key player in the team, and his €1.5m salary does not reflect his status at the Allianz Stadium.

Yildiz’s salary request to Juventus

According to the report, Yildiz’s salary request is €6m per season, a sum that Juventus are eager to match, possibly including easily achievable bonuses.

Yildiz, 20, has grabbed six goals and six assists in 20 appearances across all competitions this season.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Milan are among the clubs interested in Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus who will be looking for more playing time in the second part of the season.

Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus is the latest striker linked with a move to Milan in the January transfer window.

The Rossoneri will be looking for a new centre-forward next month, and Italian media have already mentioned several targets for the Rossoneri, including Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug and Sassuolo’s Andrea Pinamonti.

Gabriel Jesus linked with Milan move

According to Corriere dello Sport, Milan’s owners are unwilling to make a big investment in a new striker in the January window, but possible departures of Santiago Gimenez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek would help the Rossoneri finance the purchase of a new man in attack.

Gimenez’s transfer stance

Football Italia, however, understands that Gimenez is not considering leaving the club in the winter transfer window, at least for now.

If the situation were to change, Gabriel Jesus would be one of the Milan targets, according to Corriere dello Sport.

The 28-year-old has recently returned from an injury and wants to play consistently in the second part of the campaign, something he might not be given at Arsenal, given Mikel Arteta’s options in attack.

According to the report, Gabriel Jesus wants to have a chance to return to the Brazil national team for the 2026 World Cup, so he’ll be looking for more playing time next month.

The 28-year-old would earn just above €3m from January until the end of the season. The Brazilian’s contract at the Emirates Stadium runs out in June 2027.

The Agnelli family is unwilling to sell Juventus despite a €1.1 billion offer from minority shareholders Tether, so we take a closer look at the blockchain-enabled platform and its CEO, Paolo Ardoino.

Tether announced an offer to buy a majority stake in Juventus from Exor on Friday night, but received a firm reply from the Bianconeri owners: “Negotiations are not underway regarding the sale of a stake in Juventus,” a spokesperson for the Agnelli family told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

How do Tether make money?

Founded in 2014, the Tether cryptocurrency has grown massively over the last few years and its CEO, Paolo Ardoino, is a life-long Juventus supporter. Tether already holds an 11,52% stake in Juventus and is represented in the Juventus board of directors by Francesco Garino.

As reported by Gazzetta, the main difference between Tether and other popular cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, is its lower volatility.

 

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Un post condiviso da Tether Operations Limited (@_tether_)

Tether’s value is pegged to the US dollar, and its users appreciate it for its stability rather than the hope of profiting from market speculations.

Gazzetta explains that Tether has ‘built its success on its effectiveness in supporting international transactions without the involvement and costs of various intermediaries, such as banks.’

The company is headquartered in El Salvador and reported profits exceeding €13 billion in 2024. Tether’s core focus lies in cryptocurrencies, blockchains and technological innovation, including artificial intelligence.

As previously mentioned, its CEO, Paolo Ardoino, is a life-long Juventus supporter who has become increasingly popular among Bianconeri supporters on social media, especially X, thanks to his motto ‘Make Juventus great again.’

https://t.co/rQLpUYieMP

— Paolo Ardoino (@paoloardoino) December 12, 2025

Gazzetta notes that the relationship between Tether and Exor has never been particularly solid. At times, Ardoino’s social media activity aimed to look for a collaboration with Exor, but other times, the Tether CEO has criticised the club and the team.

Exor unwilling to sell Juventus

The abrupt public bid is unlikely to strengthen relations between the two sides, particularly given that Exor had already indicated, before Tether’s proposal, that it had no intention of selling the club in response to rumours of a potential offer from a Saudi investor.

This past November, Juventus owner John Elkann said: “We remain fully committed to Juventus and are proud to be its controlling shareholder for over a century. We are and have always been open to constructive ideas from all stakeholders who share our ambition and passion for the club.”

Check out the probable line-ups and latest team news for Saturday’s three Serie A matches: Torino vs. Cremonese, Parma vs. Lazio and Atalanta vs. Cagliari.

Serie A Round 15 started on Friday with Lecce’s 1-0 win over Pisa at the Stadio Via Del Mare.

Today, Saturday, December 13, there are three more matches: Torino vs. Cremonese at 15:00 CET (14:00 GMT), Parma vs. Lazio at 18:00 CET and Atalanta vs. Cagliari at 20:45 CET.

Torino vs. Cremonese

Torino (3-5-2): Israel; Ismajli, Maripan, Coco; Pedersen, Casadei, Asllani, Vlasic, Lazaro; Simeone, Adams.

Unavailable: Schuurs

Cremonese (3-5-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Bianchetti; Barbieri, Payero, Bondo, Vandeputte, Pezzella; Bonazzoli, Vardy.

Unavailable: Collocolo, Faye, Grassi, Sarmiento, Folino

Watch on TV: Paramount+ in the USA

Parma vs. Lazio

Parma (3-4-2-1): Corvi; Delprato, Troilo, Valenti; Britschgi, Bernabé, Keita, Valeri; Benedyczak, Ondrejka; Pellegrino.

Unavailable: Frigan, Circati, Suzuki, Ndiaye

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Patric, Romagnoli, Lu. Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Cataldi, Basic; Cancellieri, Castellanos, Zaccagni.

Unavailable: Rovella, Gigot, Isaksen, Gila (suspended)

Watch on TV: DAZN in the UK and Ireland, Paramount+ in the USA

Atalanta vs. Cagliari

Atalanta (3-4-2-1):  Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien, Djimsiti; Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Zalewski; De Ketelaere, Lookman; Scamacca.

Unavailable: Sulemana, Bellanova, Bakker

Cagliari (3-5-2): Caprile; Zappa, Luperto, Rodriguez; Palestra, Adopo, Deiola, Folorunsho, Obert: Esposito, Borrelli.

Unavailable: Belotti, Ze Pedro, Felici, Mina

Watch on TV: DAZN in the UK and Ireland, Paramount+ in the USA

Serie A table

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario wants to join Inter next summer, but the Nerazzurri don’t want to pay more than €20m to sign the Italy international.

Italian goalkeeper Vicario is eager to join Inter next summer, according to the latest report of Gazzetta dello Sport.

Vicario wants Inter move

The pink paper had reported in November that Vicario wanted to leave Spurs at the end of the season and that the Nerazzurri were interested in securing his services.

