Brazilian wing-back Wesley gave Roma the lead in their Serie A clash against Juventus this evening, with a lovely effort from the edge of the box that curled into the far corner.
The Brazilian broke the deadlock, giving Gian Piero Gasperini’s side the lead headed into the half-time interval.
Wesley picked up the ball on the left hand side, before cutting inside neatly and taking his attempt on goal.
There was a brief moment after the goal where the Giallorossi were celebrating their goal and Juventus coach Spalletti came on to the pitch to give instructions to one of his players.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: Wesley celebrates scoring their first goal during the Serie A match at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Roma defender N’Dicka initially reacted angrily towards Spalletti’s intrusion before soon after apologising.
Watch: Wesley gives Roma the lead against Juventus
What a strike from Wesley Franca He cuts inside and curls beautifully into the far corner to give Roma the lead over Juventus!
Maurizio Sarri made no attempt to sugarcoat what he witnessed in his side’s 2-0 defeat to Torino, delivering a blunt and self-critical assessment of a Lazio performance he described as flat, joyless and simply lacking the basic energy required to compete.
“As for energy, we were inferior to our opponents,” he said plainly. “We never won a loose ball. The absurd thing is that we had five chances on goal and they had four, so creating opportunities was not the issue. The problem was elsewhere.”
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 1: Roberto D’Aversa, Manager of Torino FC and Maurizio Sarri, Manager of SS Lazio look on from the sidelines during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 1, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)
That problem, in Sarri’s view, was a collective failure of mental preparation that he admitted he had seen coming.
“Before the game there were clear warning signs, we got the recruitment of mental energy wrong,” he said, a candid acknowledgement that his side simply were not ready to face a Torino team galvanised by a change of manager.
“This is a squad that has always been present, even at Cagliari. Today was different, a sad team without energy. When you’re not winning loose balls, talking about the formation is pointless.”
Torino 2-0 Lazio – Sarri: ‘We need to dig deep for motivation’
Asked whether he was more concerned about his attack or defence, Sarri’s answer was telling. Five chances created suggested the forward line was functioning, it was the defensive application, he argued, that had let the side down, and not merely the back line.
When pressed on the substitution of Ratkov, he was candid.
“I needed more liveliness, Noslin could provide that. But I knew that if the team didn’t change as a whole, it would be pointless.”
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 1: Roberto D’Aversa, Manager of Torino FC greets Maurizio Sarri, Manager of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 1, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)
With a daunting double fixture against Atalanta on the horizon, Sarri’s closing message was unambiguous.
“If you have great motivation, you can find it even the day before a game. If you don’t, you can stay in a training camp for a month and it won’t matter. We need to find motivation that comes from within.”
Torino got life under Roberto D’Aversa off to a flying start this evening, with a 2-0 win against Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, Giovanni Simeone and Duvan Zapata scoring to help secure an important three points.
Speaking at his first post-match press conference as Torino boss, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, D’Aversa was delighted with his side’s performance against the Biancocelesti.
“When there is a change of manager, a reaction is normal,” he said. “I’m pleased with the strikers’ goals, we had the courage to start them both immediately to send a signal. When everyone sees Zapata and Simeone working hard and sacrificing for the team, everyone gives more.”
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 1: Roberto D’Aversa, Manager of Torino FC greets Maurizio Sarri, Manager of SS Lazio during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on March 1, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)
Torino 2-0 Lazio – D’Aversa: ‘Important win, now we focus on Napoli’
He also credited his 3-4-2-1 system, noting that the same formation can be interpreted in very different ways depending on the approach. “We tried to occupy the width with Duvan attacking the depth. We had prepared it that way.”
On what message he delivered to his players before kick-off, D’Aversa was candid and refreshingly human.
“I reminded them that we were going out to play football, to be enthusiastic, to consider ourselves fortunate given what is happening in the rest of the world. We needed to restore enthusiasm and confidence.”
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 01: Duvan Zapata of Torino FC scores a second goal during the Serie A match on March 01, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
He was equally quick to keep expectations in check, repeatedly stressing that nothing had been achieved yet.
“We haven’t done anything,” he said more than once. “The win was important, but now we think about Napoli.”
Juventus are preparing to open talks over a contract renewal with Dusan Vlahovic, with the club increasingly open to the idea of keeping the Serbian striker beyond his current deal, a significant shift from the position held just a few months ago when his departure seemed inevitable.
Vlahovic currently earns €12 million net per season, the highest wage on Juventus’ books, a figure the club have privately acknowledged is unsustainable and one they have no intention of matching in future contracts.
At €23 million gross, the outlay represents exactly the kind of financial commitment the club are looking to move away from as they restructure their wage bill.
TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 29: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus FC lies injured during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Cagliari Calcio at Allianz Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
However, according to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus may have found a creative solution, one they have already successfully deployed elsewhere.
