Former Italy defender Marco Materazzi reveals what Zinedine Zidane told him before giving him a headbutt in the 2006 World Cup Final between Italy and France: ‘If you want my shirt, I’ll give it to you afterwards.’

Ex-Italy and Inter defender Materazzi reflected on the famous incident involving Zidane during the 2006 World Cup Final, which led to a red card for the French icon in the last game of his career.

Zidane to Materazzi: ‘If you want my shirt…’

During his interview with Vivo Azzurro, Materazzi described the moments before Zidane’s headbutt and what the former French star told him before the incident.

“When Buffon made that save on Zidane’s header, Gattuso wanted to kill me because I hadn’t marked him,” Zidane said.

“In reality, I was marking Trezeguet, but in certain situations, it was better not to argue with Rino about what had happened.

“Shortly afterwards, in a similar situation, I held him [Zidane] by the shirt for a bit. I wanted to make sure he couldn’t jump. I apologised twice, then the third time he repeated ‘if you want my shirt, I’ll give it to you afterwards,’ I said something back to him…but nothing more than the kind of things we used to say to each other as kids when I played on the seafront in Bari.”

During the same interview, Materazzi revealed that Gattuso and Vincenzo Iaquinta were among the Italian players who seemed unwilling to take a penalty kick in the shootout.

The Azzurri, including Materazzi, scored five from five, while David Trezeguet missed a penalty for France, giving Italy their fourth World Cup title.

Materazzi played 41 games with Italy, scoring two goals, both during the 2006 World Cup.

Roma’s January signing, Donyell Malen, is the Serie A Player of the Month for February.

Dutch striker Malen was the best player in Serie A last month.

Malen wins Serie A player of the month – official statement

“The EA SPORTS FC Player Of The Month award for February has been assigned to Roma player Donyell Malen. The trophy will be presented during the pre-match of Roma vs Lecce, scheduled for Sunday 22nd March 2026 at 6.00pm at the “Olimpico” stadium in Rome,” Lega Serie A said in a statement on Friday.

“The fans’ votes online, combined with individual statistical data, determined Lautaro Martinez as the winner, beating champions like Berardi (Sassuolo), Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Dimarco (Inter), Kean (Fiorentina), McKennie (Juventus).

Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said: “Donyell Malen’s impact on the Italian league has been simply perfect. The Dutch forward immediately adapted to Mister Gasperini’s tactical schemes, proving himself to be a relentless striker in front of goal, but also capable of linking up the team’s attacking play. Arriving in the winter transfer window, Malen took a few weeks to establish himself as a key player, immediately winning the award for best player of February with four goals in as many games and immediately proving himself worthy of Roma’s Champions League ambitions”.

Malen has become the second-best scorer in Europe’s top five leagues after Harry Kane since joining Roma on an initial loan deal from Aston Villa in mid-February.

Malen has scored six goals in his first seven Roma appearances in Serie A. Only Abel Balbo (seven) and Gabriel Omar Batistuta (nine) have managed more in the club’s history.

Malen is technically on loan from Aston Villa, but the Giallorossi have an option to buy to make his move permanent for €25m at the end of the season.

Roma’s option to buy becomes mandatory if they qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League this season.

The Giallorossi currently sit fourth in the Serie A table, three points above fifth-placed Como and four points above Juventus, who sit sixth.

Roma’s next Serie A match is against Daniele De Rossi’s Genoa at Marassi.

Roma star Paulo Dybala once again felt discomfort in his knee during today’s training session, and according to Sky Sport, he’ll miss Sunday’s game against Genoa.

Roma striker Dybala will miss Sunday’s Serie A match against Genoa as the Argentine didn’t complete today’s training session due to knee problems.

Dybala to miss Genoa vs. Roma

As reported by Il Tempo reporter Filippo Biafora on X, the Argentine was forced to end the workout after just a few minutes because he felt pain in his knee again.

The 32-year-old was available against Juventus on Sunday, but spent the whole game against his former club on the bench.

He had missed the previous four league games due to knee problems. Dybala’s last competitive appearance was on January 25, 2026.

As reported by Sky Sport Italia, this latest setback will force Dybala to miss Sunday’s away game against Roma, where Daniele De Rossi is in charge.

Ferguson to undergo second ankle surgery?