Vicario is grateful to Tottenham but wants to return to Serie A in the summer, so the Nerazzurri will have to negotiate with Spurs, as the goalkeeper’s contract runs out in June 2028.

Vicario a long-time Inter target

According to the report, however, Inter are unwilling to invest more than €20m to sign the former Empoli and Cagliari goalkeeper who was already a Nerazzurri target in 2023, before the 29-year-old completed a permanent move to North London.

Vicario has kept nine clean sheets in 22 Tottenham appearances this season.

He’s Italy second-choice keeper behind Gigio Donnarumma and has five international appearances to his name.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Offer for Juve

The crypto giants value the club at €1.1 billion. Exor: ‘It’s not for sale’

From Tether 725m for 65,4% of the club.

Vicario wants Inter

The Tottenham goalkeeper is getting closer. Dumfries’ warning.

Corriere dello Sport

Transfer market special

Gabriel Jesus, the bomb

The Arsenal centre-forward is back from an injury and can leave in January

Milan loom? Mainoo is open to Napoli. Lucca between Italy and abroad

Juve, Motta was better

Last season, they were closer to the top spot and had more points

The results in the opening 14 games have worsened with Tudor and Spalletti: fewer goals scored (18 to 22) and more vulnerable defence (14 to eight). Tether: ‘One billion ready for the club.’ Exor: ‘Not for sale.’

Lazio, Sarri looking for the tris: Cancellieri in the trident

De Rossi and Chivu, so many jokes

Tuttosport

Baroni, breakthrough or trouble

Under the eyes of the new director, the coach must send a strong signal after three consecutive losses. Lecce’s win over Pisa made the Granata slip to the 17th spot. Fans will protest against Cairo before the game.

One billion for Juve, Elkann says no

Tether’s offer will be rejected

The crypto company that has an 11,5% stake in the club aims for a majority stake. ‘Offer made with humility and a sense of belonging for the club and the fans.’ But Exor says no. Besides Ardoino’s move, there’s no confirmation regarding the desire to sell Juve. Yildiz’s family in Turin to negotiate the renewal. According to CIES, Kenan will be worth 140m in June.

‘De Rossi and Chivu two shy with success.’

Milan, Juve and Inter: ticket prices cap for the visitors

Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino enjoyed the team’s performance against Chelsea, especially ‘ in terms of sacrifice’ but wants to see more of the same against Cagliari: ‘It’s a maturity test.’

• Read more – Maresca still frustrated by Atalanta’s win over Chelsea: ‘Review the first goal’

Atalanta are the best-ranked Serie A team in the Champions League and the only Italian side to have earned at least a spot for the knockout playoff with two games to spare.

La Dea have 13 points in six European matches, but their form in Serie A has been very different, with only 16 points in 14 league games.

Atalanta-Cagliari: Palladino’s pre-match press conference

On Tuesday, they shocked Chelsea in the Champions League with a 2-1 comeback win in Bergamo.

“It was an excellent match in terms of spirit and sacrifice. I want to see a team that understands the moments, defending and attacking together,” Palladino said at a press conference via Gianluca Di Marzio.

“Of course, we must work to improve the approach; it’s fundamental.”

Palladino went on to praise Italy starlet Honest Ahanor, who was introduced in the second half against the Blues.

“Ahanor is a talent that we have to develop. He played a great game against Chelsea, and I really like his spirit. Being bold and making the most, 110%, of every chance he’s given.”

La Dea have lost four of the last five Serie A games, and tomorrow they host a Cagliari side who beat Roma 1-0 last week.

“I expect the right spirit and a response from the team. It’s the group that makes the difference, and for us, it is a maturity test,” Palladino concluded.

“Serie A games are always difficult, even against lower-table teams. Tomorrow we face a Cagliari side that defend well and can rely on players with great stamina. The wish is to keep the same spirit we had on Tuesday.”

Atalanta sit 12th in the Serie A table and have only won three matches domestically this season.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca is still frustrated by Tuesday’s loss against Atalanta in the Champions League: ‘If you review the first goal, they had one player inside the box, and we had seven players.’

Italian coach Maresca once again examined Atalanta’s win over his Chelsea side during a press conference on Friday.

La Dea secured a memorable 2-1 comeback victory in Bergamo earlier this week thanks to goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere.

The Blues will host Everton in the Premier League tomorrow.

Maresca comments on Atalanta 2-1 Chelsea

“The reason why we dropped points, again, because this is football. Bournemouth away, we drew. Leeds away was a bad day for us, for all of us,” Maresca said via Football London.

“Atalanta game, again, it’s a game that for me, we were in the game, we were winning, we were okay. And we conceded, if you review the first goal, they had one player inside the box, and we had seven players. So we have seven against one, and we conceded the goal. So big mistakes are things that we need to improve.”

Maresca has also won the Premier League coach of the Month award for November, but didn’t leave much room for celebration: “It’s December now,” he said.

Atalanta are currently the best-ranked Serie A club in the Champions League and have mathematically qualified for the knockout playoff already.

However, two more wins in the remaining two matches of the league phase will grant La Dea a spot in the Round of 16.

Atalanta have earned 16 points in 14 Serie A games this season and will host Cagliari in the next league game tomorrow.

Milan’s Massimiliano Allegri has won the Serie A coach of the Month award for November.

“The Philadelphia Coach Of The Month award for November has been assigned to Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri,” Lega Serie A said on Friday.

Allegri wins Serie A coach of the Month award for November: official statement

“The trophy will be presented during the pre-match of Milan vs Sassuolo, scheduled for Sunday, 14th December at 12.30 at the ‘Giuseppe Meazza’ Stadium in Milan.”

Lega Serie A explained that “for the final calculation were considered the matchdays from 10 to 13 of Serie A 2025/2026” and that “the award was assigned by a jury of Directors of sports media who evaluated each coach on the basis of technical and sporting criteria and the quality of play of their teams, as well as their behaviour/fair play during matches.”

Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said: “The exciting head-to-head battle at the top of the league also leads to a constant competition between the great Serie A managers. In November, Massimiliano Allegri came out on top with 10 points from four games, keeping a clean sheet in all three of the direct clashes he won. The Tuscan coach has managed to get the best out of the players at his disposal, setting up a well-organised team capable of reading the different moments of the game. Allegri`s Milan are showing a winning mentality and a newfound awareness of their own abilities, characteristics necessary to fight for the top of the table until the end of the season”.