Juventus use Yildiz deal as template for Vlahovic talks
The model used to secure Kenan Yildiz’s renewal could serve as the template: a reduced base salary of around €7 million per year, offset by a substantial signing-on bonus of approximately €6 million.
It is an arrangement that allows the club to lower their long-term wage commitments while still offering the player a financially attractive package up front.
Whether Vlahovic accepts such terms remains to be seen, particularly given the interest from clubs of the calibre of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Milan.
TURIN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 04: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus takes a shot during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Juventus and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Juventus Stadium on November 04, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
The Serbian is expected to return from injury in the coming weeks, and his performances between now and the end of the season are likely to be decisive in shaping both his own thinking and the appetite of those rival clubs.
For Juventus, keeping Vlahovic and extending Spalletti’s tenure are both part of a broader push for stability, a word that has become something of a mantra at the club in recent months.
Marco Verratti is set to make a surprise return to the Italy national team, with new head coach Gennaro Gattuso ready to recall the veteran midfielder for the World Cup playoff fixtures, according to transfer insider Nicolò Schira.
Schira reports that positive direct contact has taken place between the two parties in recent hours, with Verratti confirming his availability and willingness to pull on the Azzurri shirt once more, a development few would have predicted given how long he has been absent from the international scene.
The experienced midfielder has been plying his trade in Qatar with Al-Arabi and Al-Duhail since leaving Paris Saint-Germain, and his omission from Italy squads in recent years had led many to assume his international career was over.
ENSCHEDE, NETHERLANDS – JUNE 15: Marco Verratti of Italy arrives before the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 semifinal match between Spain and Italy at FC Twente Stadium on June 15, 2023 in Enschede, Netherlands. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Verratti in for shock Italy call-up?
However, Gattuso, who shares a strong personal relationship with the midfielder, has clearly decided that his technical quality and experience could be invaluable during the high-stakes pressure of playoff football.
It is a bold call, but not an entirely surprising one given Gattuso’s personality.
The Italy boss has never been one to shy away from decisive or unconventional decisions, and with a World Cup place on the line, turning to one of the most technically gifted Italian midfielders of his generation carries obvious logic.
For Verratti, it would represent a remarkable and emotional international comeback, and an opportunity to write one final chapter in an Azzurri career that, until very recently, appeared to have already reached its conclusion.
Nottingham Forest have decided against triggering their option to permanently sign Lorenzo Lucca, according to reliable transfer journalist Nicolò Schira, confirming what his performances this season have long suggested was coming.
The Italian striker joined Forest on loan from Napoli in January, with the English club holding a purchase option worth €35 million.
That clause will not be exercised, with Schira reporting that Forest are simply not satisfied with what Lucca has produced since his arrival at the City Ground.
It is difficult to argue with that assessment.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Lorenzo Lucca embraces Igor Jesus of Nottingham Forest as Omari Hutchinson and Sean Dyche look on during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on February 06, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Lucca expected back at Napoli this summer
The 25-year-old has managed just 120 minutes of Premier League football, started only once, and was hooked at half-time during a Europa League playoff leg against Fenerbahce, a performance that drew sharp criticism from supporters.
The goal he scored on his debut against Leeds briefly raised hopes of a turnaround, but it has proven to be an isolated moment in an otherwise underwhelming loan spell.
The news will concern Napoli considerably.
TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Adrien Tameze of Torino is challenged by Lorenzo Lucca of Napoli during the Serie A match between Torino FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on October 18, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
The club paid close to €40 million to sign Lucca from Udinese, where he had impressed with 12 goals in a single season, only for him to completely fail to establish himself under Antonio Conte.
His contract runs until 2030, meaning Napoli cannot simply move him on cheaply, yet finding a buyer willing to meet their valuation after two consecutive failed loan spells will be an increasingly difficult task.
Lucca will return to Naples at the end of the season with his market value significantly diminished and his future at the club deeply uncertain.
Parma’s run of consecutive victories was brought to an end this evening by a brave Cagliari side who gave Carlos Cuesta’s side a taste of their own medicine – although, the hosts did manage to salvage a point with seven minutes to play when Gaetano Oristanio scored to equalise after Michael Folorunsho’s opener.
It was a frustrating night for Parma, who had arrived at this fixture on the back of their stunning win against Milan at San Siro and will have harboured genuine ambitions of extending their winning streak. Cagliari, though, had other ideas, and produced a disciplined and determined display that deserved at least a share of the spoils.
The opening half was an evenly contested affair, with both sides creating half-chances without either goalkeeper being truly tested. Mateo Pellegrino was lively throughout for Parma, forcing Elia Caprile into a fine save in the 39th minute with a sharp effort from inside the box, while Cagliari’s Marco Palestra and Sebastiano Esposito both threatened on the counter without making the breakthrough.