Matias Soulé, Mario Hermoso and Evan Ferguson will also miss the next Serie A match, and the latter has even flown to Brighton for a specialist visit on his injured ankle.

According to Sky, Ferguson, who already had ankle surgery in March 2024, may need to undergo another operation.

Marco Carnesecchi has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to extend his contract with Atalanta.

Matteo Moretto reports that Italy international Carnesecchi will soon sign a contract extension with Atalanta.

Carnesecchi ready to sign Atalanta contract extension

“Atalanta will extend his contract with a pay rise; there’s already a verbal agreement, and only the signature is missing,” Moretto said on YouTube.

Carnesecchi’s current deal in Bergamo runs out in June 2028.

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has kept14 clean sheets in 38 appearances across all competitions this season, conceding 38 goals.

He has been linked to Inter and Juventus, while Manchester United attempted to sign him last summer.

Football Italia exclusively reported in June that the Red Devils proposed €40m to sign the Italian goalkeeper, but Atalanta turned down the offer.

Inter and Juventus will indeed look for a new starting goalkeeper in 2026-27, but the Nerazzurri’s main target seems to be another Italy international, Guglielmo Vicario, who is willing to return to Serie A from Tottenham.

According to Moretto, Inter and Vicario’s representative will be involved in a new round of talks this month.

Carnesecchi was part of the Italy squad in October and November under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, but has yet to make his senior Azzurri debut.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, who has been linked with Juventus and Inter, reportedly wants to stay at Anfield until the end of his contract in 2027, while the Nerazzurri are preparing for a new round of talks for Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario.

Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto report the latest updates on two Premier League goalkeepers, Alisson and Vicario, who have been linked with a return to Serie A.

Latest Alisson transfer updates

Both Inter and Juventus are looking for a goalkeeper for next season, Romano confirmed, but Alisson wants to stay at Liverpool for another season.

The Brazilian’s contract at Anfield expires in June 2027, and the player is planning to remain at the club for one more year.

Nevertheless, his future at the club remains uncertain, as it’s unclear whether Liverpool will put him on the market at the end of the current campaign. The Reds will decide in this regard only in the coming months.

Vicario eyes Serie A return

Vicario, on the other hand, would be glad to return to Serie A, and Inter are already in talks with the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Moretto reported that Inter are currently the ‘closest team’ as negotiations with the goalkeeper’s entourage have already begun and will continue in March with a new round of talks between the two parties.

Galatasaray President Dursun Ozbek confirms that Victor Osimhen’s contract does not include a release clause, amid rumours of an interest from Juventus.

Osimhen’s agreement with Galatasaray does not include a release clause which would allow any club to sign the Nigerian for a pre-arranged fee, the Turkish club’s president Dursun Ozbek told Fanatik.

‘No release clause in Osimhen’s contract’

“There is no release clause in Osimhen’s contract. He is an extremely successful footballer who will serve Galatasaray for many years,” Ozbek said.

“Perhaps the amount was considered high on the day we signed him, but today the prevailing view in football circles is that the transfer fee was low and the player’s value is much higher.”

Juventus are reportedly among the clubs following Osimhen and already tried to sign the Nigeria international two years ago, before his transfer to Galatasaray.

According to Italian sources, however, there’s a clause that prevents Osimhen from joining a Serie A club until September 2027.

Galatasaray first signed Osimhen on loan in 2024 and then made his move permanent for €75m the following year.

The former Napoli star has scored 53 goals in 65 appearances with Galatasaray.

During his four-year spell at Napoli, Osimhen scored 76 goals in 133 games, winning the Scudetto in 2022-23 as Serie A’s top scorer.

Osimhen’s contract with Galatasaray expires in June 2029.

Italy World Cup winner Marco Materazzi says his ex-Azzurri teammate Gennaro Gattuso will ‘fight tooth and nail’ for World Cup qualification: ‘He’s taken on the most difficult role.’

Italy host Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semifinal on March 26, with the potential final on March 31 against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Materazzi: Gattuso must make sure Italy players ‘stay calm’

“What I know is that Rino (Gattuso) will fight tooth and nail to get us to the World Cup,” Materazzi told Vivo Azzurro.

“He’s taken on the most difficult role he could have taken; direct qualification was practically compromised. He’s trying to pass on his enthusiasm to the team. We won’t face fantastic teams, but they’ll be tough ones, and we have to make sure the players stay calm. We’ll have to push hard. I’m convinced he’s working with the utmost professionalism, and that’s what’s most important for these difficult matches.”