On Thursday, Lega Serie A confirmed that Cremonese Jamie Vardy had won the Serie A Player of the Month for November.

Lautaro Martinez is confident that promising Inter striker Francesco Pio Esposito will become a ‘pillar’ of the Nerazzurri and the Italy national team: ‘He’s serious and humble.’

Pio Esposito returned to Inter last summer after a two-season loan spell at Serie B side Spezia.

Lautaro: Pio Esposito will ‘become a pillar of Inter and Italy’

A product of the Inter Academy, Esposito has netted three goals and provided three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions this season and even made his senior Italy debut, netting three times in five games with the Azzurri.

“I know him quite well because he comes from the youth sector,” Lautaro told Gazzetta.

“He’s a serious and humble lad. Let’s leave him calm, and he’ll become a pillar of Inter and the Italy national team. Bonny also has strength and quality and is helping us.”

During the same interview, Lautaro argued that the Nerazzurri had suffered an “injustice” in their latest Champions League match against Liverpool: “If you lose due to a referee’s mistake, there’s not much you can do,” he said.

Reports in Italy suggest that Sassuolo striker Andrea Pinamonti has attracted interest from Milan, Lazio and West Ham for the January transfer window.

Italian striker Pinamonti could leave Sassuolo next month, according to Calciomercato.com and Goal.com.

Both Italian media outlets claim that the 26-year-old, scorer of four goals in 14 Serie A appearances this season, has attracted interest from Milan, Lazio and West Ham.

Pinamonti could leave Sassuolo in January

The Hammers had already been linked with Pinamonti last summer.

West Ham are very much involved in Italian transfer news today, as Gazzetta reported in the morning that Niclas Fullkrug wants to leave the London-based club next month.

According to the pink paper, Milan are among the clubs monitoring the German centre-forward.

Calciomercato.com reports that Pinamonti could leave Sassuolo on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy in the January transfer window.

The Italian striker already spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Genoa and returned to Sassuolo after their promotion to Serie A.

Football Italia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà insists Kobbie Mainoo is the player Napoli ‘appreciate the most’ in view of the 2026 January transfer window.

Napoli will be looking for midfield reinforcements next month, given that several key players will be forced to the sidelines with injuries for several weeks.

Kevin De Bruyne, Billy Gilmour, Frank Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka are currently on the treatment table and are expected to miss many games for the Partenopei.

Latest Mainoo updates for Napoli

In his latest YouTube video for Football Italia, transfer expert Pedullà noted that Napoli director Giovanni Manna recently confirmed what we’ve been reporting for over a month about the Partenopei’s interest in Manchester United midfielder Mainoo.

“Mainoo’s name emerged from England in August, but there was no room to negotiate in the summer,” Pedullà said.

“Mainoo is the player Napoli are following more closely and appreciate the most.”

Mainoo, 20, has only made 11 appearances across all competitions this season, providing one assist. The England international has only collected 273 minutes of football on the pitch.

Currently, Eljif Elmas, Scott McTominay and Antonio Vergara are the only three central midfielders available for Napoli.

The Partenopei will visit Udinese in their next Serie A match on Sunday.

Christian Pulisic has scored seven Serie A goals this season with just ten shots on target, and even if stats suggest that he’s less involved in the play, the American has been as decisive as ever at San Siro.

Milan star Pulisic inspired the Rossoneri’s 3-2 comeback win over Torino on Monday night with a stunning brace and is currently the best scorer in the league, alongside Lautaro Martinez.

Pulisic’s stunning start to the season

The American star has netted seven goals in nine Serie A matches, nine in 12 games across all competitions.

Friday’s printed edition of Gazzetta dello Sport offers an interesting insight into how Pulisic has become so decisive for Milan this season.

Technically, Pulisic is used as one of the two Milan centre-forwards this term, while in the previous campaign, he mostly acted as a right winger.

However, heatmaps show that Pulisic is not necessarily playing in a more advanced position than last season, but he moves more towards the left, helped by the fact that he only started once alongside Rafael Leao.

Pulisic has fewer passes, crosses, dribbles, fouls suffered and ball recoveries than last season; based on stats, he seems less involved in the play, but he’s way more lethal. The ex-Chelsea star only needed 14 total shots, ten on target, to score seven Serie A goals.

There’s also something intangible, which you won’t see in stats, and it’s his ability to be decisive when the team needs it. Pulisic, for example, scored winning goals in big games against Napoli and Inter before scoring two past Torino, helping Milan climb to the top of the Serie A table, level on 31 points with Napoli.

Pulisic’s Serie A stats

Appearances
2024-25: 34
2025-26: 9

Goals
2024-25: 11
2025-26: 7

Goal-per-minute
2024-25: 226
2025-26: 64

Succesful passes
2024-25: 23
2025-26: 17,44

Chances created
2024-25: 2,03
2025-26: 1,78

Succesful crosses
2024-25: 1,56
2025-26: 0,89

Recoveries
2024-25: 2,76
2025-26: 1,22

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug is one of the names Milan will consider in the January transfer window, as the German wants to leave his club.

West Ham striker Fullkrug is one of the players on Milan’s agenda for the January transfer window, and the Rossoneri will consider a possible deal in the coming weeks.

Fullkrug on Milan’s agenda for January

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fullkrug is unhappy at West Ham, where he has only started in five matches out of 15 and played just 28 minutes in the last two months.

The 32-year-old hasn’t found the net in nine appearances across all competitions this season.

The Italian newspaper reports that Fullkrug can leave on loan next month, even if West Ham paid €30m to sign him just 16 months ago, and the striker has also attracted interest from the Bundesliga.

Milan will be looking for a classic centre-forward in the January transfer window, and the only exception could be Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee.

Lautaro Martinez insists Inter lost to Liverpool earlier this week due to a ‘referee’s mistake’, but feels the Nerazzurri are ‘improving day by day.’

• Read more – Lautaro Martinez makes Pio Esposito prediction for Italy and Inter

A controversial Dominik Szoboszlai penalty allowed Liverpool to beat Inter in a Champions League match at San Siro on Tuesday.

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was punished for pulling Florian Wirtz’s shirt, and the German’s dramatic fall led to a VAR pitchside review that ultimately awarded the decisive spot-kick to the Reds.