Parma 1-1 Cagliari – Second half flurry sees Folorunsho & Oristanio get on the scoresheet
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 27: Emanuele Valeri of Parma Calcio competes for the ball with Zé Pedro of Cagliari Calcio during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 27, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Cuesta rang the changes at half-time, introducing Gaetano Oristanio and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia in an attempt to shift the momentum, but it was Cagliari who struck first.
In the 63rd minute, substitute Michael Folorunsho, who had only entered the field two minutes earlier, produced a moment of genuine quality, receiving the ball outside the box and unleashing a thunderous strike into the top left corner that gave Edoardo Corvi absolutely no chance. It was a goal worthy of winning any game.
Parma pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded in the 83rd minute when Oristanio pounced on a loose ball inside the box to fire low into the bottom left corner, sparking jubilant scenes from the home fans.
Both sides pressed for a winner in the closing stages, with further injuries to Esposito and Emanuele Valeri adding to the disruption, but neither could find the decisive moment.
A point apiece, then, and while Parma will reflect on a missed opportunity, Cagliari will take enormous encouragement from a performance that showed real character away from home.
Enzo Le Fée has opened up on his disappointing spell at Roma, admitting he was unhappy during his time in the Italian capital and that a lack of enjoyment on the pitch was the driving force behind his decision to leave.
The French midfielder joined Roma in the summer of 2024 from Rennes with considerable promise, but struggled to make any meaningful impact at the Stadio Olimpico, managing just ten appearances before departing on loan to Sunderland in January 2025.
ROME, ITALY – OCTOBER 24: Nazar Voloshyn of FC Dynamo Kyiv is challenged by Enzo Le Fee of AS Roma during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between AS Roma and FC Dynamo Kyiv at Stadio Olimpico on October 24, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Speaking to The Analyst, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the Frenchman was candid about why the move to Serie A never worked out.
“At Roma I was a little sad because I wasn’t enjoying playing football,” he said.
“When I’m not enjoying myself on the pitch, I’m really sad. I wanted to rediscover my confidence, that’s why I came to Sunderland, because I knew that Regis Le Bris could give me everything I need to perform at my best.”
The mention of Sunderland head coach Le Bris is telling.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 27: Regis Le Bris, Manager of Sunderland, inspects the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Sunderland at City Ground on September 27, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
The Frenchman has built a reputation for developing technically gifted midfielders and creating an environment in which players can express themselves freely, precisely the kind of setting Le Fée felt he was missing in Rome.
It is a frank and somewhat sobering admission from a player who arrived in Serie A as one of the more exciting French midfield prospects of his generation.
Whether he can rediscover that form consistently in England remains to be seen, but on the evidence of his own words, the move to Wearside has already gone some way to restoring his love of the game.
Alessandro Renica has sparked debate by laying the blame for Napoli’s lengthy injury list squarely at the door of Antonio Conte, arguing that the head coach’s demanding training methods have taken a significant physical toll on the squad.
The former Napoli defender, who spent six years at the club between 1985 and 1991 winning two Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup, made his comments on Stile TV, and they are unlikely to go down well in certain quarters.
NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Frank Zambo Anguissa of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side third goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Napoli have been badly hampered by injuries this season, with Kevin De Bruyne, Zambo Anguissa, Billy Gilmour and Amir Rrahmani among the high-profile absentees at various points.
Renica: ‘Conte’s methods to blame for Napoli injuries’
Renica believes the volume and nature of Conte’s training sessions at Castel Volturno is a root cause.
“I have never attended his sessions, but you only need to listen to what the players say. De Bruyne, for example, said that in ten years at Manchester City he never ran as much as he did in three months at Napoli. Excessive dry work tends to stress the muscles, and that is when injuries occur. I have my coaching badge and have tried both methodologies, but when I worked with heavy dry training I had a lot of muscular problems.”
NAPLES, ITALY – JANUARY 17: Amir Rrahmani of SSC Napoli injured during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on January 17, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
“He is on his third muscular injury and has become practically irreplaceable in this defence. Having him available only intermittently really hurts.”
Renica was careful to acknowledge Conte’s broader qualities, describing him as tactically impeccable and a proven winner. But he added a pointed caveat.
“From a physical standpoint, it is a shame he does not seek to improve. Not progressing past the Champions League group stage this season against those opponents was significant, I think it is a genuine limitation.”
On Napoli’s squad quality, Renica was effusive, rating it alongside Inter as the strongest in Serie A.
“But when eight players of that calibre are missing,” he concluded, “it becomes extremely complicated, and this season, between the Champions League exit and the distance from the top of the table, more could have been done.”
Sunday evening’s clash between Roma and Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico carries enormous weight in the race for Champions League football, and both sides have received welcome fitness news ahead of what promises to be a compelling encounter.