Materazzi and Gattuso won the World Cup with the Azzurri in 2006, and Italy have only played in the World Cup again twice since, in 2010 and 2014.

That legendary Azzurri team in 2006 beat France on penalties.

“By the time it went to penalties, there were people like Rino (Gattuso) who had already taken off their boots,” Materazzi recalled, smiling.

“Iaquinta was wandering around at a distance. Fabio (Cannavaro) had said he would take the sixth, but in my opinion, Buffon would have taken it before him. So there weren’t many of us left. I’ve always taken penalties and felt confident, even though I have this obsession that if you score during the match, you’ll miss the penalty afterwards. But when you get to that point, you can’t back out.”

Materazzi was not a designated starter at the World Cup, but broke into the XI after an injury to Alessandro Nesta.

“In terms of elegance and tactical intelligence, Nesta was the best along with Maldini. Playing next to him, I felt a bit intimidated,” Materazzi admitted.

“I can’t say the same about Cannavaro, because I felt closer to him, and we looked like two street kids playing in the park. Today’s defenders have changed, but football has changed too. In our days, the first thing was to mark and not concede goals; everyone did their job. Today, a defender almost has to know how to handle the ball with his feet first and then focus on marking so as not to lose his man.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Pierre Kalulu’s high-level performances this season have ‘not gone unnoticed’ in the Premier League, as Liverpool and Manchester United will ‘try to tempt Juventus’ in the summer.

Juventus defender Kalulu has attracted interest from Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United, according to Gazzetta.

Liverpool and Manchester United ‘will tempt Juventus’ for Kalulu

‘Kalulu’s record-breaking season has not gone unnoticed in the Premier League; Manchester United and Liverpool will try to tempt Juventus’, wrote Juventus reporter Filippo Cornacchia on today’s Gazzetta.

Kalulu has been a regular starter for Juventus under both Igor Tudor and Luciano Spalletti.

He spent the first part of the season playing mostly as a right wing-back, but under Spalletti, the Frenchman has played as a centre-back in a three-man defence or right-back in a four-man backline.

A former Milan defender, Kalulu has given his contribution on both ends, scoring twice and providing six assists in 38 appearances across all competitions.

The 25-year-old signed a new contract until 2029 in July last year.

Juventus, on the other hand, have set their sights on the Premier League for midfield reinforcement next summer as Sandro Tonali and Bernardo Silva are reported to be among their main targets for 2026-27.

Scotland international Billy Gilmour will return to the Napoli XI for the first time since the end of October against Torino, while André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne could be back in the squad and available on the bench.

Napoli host Torino at the Stadio Maradona tomorrow, and the Partenopei coach, Antonio Conte, is still forced to cope without several players, especially in central midfield.

Gilmour to start in Napoli vs. Torino

Scotland international Gilmour has made two substitute appearances since returning from a groin injury that required surgery at the end of November.

Tomorrow, he’ll be the only fit central midfielder available alongside Eljif Elmas as Napoli are still without Scott McTominay and Stanislav Lobotka.

Gilmour hasn’t started a Serie A match since October 28,  away at Lecce. He returned in mid-February in a home Serie A match against Roma, then remained on the bench against Atalanta and was introduced again as a substitute against Verona.

According to Gazzetta, Anguissa and De Bruyne could be available tomorrow against Torino, for the first time in four months.

Both sustained a high-degree injury in their femoral biceps between October and November 2025. De Bruyne opted to undergo surgery, while Anguissa followed conservative treatment.

Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, March 5, 2026, page 16.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus’ hopes of signing Sandro Tonali, Bernardo Silva, or Leon Goretzka next summer largely depend on whether the Bianconeri qualify for the Champions League.

Juventus sit sixth in the Serie A table and have not won any of their last four league games. Fourth-placed Roma, however, are just four points above in the standings.

Juventus need Champions League money for transfer boost

With 11 games left, the Bianconeri’s only remaining target is to secure Champions League qualification, which would boost their finances by €60m to €70m and increase their chances of making a big signing in the summer.

According to Gazzetta, Tonali is still the Old Lady’s top target, but Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) and Goretzka (Bayern Munich), who are available as free agents, are also on the Old Lady’s agenda.