Lautaro: Inter ‘disappointed but not angry’ after loss vs. Liverpool

“We are disappointed but not angry,” Lautaro told Gazzetta.

“Because if you lose due to a referee’s mistake, there’s not much you can do. We’re upset that we threw everything away because of an injustice. If penalties were given for every shirt pull, the game would never be played.”

Inter have lost two Champions League Finals in the last three years and suffered a huge blow this past May when they succumbed to a 5-0 defeat to PSG in Munich.

Have they entirely recovered from it?

“Defeats hurt a lot, but make you grow. I get really angry when I lose, but I also have to consider the quality of the opponent,” argued Lautaro.

“Anyway, we started again. Maybe some results haven’t been positive, but it takes time. There’s a new coach who is giving us a lot of energy. Maybe it’s not visible from the outside, but we know we are improving day by day.”

Lautaro Martinez revealed he recently began seeing a psychologist to help him stay balanced.

“I’m very happy I trusted a professional; it helped me a lot,” said the Inter captain.

“I understood that if someone attacks me, it’s often because they would like to be in my place. When I was young, I used to struggle with reading or hearing harsh words about me. Now I face them with more calm, and I enjoy my career.”

Lautaro: ‘No reason to leave’ Inter

Inter are just one point below Serie A leaders Milan and Napoli. Are they going to be their main rivals for the Scudetto?

“I’d include Roma too; they have a coach I really like,” Lautaro argued.

The Argentine star’s contract at San Siro expires in June 2029.

“My family and I feel very good here; we’ve set down roots in Milan. I’ve just signed a new contract, so I have no reason to leave,” Lautaro concluded.

Luka Modric is ‘waiting’ for Italy at the 2026 World Cup as missing out on qualification for the third time in a row ‘would be a tragedy.’

Italy will have to go through the playoffs to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The Azzurri will meet Northern Ireland in the semifinal and the winner between Wales and Bosnia Herzegovina if they progress to the final.

“It would be a tragedy for you to miss a third World Cup in a row,” Modric told Gazzetta.

“I hope Italy qualify because all the best teams will be at the next World Cup and Italy are one of the best, so they have to be there.

“The playoffs are always difficult, but I wish Italy the best of luck in qualifying. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Modric’s Croatia will be in Group L with England, Ghana and Panama, while, if Italy qualify, they’ll meet Canada, Switzerland and Qatar in Group B.

“England are one of the strongest national teams around, but we don’t underestimate anyone. We’re in a difficult group, and we have to prepare well,” said Modric.

“The World Cup is still a long way off, and right now we need to think about the present and about Milan because we want to keep going down this path.”

• Read more – Modric ‘surprised’ by Allegri, Milan the ‘biggest Italian club’

Tuttosport newspaper reports that Davide Frattesi’s agent has held preliminary talks with Juventus as the Inter midfielder seeks more playing time.

Juventus have reportedly resumed talks with Beppe Riso, the agent of Inter midfielder Frattesi.

The Italy international has been struggling with playing time this season, falling down Cristian Chivu’s pecking order.

Frattesi seeks more playing time

According to Tuttosport, the midfielder’s representative recently held talks with the Old Lady, who had already set her sights on the 26-year-old in previous years.

The Turin-based paper reports that Frattesi’s agent met Juventus representatives at the club’s headquarters.

Even if those directly involved described the meeting as a courtesy visit, it’s highly possible that the two parties made an initial approach ahead of the January transfer window.

Frattesi has only collected 480 minutes of football across all competitions this season, providing two assists in Coppa Italia against Serie B side Venezia.

Strong bond between Frattesi and Spalletti

However, his contract expires in June 2028 and Inter will be reluctant to sell the midfielder to a direct rival, so their asking price won’t be below €35m.

Frattesi is open to leaving Inter next month and is on good terms with Luciano Spalletti. The Inter midfielder was the best Italy scorer during the Tuscan coach’s tenure, finding the net seven times.

Fabio Capello argues that Antonio Conte is unable to convey ‘strength’ and ‘calmness’ to his Napoli team in the Champions League: ‘It’s a psychological issue.’

Napoli are the Serie A table leaders, level on 31 points with Milan, but the Partenopei are the lowest-ranked Serie A club in the Champions League.

The Partenopei have lost three games from three away from home in Europe this season, conceding 10 goals far from the Stadio Maradona.

Their latest loss came against José Mourinho’s Benfica on Wednesday.

“Maybe Conte isn’t able to transmit that calmness and strength to the players the way he does in the league,” Capello told Gazzetta.

Capello on Conte and Napoli’s ‘psychological issue’

The former Italian coach feels that Napoli’s poor results in the Champions League are not determined by tactical problems.

“I don’t think so. If you dominate in Italy or England, leagues where Conte has won, it means you’re providing something positive in terms of your playing system,” he argued.

“In my opinion, it’s more of a psychological issue.

“When you play in European competitions, you have to be convinced of your strength, find a certain calmness and take risks without being afraid to be bold,” he continued.

“Maybe, Antonio, judging by the results he gets in Europe, isn’t able to transmit this to the team.”

Napoli will visit Copenhagen and host Chelsea in the last two league phase games in January 2026.

The Partenopei will need at least one victory to secure a spot in the knockout playoff.

In the last Champions League round, Inter lost to Liverpool at home, while Juventus and Atalanta beat Pafos and Chelsea, respectively.

Capello: Easier to recover for Premier League teams

“In the last matchday, I saw that we struggled to cope with the opponents’ intensity. Inter, for example, had difficulties against Liverpool in terms of aggression, even if they would have deserved a draw,” Capello concluded.

“Also, maybe other teams have more well-equipped squads than ours. Manchester City, for example, replaced Haaland and Foden within 20 minutes, introducing players of equal quality (Reijnders and Marmoush).

“Above all, Premier League teams are more accustomed than ours to handling a double schedule, and they find it less tiring to recover because they are used to always playing at a very high pace, so when they play at a slightly lower tempo, they are already at the level of our maximum.”

Luka Modric is enjoying life on and off the pitch in Milan and admits he was ‘surprised’ by Massimiliano Allegri’s personality.

• Read more – Modric: A ‘tragedy’ for Italy to miss third World Cup in a row

The Croatian star, a 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about his first few months in Milan.

Modric, 40, joined the Rossoneri as a free agent from Real Madrid last summer and has started 14 league games in a row at San Siro.