Juventus will be boosted by the return of Gleison Bremer, who is expected to start at the heart of defence alongside Lloyd Kelly.
The Brazilian centre-back’s presence will be a significant lift for Luciano Spalletti, whose side head to Rome looking to close the gap on the top four after a difficult run of results.
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Bremer of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Francisco Conceicao during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
With Manuel Locatelli suspended, Teun Koopmeiners is the likeliest candidate to fill the midfield void, while Jonathan David is expected to lead the attack once again, supported by Francisco Conceição, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz behind him.
The Argentine forward has trained fully with the group and is available to face his former club, a fixture that always carries personal significance for ‘La Joya’.
However, a start from the first minute looks unlikely given the time he has spent on the sidelines, with Gian Piero Gasperini expected to use him from the bench. Donyell Malen is set to lead the Roma attack, with Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante providing the midfield backbone.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma in action during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
There is less positive news elsewhere in the Roma camp, with both Matias Soulé and Mario Hermoso ruled out of the match, leaving Gasperini with limited options as he prepares his side for a fixture that could prove pivotal in determining who secures Champions League football next season.
Simone Inzaghi arrived in Saudi Arabia as one of the hottest coaching properties in world football, fresh two Champions League finals in three years with Inter Milan and a contract worth a reported €26 million per season, making him the second highest-paid manager on the planet behind only Diego Simeone.
What began as a dream appointment for Al-Hilal has unravelled at an alarming pace. The Riyadh club had stormed to the top of the Saudi Pro League with a seven-point cushion over their rivals, the kind of dominant early-season form that suggested Inzaghi had taken to his new surroundings seamlessly.
Then January arrived, and with it, the signing of Karim Benzema, a move Inzaghi himself had pushed for.
Karim Benzema of Al Ittihad
The results since have been deeply concerning.
Five draws from their last seven matches have seen Al-Hilal slip to third in the table, now four points behind leaders Al-Ahli, who count Franck Kessié and Merih Demiral among their ranks, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr also above them.
Al-Hilal dissatisfied with Inzaghi performance
According to Arabic media, the club’s ownership is far from satisfied, and supporters have begun openly calling for Inzaghi’s dismissal. Sacking a manager on his salary would represent an enormous financial commitment, but the reports suggest it is far from an impossible outcome.
There is a painfully familiar precedent for Inzaghi here. In his first season at Inter, his side held a seven-point lead in Serie A only to be overhauled in the final weeks by Stefano Pioli’s Milan, a collapse that still stings. Now he finds himself needing to reverse a similar deficit, this time against Ronaldo and Jorge Jesus’ Al-Nassr.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 25: Simone Inzaghi Manager of Al Hilal controls a football during the Training ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match between Al Hilal and CF Pachuca at Nashville SC Training Facility on June 25, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The next two fixtures will be decisive.
Al-Hilal face Al-Shabab, currently twelfth in the table, before turning their attention to the Asian Champions League last 16 against Al-Saad, managed by Inzaghi’s former Italy teammate Roberto Mancini.
Win both and the pressure eases. Anything less and the questions surrounding his future will grow considerably louder.
Parma welcome Cagliari to the Stadio Ennio Tardini tonight, as Carlos Cuesta’s side look to make it four consecutive victories against a fellow mid-table team.
The Gialloblu have picked up back-to-back-to-back wins against Bologna, then Verona, then Milan at San Siro.
Carlos Cuesta has significantly improved the club’s fortune and his pragmatic approach to tactics and team selection see them sit in 12th place, on 32 points. This gives them an eight point gap on the relegation zone and safety should be on the cards this campaign.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Carlos Cuesta issues instructions to his player Sascha Britschgi during the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Cagliari, meanwhile, sit a place below Parma in 13th. The Sardinians are three points behind tonight’s opposition and they can go level on points, therefore, with a victory.
Lorenzo Lucca’s difficult season shows no sign of turning around at Nottingham Forest, raising serious questions about whether the English club will take up their option to sign him permanently this summer, and leaving Napoli facing a potentially costly headache.
The Italian striker joined Forest on loan in January, with the Premier League side holding an option to purchase him outright for €35 million.
Lucca has managed just 120 minutes of Premier League football since arriving in England, starting only once, against Wolverhampton, and has done little to impress in two Europa League appearances against Fenerbahce, being substituted at half-time in the second leg to widespread criticism from supporters online.
LEEDS, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 06: Lorenzo Lucca of Nottingham Forest scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on February 06, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Napoli could pocket €35m from Lucca sale but Forest buyout unlikely
It represents a continuation of the miserable form that defined his six months under Antonio Conte at Napoli, where the chemistry between player and manager never materialised. Despite costing the club close to €40 million following his impressive 12-goal campaign at Udinese, Lucca started just four Serie A matches for Napoli and is perhaps best remembered for his red card during the 2-6 humiliation in Eindhoven.