“I feel good, physically and mentally, and I like what I do. I want to keep going like this because I’m having fun. Everything is going the way I wanted,” he said.

Milan are not involved in any European competition this season and are joint Serie A table leaders alongside Napoli.

Modric: Serie A ‘tough and competitive’

“We are doing a good job, and the goal is not to stop, even though many teams are fighting for the top spot. It’s tough, but we move forward with confidence,” Modric said.

“From abroad, one might not realise how difficult Serie A is, but I assure you that your league is very tough and competitive. I wasn’t surprised because I was prepared: I’ve known it since I was a kid when I watched it on TV, and I’ve kept following it over the years. I knew what I would find, and I was ready.

“I’m happy because I play for what is, to me, the biggest Italian club of all. I enjoy myself every day at Milanello and every time I wear the Rossoneri shirt,” Modric continued.

“I never thought I would come to Milan until I was at Real Madrid, but sometimes in life, things happen when you least expect them. It was a dream come true because I was a Milan fan since I was a child.”

Modric: ‘Allegri a great coach and a winner’

The Croatia international is glad to work under Allegri.

“He’s a great coach, a winner. I enjoy working with him, and he surprised me with his personality,” he said.

“He has an amazing ability to create a good feeling in the dressing room because he’s used to managing great champions. He helps you to give your best and keeps you calm, so it’s easier to do what you need to do.”

Modric is also enjoying life off the pitch in Italy.

“My family and I feel good here. I understand Italian too, but let’s say I speak other languages better. Croatian, English and Spanish. Little by little, I’ll learn Italian too.”

Milan will host Sassuolo at San Siro in the next Serie A match on Sunday.

Next week, they’ll fly to Saudi Arabia to play in the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four, meeting defending Serie A champions Napoli in the semifinal on Thursday, December 18.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Roma, Bologna, Fiorentina and a Thursday as lions

Italy fill up

Two super interviews: Modric and Lautaro

We are the Scudetto

The Rossonero: ‘Allegri knows how to manage stars, this Milan is a great dream.’

The Nerazzurro: ‘I’ve never been so strong, Inter are full of energy.’

Corriere dello Sport

Europa League and Conference: nine points in three games

Roma, Bologna and Viola: our ranking enjoys it

Ferguson’s brace, Gasp beats Celtic 3-0. Bernardeschi (two goals) knocks Celta down. Italiano wins 2-1. Kean and Gud: 2-1 to Dinamo.

Spalletti prisoner

Injuries and the system

Vlahovic’s injury and the infeasibility of switching to a four-man defence immediately.

He has another Juve in his head

Heavy absences and missing roles, but he’s only lost one game from nine. From Bremer to the growth process: Lucio projects the leap. David’s exam.

Lecce, DiFra calls Camarda

Survival showdown with Gilardino: Stulic out, the baby in. Morente for Pierotti.

Milan, Fulkrug, if Gimenez leaves

Loftus-Cheek is also on his way out in January, with moves for the German.

Tuttosport

Toro: the new director warns everyone, including the coach

Petrachi’s shake: ‘Baroni can and must give more’

Spalletti-Frattesi: Shall we try again?

Contact between Juve and the agent of the Inter midfielder, a trusted man of the coach in the national team.

The former CT would welcome Davide with open arms. The price is high, 35m, but his agent Riso talks about it with Comolli, eager to raise the quality in midfield. Meantime, the screams of the Bianconeri coach shake the Bianconeri dressing room. David challenges shyness off the pitch, the weight of the salary and Vlahovic’s ‘phantom.’ Those silences of the fans at the Allianz Stadium: behind the scenes.

Inter SOS defence: there’s Gila for Chivu

In January, Ausilio has 20m to 24m available and Lazio need to sell. Mlacic is in the frame, too.

Bernardeschi’s show: message to Juve

Bologna’s comeback win against Celta (2-1): the former Bianconero books a spot for Sunday. Super Roma at Celtic’s home:3-0. Kean and Gudmundsson get the Viola back up: 2-1 to Dinamo Kyiv.

Morata risks a three-month stop. Thrilling Pisa-Lecce tonight.

Former Swiss international Gökhan Inler reveals Arsene Wenger wanted to sign him at Arsenal, but Udinese rejected the Gunners’ approach.

Former Udinese midfielder Inler, now a director for the Bianconeri, could have joined Arsenal as a footballer.

The ex-midfielder revealed the Gunners’ interest during his latest interview with The Italian Football Podcast.

“Of course, during this time, I had an agent. I didn’t have so much information as I was concentrating on the pitch. Yes, the rumours were there. Behind the scenes, now I understand what happens behind the scenes, but before, you don’t know what’s going on,” Inler said.

“But yeah, it could be, I read about this. But I can say, and many people don’t know about this, but in my first year at Udine, I had an offer from Arsenal. However, the club said no, Inler is part of our project, so I stayed here four years.

“Yes, Arsene Wenger wanted me, correct. As I said, I didn’t know what was going around, but I was also a Swiss national team player with Johan Djourou and Philippe Senderos were Arsenal players. That’s why I saw the coach with the national team, but in the end the club decided to keep me, and I had a great four years with Udinese.”

Inler won the Premier League title with Leicester City in 2015-16 and opened up about his rapport with Jamie Vardy during the same interview.

A former Swiss midfielder, Inler played for Udinese and Napoli in Serie A, scoring 15 goals in 259 appearances in Italy’s top flight.

Inler, 41, made his senior Switzerland debut in February 2006 and scored seven goals in 89 international matches.

Inler was appointed as Udinese’s Head of the Technical Area last summer. The 41-year-old played 162 games with the Bianconeri as a footballer, scoring nine goals.

During his time in Italy, Inler won two Coppa Italia titles and one Supercoppa Italiana with Napoli.

Cremonese star Jamie Vardy has won the Serie A Player of the Month Award for November.

• Read more – Inler: Zaniolo getting where Italy need, Vardy a ‘crazy, hyperactive, leader’

English striker Vardy has become the first Englishman to be named Player of the Month in Serie A.

Vardy named as best Serie A player in November

“The EA SPORTS FC Player Of The Month award for November has been assigned to Cremonese player Jamie Vardy. The fans’ votes online, combined with individual statistical data, determined Jamie Vardy as the winner, beating champions like Maignan (Milan), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Neres (Napoli), Ostigard (Genoa), Zaniolo (Udinese),” Lega Serie A said in a statement on Thursday.