Conte raised no objection to his January departure, and Forest’s managerial instability, four different managers already this season, has done Lucca no favours either.
Official: Lorenzo Lucca joins Nottingham Forest on loan with an option to buy from Napoli (picture: www.nottinghamforest.co.uk)
Should Forest decline to trigger the purchase option, Napoli will find themselves with a striker who still has a contract until 2030 but whose market value has fallen considerably.
Recouping anything close to their original investment looks increasingly improbable, leaving the club with a significant financial problem to solve in the summer window.
A simmering dispute between Atalanta and Borussia Dortmund has spilled into the open, with the Italian club having filed a formal complaint to FIFA over the departure of teenage forward Samuele Inacio.
The 17-year-old, son of former Atalanta and Napoli striker Pià, left Bergamo for Dortmund in 2024 without any transfer fee or compensation changing hands, with reports via CalcioMercato.
Under FIFA’s regulations governing the movement of minor players, clubs are not entitled to a fee when a player under the age of 18 moves abroad, and Dortmund used that framework to acquire the youngster without entering into any financial agreement with Atalanta.
Atalanta upset with Dortmund over nature of Inacio deal
It is a move that has left a bitter taste in Bergamo. Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi has made his feelings abundantly clear, pointedly snubbing the UEFA lunch at both the home and away legs of the clubs’ recent European encounter in what amounted to a public statement of displeasure. His words on the matter were measured but damning.
“For me it is a very serious matter that Dortmund never made themselves available to sit down with us to clarify and resolve this issue, which we have consequently taken to FIFA,” Percassi said.
“From a legal standpoint, we are convinced we are in the right. From a moral standpoint, I will let everyone judge for themselves.”
Luca Percassi Vice Chairman of Atalanta (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Atalanta’s grievance centres not on the legality of the move, which technically complied with FIFA’s minor player regulations, but on what they see as a failure of professional courtesy and good faith from the German club.
The fact that Dortmund never sought to negotiate any form of agreement, however informal, is what appears to have caused the most damage to the relationship between the two clubs.
Inacio himself is considered one of the more exciting young Italian talents of his generation, making the manner of his departure all the more frustrating for Atalanta, who had invested significantly in his development.
With the FIFA complaint now formally lodged, the dispute looks set to run considerably longer before any resolution is reached.
Damien Comolli cut a bruised but defiant figure at the Financial Times Football Summit, speaking publicly for the first time since Juventus’ heartbreaking Champions League elimination at the hands of Galatasaray, a night he admits will take years to process.
“It will take years for me to get over it,” the Juventus CEO said plainly, with quotes via GianlucaDiMarzio.com, setting the tone for a candid address that touched on refereeing controversies, ownership stability, and the strategic roadmap he believes will eventually return the club to the summit of European football.
Comolli wasted little time in addressing the Lloyd Kelly red card that effectively ended Juventus’ hopes of completing a remarkable comeback. His frustration was barely concealed. “There was another very frustrating refereeing decision,” he said.
“I don’t understand how, for a game of this magnitude, they sent a referee who has only taken charge of ten Champions League matches in his entire career. Another incredibly frustrating red card that was never a red card, and we end up out of the Champions League. That game will hurt for many, many years, without doubt.”
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Referee João Pinheiro shows the red card to Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
He added a wry reference to a previous incident involving Inter, joking that he would try to avoid a UEFA suspension to go alongside the one he had already received from the FIGC.
Yet despite the raw emotion, Comolli was keen to emphasise that one result, however painful, would not alter the club’s decision-making philosophy. It is a stance that speaks to something deeper about how he believes elite sport should be run.
“A single game should not change the way we think,” he said. “We use data because data helps us make rational decisions in an incredibly emotional and irrational environment. I always tell people, we are paid to provide emotions, paid to create emotions, and paid to have no emotions when we make decisions.”
Juventus CEO Comolli: ‘Juventus must keep Spalletti’
On the question of what Juventus need to do to return to winning ways, Comolli’s answer was unequivocal, and pointed directly at Spalletti.
“If I had to answer today, I would say continuity,” he said. “It is important that we keep the same manager, the same strategy, the same style of play. This club has had six, seven, eight different coaches over two or three years. The team is finding its identity under Luciano Spalletti. Continuity, in alignment, in style, in the players who are showing their quality, is probably what we need if we want to succeed.”
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Head Coach Luciano Spalletti of Juventus FC looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
The CEO also offered a revealing insight into his relationship with owner John Elkann, who works for the Agnelli family who have owned Juventus since 1923, the longest continuous ownership of any sports franchise in the world, as Comolli proudly noted.
He described a formative early conversation in which Elkann distilled the club’s values into three words, words Comolli says he intends to take to his grave.
“I use them constantly as a reference point,” he said.
“To stay aligned with him, and to align the rest of the club with the family’s values.”