“The six best players of the month have been selected, taking into account the advanced analysis of Kama Sport, created from the tracking data recorded with the Hawk-Eye system. The rating system considers not only statistical data and technical events, but also positional data. This makes it possible to analyse crucial aspects such as movement without the ball and thus optimal movements, game choices, and the contribution to the technical and physical efficiency of the team, which allow for an objective and qualitative evaluation of the performance.

Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said: “Jamie Vardy is truly a player from another era. One of those talents who, with their history, their achievements and the indomitable spirit with which they live every match, best express the romance of football. His arrival at Cremonese, who were quick to seize the opportunity this summer, was greeted with great enthusiasm by all Serie A fans, and Vardy is repaying them with top-level performances, innate leadership and important goals, the result of the competitive spirit and shooting skills that have always distinguished him”.

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero believes Bianconeri players feel the ‘weight of the past’ and that playing for the Serie A giants is ‘not for everyone.’

Del Piero examined Juventus’ 2-0 win over Pafos last night. Weston McKennie and Jonathan David provided the goals for the Bianconeri in the second half, but the Cypriots had many chances to take the lead in the first half.

Former Juventus coach Capello even argued that the Bianconeri had “luck on their side” as they claimed their second victory in the competition this season.

Del Piero: Juventus players feel the ‘weight of the past’

“The weight of the past, in terms of the club’s successes, is there, but there’s also the weight of the recent past, because this team was born from what happened last season, with some big changes in key players,” Del Piero told Sky Sport Italia.

“Players with personality were replaced by young players, and the Juventus environment is not for everyone. It’s more complex.

“We’ve seen players from other clubs being freer in their heads. Difficulties are objective and daily,” Del Piero continued.

“They won today, but they must go to Bologna on Sunday and concede two goals, who knows? You are always on the brink.

Spalletti must ‘create certainties’ at Juventus

“My question for Spalletti was about this. There’s an emergency in defence because he wants a right-footed defender to play as a right centre-back. He’s been changing a lot, and he’s had no certainties tactically or even in terms of players’ characteristics, except for Yildiz. Where do you create certainties? How do you create them? It all becomes more difficult in the heads of everyone, especially those who don’t play regularly.”

Juventus sit 17th in the Champions League standings with nine points, so, technically, they need just one more victory to earn a spot in the knockout playoff.

Juventus will host Benfica and visit Monaco in January 2026 in the last two games of the league phase of the Champions League.

Juventus legend Claudio Marchisio is full of praise for his ex-Juventus teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, saying young players should look to him, rather than Leo Messi, as the example to follow to reach the top.

Cristiano Ronaldo joined Juventus in the summer of 2018 and would spend three years at the Allianz Stadium.

Marchisio, a Juventus legend and former Italy international, played with the Portuguese superstar for a few weeks before he terminated his contract with the Old Ladu by mutual agreement at the end of the 2018 summer transfer window.

Marchisio opens up about Ronaldo’s Juventus move

When Gazzetta asked about Ronaldo’s arrival in Turin seven years ago, Marchisio replied: “What shall I say? There was a lot of agitation. Juventus are accustomed to big champions, but I still remember the day he was expected to step into the dressing room for the first time.

“I remember Barzagli and me waiting. We had previously welcomed big champions such as Carlos Tevez, but with him it was different, we were like: ‘Is he really coming?’ A superstar.

“If there’s something I can tell young players, it is to follow his example,” continued the ex-midfielder.

“If you want to try to become a top player, follow his example, not Messi. Ronaldo was already a top player, but he had to build and work even more to become what he was. The other is blessed by the Lord; he has so much quality that he might not even need to train.”

Marchisio, a product of the Juventus Academy, spent almost his entire career with the Bianconeri, scoring 37 goals in 389 games.

The former Italian midfielder won seven Serie A titles, three Supercoppa Italiana and four Coppa Italia during his time at the club.

Marchisio also won the Russian League with Zenit St. Petersburg in 2018-19.

Udinese director Gökhan Inler feels Nicolò Zaniolo is on the right path towards a return to the Italy national team and describes his former Leicester City teammate Jamie Vardy as a ‘crazy guy’ and ‘ great leader.’

Udinese director Inler believes Italy should give Zaniolo another chance in 2026, when the Azzurri will play in the World Cup play-off.

“Before Nicolo came to us, we had a conversation with him and the coach together to convince him to join the project. He also said he wanted to rebuild his career as he had some issues with injuries,” Inler told the Italian Football Podcast.

“He believes that he can give something back to the national team. Since he came here, he has worked really hard, he is working really hard. He is an emotional guy, he needs this, but he is really working really hard. So far, very positive guy.

Zaniolo: Zaniolo should get Italy call-up

“He is also a very strong player. You also saw him in England; he has quality. And of course, in my opinion, now that he is scoring goals, he is really getting there where the national team needs him. I think the next call-up, the national team should call him.”

Udinese signed Zaniolo on loan with an option to buy from Galatasaray last summer, and the Italian has scored four goals in 12 Serie A appearances with Udinese this season.

Another Udinese player, Oumar Solet, is delivering convincing performances in Udine, attracting interest from top clubs, according to reports.

“Oumar is an amazing player. He has already experienced the Champions League. He is a great personality. On the pitch, you see he can change the game himself,” Inler said.

“You remember that goal against Inter where he started driving the ball from behind, he started and he shot. He is really an important transfer for us. Let’s say we were a bit lucky when we signed him. He had some issues. We prepared him for some months here at Udine to get fit.

“It was not easy, four months of training without playing in a competition. I remember his first game, it was, I think, in January, his first game was against Verona, from 0 to 100, and after this game, all of Serie A was talking about him.

“That’s why I think we did a great job mentally and also physically. I hope he stays with us for a long time, but of course, as I said before, great players always have opportunities; however, we are here to build a great Udinese.”

A former Switzerland international, Inler won the Premier League title with Leicester City in 2015-16, playing alongside Vardy, now at Cremonese.

Inler: ‘Amazing’ Vardy

“Jamie is amazing. Crazy guy, he knows that but he really is a great leader, respectful. Also, a great teammate, working a lot in this period for the dressing room,” Inler said.