SPA, BELGIUM – JULY 28: John Elkann, Chairman and CEO of Ferrari looks on, on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 28, 2024 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
On the subject of Tether’s minority stake and any speculation about a potential sale, Comolli was emphatic.
“John has been very clear, he will never sell the club. He was in the dressing room on Wednesday night to personally thank the players and the manager. He is incredibly involved, financially, emotionally, strategically.”
Comolli closed with a reflection on the weight of the job itself, one he clearly feels with intensity.
“What keeps me awake at night? Juventus,” he said.
“575 million fans globally, 200 million followers. I go to sleep thinking about Juventus, I dream about Juventus, I wake up Juventus. The responsibility to do things the right way is immense. I want to make the whole thing perfect and bring the club higher every single day.”
Piero Ausilio has offered a rare and candid glimpse behind the curtain at Inter Milan, addressing everything from the club’s appointment of Cristian Chivu to a long-forgotten pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, as a player, not a coach, in a wide-ranging interview with YouTube channel Colpi da Maestro.
The sporting director, who has been a central figure at Inter through multiple ownership regimes, was reflective on the club’s journey.
“We grew, I think that is the word that best represents my story here,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, acknowledging the difficult years operating under UEFA’s Financial Fair Play restrictions before Oaktree’s arrival helped stabilise the club’s finances.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 18: Cesc Fabregas, Head Coach of Como 1907, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
One of the more surprising revelations concerned Fabregas, now impressing as Como’s head coach. Ausilio confirmed that Inter had indeed tried to sign the Spaniard, before he had even signed his first Barcelona contract – on the recommendation of former scout Pierluigi Casiraghi.
“He perhaps never even knew about it,” Ausilio said with a smile.
“Casiraghi kept pushing me. We tried, but he went to Arsenal, and given the career he had, that’s fine.”
Inter SD Ausilio: ‘Fabregas never close as coach, Chivu was the first call’
As for Fabregas the manager, Ausilio is an admirer, but was keen to set the record straight on reports linking him with the Inter job before Chivu was appointed.
“There was never really an Inter close to Fabregas as coach,” he said firmly.
“The first call was Chivu. When we faced the decision after Inzaghi, Chivu was the main idea, the one we believed in most. We knew him from his time with our Primavera, and his decision to take the Parma job showed real courage. We went straight to him and today we are absolutely delighted with that choice.”
Ausilio also revisited one of his most celebrated pieces of transfer business, the signing of Lautaro Martinez. He flew to Argentina personally to secure the deal at a time when the striker was on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid, and the negotiation very nearly collapsed.
“We had actually agreed a fee of less than what we ended up paying, around €20 million, but that evening he scored three goals and the next morning we had to start again,” Ausilio recalled.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano runs with the ball during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The perseverance paid off handsomely. Lautaro is now club captain and one of Serie A’s finest strikers.
Looking back across his tenure, Ausilio singled out the wave of high-profile free transfers, Calhanoglu, Thuram, Mkhitaryan, De Vrij, Acerbi, as a defining strategic move during a financially constrained period.
“They gave quality on and off the pitch and are still relevant today,” he said. “We took advantage of a favourable situation.”
On Inter’s current standing, Ausilio pushed back against any suggestion that the club’s ambitions have been scaled back.
“When you start a season at Inter, you always think about winning everything,” he said.
“I never believe those who say fourth place is fine. With this mentality you build your squad and set your objectives, and Chivu is no different from those who came before him.”
Inter Milan’s shock elimination by Bodo/Glimt at the Champions League playoff stage has left a significant dent in the club’s finances, but the path to recovery may lie closer to home than expected.
The exit cost Inter dearly, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, UEFA’s €15 million prize for reaching the last 16, plus matchday revenue at San Siro, represented meaningful income for Oaktree’s balance sheet. Cristian Chivu’s side had entered the competition as reigning runners-up, making the defeat all the more damaging in terms of both image and finances.
MONZA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 04: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on prior to the Coppa Italia Quarter-Final match between FC Internazionale and Torino at U-Power Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Inter look to recoup UCL losses through Scudetto & Coppa double
Yet the response from within the club has been measured rather than panicked, and for good reason.
Inter remain in a commanding position to deliver a domestic double for the first time since José Mourinho’s treble-winning season of 2009-10.
In Serie A, Chivu has established a ten-point lead over second-placed Milan, a record points tally through 26 games for a first-time Inter manager. In Coppa Italia, they face Como in the semi-finals, with Atalanta or Lazio awaiting in the final at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico on 13 May.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 24: Marcus Thuram reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match at Stadio San Siro on February 24, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The financial reward for achieving both would help offset the European exit. The Serie A title brings approximately €16 million in television revenue distribution, while Coppa Italia winners pocket just over €7 million.