“We went to his house for the celebration [when we won the Premier League]. Jamie was a crazy guy yes, RedBull before games, he was hyperactive, jumping left and right, shooting balls in the dressing room. In Italy, you never see this, music at high volume, it was like a disco [laughs].

“But in the games, you saw, he explodes, he runs left, right, shoots everywhere. Also, now, I met him with Cremonese. He is still the same. You saw he scored two goals against Bologna last week. 

“Also, he had difficulties before he became a champion. He respected the rules, he made a great career. We are still in touch, he is a great player, and I am proud to have played with a nice and crazy guy.”

José Mourinho admits he would even ‘go to the Circo Massimo’ to celebrate the Serie A title with Roma, but ‘unfortunately’, only Milan, Inter and Napoli will fight for the Scudetto.

Benfica coach Mourinho admits he’d return to Italy to celebrate the Serie A title with Roma fans.

The former Inter and Roma boss was asked his thoughts on the Scudetto race at a post-match press conference last night, after a 2-0 win over Napoli in the Champions League, and, as usual, his reply was very honest.

Mourinho’s Serie A title prediction

“It’s tough. Inter have a top team and great potential, same as Napoli. Milan play once a week. They have a fantastic coach like Max [Allegri], who can coach in a way that Antonio [Conte] and Cristian [Chivu] can’t because they have many games to play,” Mourinho argued.

“Unfortunately, I think it will be among these three.”

Mourinho has made history with Inter, winning the treble in 2010 with Chivu in his team, so he felt he had to explain why he said ‘unfortunately.’

Mourinho supports Roma in Serie A title race

“I’d love it, and I’d even go to the Circo Massimo, but I don’t think so.”

The Circo Massimo is the place where Roma fans usually gather every time the team wins a trophy.

Mourinho knows how it feels to win for the Giallorossi, having lifted the Conference League in 2022.

• More from Mourinho’s press conference – Mourinho reveals McTominay’s gift: ‘The least he could do’

Safe to say that Luciano Spalletti was delighted with Jonathan David’s performance in Juventus’ 2-0 win over Pafos as the Juventus coach hugged and kissed the Canadian after replacing him in the second half.

David scored his third goal for Juventus on Wednesday night, contributing to a 2-0 win against Pafos in the Champions League.

David finalised a counter-attack at minute 73 and was replaced a few seconds later, but this time Spalletti showed all his gratitude towards the Canadian.

Spalletti, in fact, hugged and kissed David as soon as the striker left the pitch, making room for Vasilije Adzic.

Just a few weeks ago, Spalletti had pushed David and Lois Openda to show a different attitude on the pitch, and the Canadian’s response seems to have struck with the Italian tactician.

30 novembre, #Spalletti su #David e Openda: “Servirebbe un po’ più la faccettina di ca**o”

10 dicembre, David segna in Juve-Pafos: Spalletti lo sostituisce, lo abbraccia e… scatta il bacio pic.twitter.com/pfvMzXrEgx

— calciomercato.it (@calciomercatoit) December 10, 2025

The Champions League Round 6 is in the history books, and we take a look at how many points Atalanta, Inter, Juventus and Napoli need to qualify for the next phase.

Juventus and Atalanta beat Pafos and Chelsea, respectively, in the latest round of the league phase of the Champions League, while Inter lost at home against Liverpool and Napoli were beaten by Benfica.

Currently, the best-ranked Serie A club in the Champions League table is Atalanta with 13 points, one more than Inter.

Champions League: Atalanta, Inter, Juventus and Napoli overview

Oddly, La Dea are the lowest-ranked in Serie A among the clubs competing in this season’s Champions League, as they sit 5th in the European competition and 12th domestically.

As reported by Gazzetta, Atalanta are already qualified for the knockout playoff, but with 13 points in six games, they have the destiny in their hands. With two wins in the remaining matches against Athletic Club (home) and Union Saint-Gilloise (away), Atalanta will surely qualify for the Round of 16, finishing in the top eight.

Inter, on the other hand, have 12 points, they sit sixth, but still need one point to have the certainty to qualify for the knockout playoff. Their next two games are against Arsenal (at home) and Borussia Dortmund (away), and the Nerazzurri would need to win both, possibly increasing their goal difference, to qualify for the Round of 16.

Juventus have won two consecutive matches against Bodo/Glimt and Pafos. They need one more against Benfica (at home) or Monaco (away) in January 2026 to be mathematically certain to be in the knockout playoff. Juventus currently sit 17th, and even if the top eight is just three points away, the Bianconeri would need two wins in the remaining matches and negative results from most of the teams above them in the table, so their destiny is not entirely in their hands.

Lastly, Napoli, the Serie A table leaders, but the lowest-ranked Italian team in the Champions League. The Partenopei have lost three European games from three away, conceding ten goals. They are currently ranked 23rd, and their next opponents are Copenhagen away and Chelsea at home. Copenhagen also have seven points, so a win would boost the Partenopei’s hopes to qualify for the knockout playoff, but won’t necessarily grant them a spot in the next phase with a game to spare, given that 11 points were necessary to qualify for the knockout playoff in 2024-25.

Champions League standings after Round 6

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan have reopened informal talks with Joshua Zirkzee’s agent Kia Joorabchian, but Mauro Icardi and Niclas Füllkrug are also on the Rossoneri’s agenda.

Milan will be looking for a new centre-forward in the January transfer window and according to the latest report from Gazzetta, the Rossoneri have resumed talks with Manchester United striker Zirkzee.

Milan to rival Roma for Zirkzee

Milan were already interested in the Dutch striker two years ago, but failed to reach an agreement over agent fees, so Zirkzee eventually moved to Old Trafford from Bologna.

According to the latest report, Milan resumed talks with the player’s representative a few weeks ago.

It is no secret that Zirkzee is also Roma’s top target in attack for January and that the Red Devils would be open to discussing a loan deal with an obligation to buy for €35m.

Two other strikers on Milan’s agenda

According to Gazzetta, however, the Rossoneri would prefer a simple option to buy.

Technically, Milan are looking for a classic centre-forward, but Zirkzee would be an exception because of his technical skills and his knowledge of Serie A.

The pink paper adds that Niclas Füllkrug of West Ham and Mauro Icardi or Galatasaray are also on the Rossoneri’s agenda, but the club’s strategy in the winter transfer window will also depend on Santiago Gimenez, who is still unwilling to leave San Siro next month.

Former coach Fabio Capello is very critical of Juventus’ first-half performance despite a 2-0 win over Pafos: ‘They had luck on their side.’

Juventus secured their second win in the 2025-26 Champions League on Wednesday, beating Cypriot side Pafos 2-0 in Turin.

Weston McKennie and Jonathan David provided the goals for the Bianconeri in the second half, but the Serie A giants were lucky not to concede in the opening 45 minutes.

Capello: Lucky Juventus in 2-0 win over Pafos

“Juve won and that’s fine, but it’s definitely not the Juve we all know. They were flat,” Capello told Sky Sport Italia via Corriere dello Sport.

“The opponents created much more in the first half, and the Bianconeri had luck on their side. They had four huge chances. Then, in the second half and after some substitutions, Juventus managed to win but I repeat, I really didn’t like them in the first half.”

Spalletti comments on Juventus 2-0 Pafos

Safe to say that Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti agreed with Capello’s analysis as the Italian tactician admitted seeing “embarrassing things” from his players before the break.

Juventus sit 17th in the Champions League table with nine points in six matches and will meet Benfica and Monaco in the last two games of the league phase.

Both matches will be played in January 2026.

They’ll first host Benfica on the 21st and then visit Monaco on the 28th.

New Inter signing Andy Diouf contributed to Inter’s 5-1 win over Venezia in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, and the Frenchman’s versatility could offer him even more chances going forward.

Diouf scored his first goal for Inter on Wednesday, opening the account in a comfortable 5-1 win over Serie B side Venezia in the Coppa Italia Round of 16.

Diouf joined Inter last summer, but has been struggling with playing time so far, collecting just 144 minutes on the pitch. Technically, the 22-year-old was drafted in to boost Cristian Chivu’s options in central midfield, but Diouf has been tested in a different role in recent weeks at the Stadio Meazza.

The former Rennes man, in fact, played the last two games as a right midfielder. First in a Serie A match against Pisa, where he made a substitute appearance, playing for 23 minutes, and then against Venezia in Coppa Italia, when he played the full match and scored after just 18 minutes.

“I’m happy for those who played their first at San Siro, those Under-23 players who I knew pretty well,” Chivu said at full-time.

“I’m pleased for Andy Diouf, who had his first start and full 90 minutes, and scored a goal. There are many reasons to be happy this evening.”

As Chivu continues to shape Inter’s squad, Romanian gambling sites are buzzing with predictions on how far the coach can take the Nerazzurri, and other new signings have been instrumental in the team’s positive results so far this season.

One that surely stands out is Ange Bonny, who moved to San Siro from Parma and has proved to be a very reliable backup to starting strikers Marcus Thiram and Lautaro Martinez.

Bonny has collected five goals and six assists across all competitions this season, netting four times in Serie A and once in Coppa Italia.

Petar Sucic, a Croatian central midfielder, was obviously not as effective in the final third but has been showing great personality in replacing veteran Henrikh Mkhitaryan and still grabbed one goal and two assists so far.

Luis Henrique, on the other hand, has been struggling more than the other newcomers, having failed to earn a starting spot even after Denzel Dumfries’ injury.

The Brazilian started as a left midfielder against Venezia in Inter’s latest Coppa Italia match. He showed promising improvements, but was still subbed off at minute 60, making room for the product of Inter academy Matteo Cocchi, who made his second appearance at a senior level for the Serie A giants.

Scott McTominay gave José Mourinho his Napoli shirt after Benfica’s 2-0 Champions League win last night: ‘I benched Paul Pogba [at Manchester United], it’s the least he could do,’ said the Portuguese coach.

Benfica coach Mourinho reveals Napoli star McTominay, one of his former players at Manchester United, gifted him his Napoli shirt after last night’s Champions League encounter, won 2-0 by the Portuguese side.

What Mourinho said about McTominay

“I gave him his debut; I put Pogba on the bench for him. The least he could do was give me his shirt,” Mourinho said at a post-match press conference via TMW.

“He was sad because he had lost, but this is Scott; this is the nature of winning players. He spoke to me for five minutes, but he was down in the dumps. He’s very happy at Napoli; he’s having a good moment. We have a strong bond; he’ll still remember me when he’s 70.”

Mourinho mentioned McTominay even during his post-match interview with Prime Video Italia.

“I told the kids I introduced in the final minutes will be the next McTominay,” said the Portuguese.

“I had many in Rome, from Bove to Volpato and others. This kid, Neto, is 17, and I had to be the first one to play him because this guy will make history, trust me.”

McTominay’s Champions League debut under Mourinho

McTominay made his Champions League debut under Mourinho in 2017 in an away 1-0 win over Benfica.

The Scotland international made 31 appearances under the Special One at Manchester United.

Last night’s defeat in Lisbon leaves Napoli 23rd in the standings with seven points. Their last two games in the league phase will be against Copenhagen and Chelsea.

Napoli’s results have been much better in Serie A as they are the joint-table leaders with Milan, having won the last three matches.

Bologna are short of options in defence, so Jhon Lucumí might be forced to start as they visit Celta Vigo in the Europa League Round 6.

It kicks off at 21:00 CET (20:00 GMT) at the Estadio Balaídos.

Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano has few options in central defence as Nicolò Casale and Martin Vitik are injured, while Lucumì is not fully fit.

Tuttosport and other reputable Italian media claim that the latter is still expected to start tonight, but if Italiano is forced to rest him, Charalampos Lykogiannis will be moved into a centre-back position.

Scotland international Lewis Ferguson also has a minor fitness issue, so he could be rested, making room for Tommaso Pobega and Nikola Moro in central midfield.

Thijs Dallinga is favourite over Santiago Castro in attack having already scored twice and delivered one assist in five European appearances this term.

Lukasz Skorupski is injured, so Tommaso Ravaglia will start in goal for Bologna.

Celta Vigo vs. Bologna – where to watch on TV

The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 6 in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates for this game and Celtic-Roma via a Liveblog.

Celta Vigo vs. Bologna – probable line-ups

Celta Vigo (3-4-2-1): Radu; Damian Rodriguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Sergio Carreira, Fran Beltran, Ilaix Moriba, Oscar Mingueza; Iago Aspas, W. Swedberg; Borge Iglesias.

Bologna (4-2-3-1): Ravaglia; Holm, Heggem, Lucumí, Lykogiannis; Moro, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Fabbian, Dominguez; Dallinga.