It will not fully replace Champions League income, but combined with potential player sales, a domestic double would go a long way, and make Chivu a permanent part of Inter’s history in the process.
Pervis Estupiñán’s time at Milan appears to be drawing to a close after just one disappointing season, with the club’s hierarchy understood to have made the decision to listen to offers for the Ecuadorian left-back this summer.
The former Brighton man arrived carrying the considerable weight of replacing Theo Hernández – a task that has proven beyond him.
According to CalcioMercato, via MilanNews, the Rossoneri are ready to cash in.
He has struggled to adapt to Massimiliano Allegri’s system and has gradually lost his place to young academy product Bartesaghi.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Pervis Estupinan of AC Milan walks off after receiving a red card during the Serie A match between AC Milan and SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 28, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
His numbers tell the story plainly: 16 appearances in total, just ten from the start, with no goals and a single assist to his name.
Milan want to recoup €14m from Estupiñán
Sporting director Igli Tare and CEO Giorgio Furlani have placed him on the list of players available for sale, and the financial parameters of any deal have already been established.
To help achieve that figure, Milan are pinning their hopes partly on the 2026 World Cup.
PARMA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 08: Sascha Britschgi of Parma controls the ball whilst under pressure from Pervis Estupinan during the Serie A match at Stadio Ennio Tardini on November 08, 2025 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Ecuador have been drawn in a group alongside Germany, Ivory Coast and Curaçao, and a series of strong performances on the international stage could significantly raise Estupiñán’s market value and reignite interest from clubs in Spain and England, where he still carries a solid reputation from his time at Villarreal and Brighton.
Despite reported interest from Bologna, the Rossoneri’s preference is a permanent sale abroad rather than a domestic move.
Paulo Dybala is pushing to be involved in one of the most personal fixtures in his calendar, with the Argentine forward determined to feature in Roma’s Serie A clash against his former club Juventus.
Dybala has been absent from Gian Piero Gasperini’s matchday squads for over a month, but according to Corriere dello Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the Argentine stepped up his workload during training at Trigoria on Thursday, using the session to test the condition of his troublesome left knee.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Paulo Dybala of AS Roma in action during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on January 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
He remains on an individual programme for now, but his determination to be involved, even from the bench, against the club where he made his name in Italian football is clear.
Roma team news: Dybala & Soule fight to start against Juventus
Friday’s training session will be the decisive test, with the medical staff closely monitoring his response before any decision is made on his inclusion.
Fellow Argentine and ex-Juventus man Matias Soulé is in a similar race against time, dealing with a pubic inflammation that has also kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks. Like Dybala, he is targeting a return for the Juventus fixture.
ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Matias Soule of AS Roma competes for the ball with Juan Martin Rodriguez Camejo of Cagliari Calcio during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Olimpico on February 09, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Should Dybala make it, his presence would be a significant boost for Roma both technically and emotionally.
The former Juventus forward has always reserved some of his best performances for the Bianconeri, and even a cameo from the bench could prove decisive in what promises to be a crucial encounter in the race for Champions League football.
Fiorentina welcome Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok to the Stadio Artemio Franchi this evening, as the Viola look to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Conference League.
The Viola won the first leg in Poland with an impressive 3-0 victory, as they look to put their poor domestic form behind them to succeed in Europe’s third tier competition.
The Serie A side have been improving lately, including an impressive 2-1 win away at Como on Valentines Day and only having lost three matches out of eleven in 2026.
FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 23: Moise Kean celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match at Artemio Franchi on February 23, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Fiorentina vs Jagiellonia Bialystok – Official Lineups
Antonio Conte has received mixed injury news ahead of Napoli’s Serie A trip to Verona, with one significant return offset by a continued absence in midfield.
The unwelcome news is that Scott McTominay will miss the fixture after failing to fully recover from a gluteal inflammation, according to Tuttosport.
The Scottish international has not been able to train at full intensity and will sit out the journey to Verona, with Conte hoping to have him available for the following home match against Torino at the Maradona.
GENOA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 7: Scott McTominay of Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on February 7, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Napoli team news: McTominay still out as Zambo Anguissa returns
The positive update comes in the form of Frank Zambo Anguissa, who has returned to full group training and even featured for a spell in a joint training session with Giugliano.
The Cameroonian is set to be named in the squad and could come off the bench in the second half if the situation calls for it.
In Anguissa’s absence from the starting lineup, the midfield partnership of Stanislav Lobotka and Eljif Elmas is expected to continue from the off.
Up front, Conte looks set to retain the same attacking trio that started in Bergamo, with Rasmus Højlund leading the line flanked by Antonio Vergara and Alisson, who has quickly demonstrated an understanding of Conte’s system since arriving at the club.
NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Frank Zambo Anguissa of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side third goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
On the flanks, Matteo Politano is expected to edge out Mazzocchi on the right, while Miguel Gutiérrez continues to grow in influence on the left. At the back, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic should again start in goal, protected by a defensive three of Sam Beukema, Alessandro Buongiorno and Juan Jesus.
Napoli will travel to Verona following Friday morning’s training session, with Conte opting against holding a pre-match press conference.
UEFA have issued an official explanation for the red card shown to Lloyd Kelly during Juventus’ Champions League last-16 second leg against Galatasaray, after the decision sparked considerable controversy on a dramatic night at the Allianz Stadium.
Juventus had produced a remarkable comeback to lead 3-0 on the night, level on aggregate, before the tie ultimately slipped away in extra time, with Victor Osimhen and Yilmaz scoring to send Galatasaray through.
But the pivotal moment arrived just three minutes into the second half, when Kelly was dismissed after referee João Pinheiro was called to the pitchside monitor by VAR.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC reacts after receiving a red card during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
UEFA: Juventus defender Kelly made ‘strong unfair contact’
The defender had originally been shown a second yellow card for the challenge, but following the VAR review, the booking was upgraded to a straight red, meaning Kelly will serve a two-match European ban rather than one.
The incident itself saw Kelly jump to contest a header and, upon landing, make contact with Yilmaz’s left ankle with his studs in what appeared to many observers to be an accidental collision in real time.
“Using his studs, the Juventus player made a strong unfair contact with the opponent’s left ankle which clearly endangered the safety of his opponent,” the governing body stated.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray in action against Lloyd Kelly during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Juventus Director of Football Strategy Giorgio Chiellini addressed the decision after the final whistle, though his words reflected a broader frustration with the club’s luck in recent weeks. “The team showed real character and sent a message,” he told Prime Video.
“There is regret and disappointment. We are not having much luck with these moments right now. Kelly’s red card? There is little to say about it.”
Inter Milan are monitoring the situation of Tottenham Hotspur right-back Pedro Porro as they begin planning for a potential departure of Denzel Dumfries.
According to reports from L’Interista, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the Dutch international’s future at the San Siro remains uncertain, and that’s where Porro comes in.
While the possibility of a contract extension has been discussed, the current picture suggests the coming months could realistically be his last in Milan.
Should Dumfries choose to stay, Inter are understood to be interested in younger option Palestra as a long-term successor who could develop in his shadow, though the cost of that deal remains a consideration.
MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 04: Denzel Dumfries looks on during the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
However, if Dumfries does move on, Inter’s hierarchy have identified Porro as their preferred solution.
Porro impresses Inter as club weigh up Dumfries successors
The Spanish international has impressed consistently at Spurs since joining from Sporting Lisbon, establishing himself as one of the more dynamic right-backs in the Premier League with his forward-thinking style and delivery from wide areas.
Tottenham are under no pressure to sell and have set their asking price at a minimum of €25 million, a figure that reflects both Porro’s age and the years remaining on his contract in north London.
The Nerazzurri will need to balance any potential outlay against their broader summer plans, particularly given the financial discipline the club have operated under in recent windows.
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 24: Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur has a chance during the Premier League match between Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur at Turf Moor on January 24, 2026 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Nevertheless, with the right flank potentially requiring significant investment this summer, Porro has emerged as a concrete target should the Dumfries situation resolve itself in the direction of a departure.
Victor Osimhen marked his return to Turin with a goal as Galatasaray eliminated Juventus from the Champions League, but the romantic notion of the Nigerian striker one day pulling on a Juventus shirt is considerably more complicated than the warm words exchanged before the match might suggest.
When Napoli sold Osimhen to Galatasaray in the summer of 2025 for €75 million, they inserted a contractual clause specifically designed to block his return to Italian football, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: (L-R) Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray in action against Lloyd Kelly of Juventus FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Napoli clause hinders Juventus’ Osimhen dream
The clause runs for 24 months, meaning Osimhen could not move to a Serie A club until 1 September 2027 at the earliest, and carries a penalty fee of €70 million in the first year, reducing to €50 million in the second.
Any Italian club wishing to sign him would either need to trigger that penalty themselves or negotiate directly with Napoli to waive it, while Galatasaray would separately need to recoup their own investment.
De Laurentiis’ club also retain a ten percent sell-on fee, further complicating any potential deal.
Even setting aside the clause, the financial reality is daunting.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray reacts against Federico Gatti of Juventus FC during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Osimhen earns a base salary of €15 million net per year, rising to as much as €21 million with bonuses, a figure no current Serie A club comes close to matching, and one that can no longer be offset by Italy’s Decreto Crescita tax incentive.
The irony is that Osimhen himself did little to dampen Juventus supporters’ hopes. He had previously admitted a move to the club “would be a privilege,” spoke glowingly of Spalletti, and notably declined to celebrate his goal at the Allianz Stadium out of respect for his former manager.
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