According to the report, preliminary talks have begun with all three, but Juventus are aware that they’ll need at least €70m-75m to sign Tonali, a sum that they could raise through Champions League qualification and the sales of Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners.

Marcos Senesi, a Bournemouth centre-back, has also opened talks with the Old Lady and is reportedly tempted to move to Turin on a free transfer at the end of his contract in June, but Roma remain interested too.

Former Juventus winger Massimo Mauro feels that boos against Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni are ‘ridiculous’ as even if the Italian centre-back made a mistake, he ‘can’t pay for the rest of his life.’

Inter defender Bastoni remains a target of fans across Italy after an incident in February that led to a red card for Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu.

Bastoni not only deceived the referee by going down too easily to earn his opponent a red card, but also celebrated when the referee gave Kalulu his marching orders.

Bastoni ‘can’t pay for the rest of his life’ after Inter vs. Juventus

Bastoni was greeted with boos at the following away games at Lecce and Como, but ex-Juventus winger Mauro feels the reactions have been excessive, especially since the incident happened almost a month ago.

“The fact that Bastoni gets booed everywhere is a bit ridiculous. At this point, you’d have to boo 60-70% of footballers,” Mauro told Gazzetta.

“Right now, I can’t take the boos against him seriously.”

Mauro concedes that Bastoni made a mistake, but this doesn’t justify the angry reaction from fans in Italy.

“The issue got blown out of proportion because Kalulu was sent off. Then Bastoni celebrated, and you shouldn’t do that, of course, but you can’t pay for it for the rest of your life either. That’s ridiculous,” insisted Mauro.

“I still maintain that the real mistake was not immediately admitting that a serious error had been made. I’m referring to Chivu’s words in the post-match interview. I used to admire Chivu as a coach and communicator because, from the beginning, he tried to take a different approach to what happens on the pitch. He tried to be sporting even when the refereeing decisions went against him, but in the Bastoni incident, he didn’t manage to do so. I was disappointed when I heard him say that the problem was Kalulu putting his hands on his player.”

The problem, according to Mauro, is not solely with Bastoni’s simulation against Juventus, but with the attitude of the majority of Serie A players, as the ex-winger sees more divers than in the past.

“Much more than before. In the past, it was done to try to win a penalty,” he concluded.

“Now players simulate for everything. And because any contact can look like a foul on video review. Players know this, so it almost becomes instinctive for them to try it. Of course, it’d be condemnable, but when you play, your thinking isn’t clear.”

• Read more – Why Bastoni should not face Italy punishment after Inter vs. Juventus chaos

Fabio Capello notes that Inter ‘have become a bit slow’ in defence, so Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao can ’cause problems’ for the Nerazzurri in the derby, but also tells Leao to ‘show real fighting spirit.’

The Derby della Madonnina is just around the corner as Milan and Inter will meet at San Siro this coming Sunday.

The Nerazzurri are the table leaders with a 10-point advantage over their city rivals who sit second in the standings.

Inter played Como away on Tuesday in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals, but both sides’ focus seemed to be elsewhere.

Capello previews Milan vs. Inter derby

“Inter were already thinking a lot about Sunday’s Derby. The Coppa Italia semifinal was undeniably disappointing, played at a very slow pace by both teams, including Como, which seemed more focused on qualifying for the Champions League,” Capello wrote in his column for Gazzetta dello Sport.

Leao is expected to lead the Milan attack on Sunday after scoring a goal in a 2-0 win over Cremonese on Sunday.

“I heard the Portuguese speaking with grit and determination. Well, I would like to see him just as determined on the pitch, showing real fighting spirit and all of his undeniable qualities,” wrote Capello.

“Many times, he ends up disappearing for certain stretches of the match, and for him, it’s to make an important leap.

“Milan certainly won’t be able to avoid lapses in concentration, as Inter’s quality is much higher,” the ex-Rossoneri coach continued.

“Allegri will have to be careful not to give Inter space, especially when Calhanoglu is on the field, as he is extremely skilled at switching the play out to the wings, where Inter are strong.

“That said, Inter have recently been giving away something in defence, they’ve become a bit slow, and therefore Leao and Pulisic, with their qualities, could also cause problems for the league leaders.”

Milan have only lost two Serie A games this season, but their city rivals have been far more consistent, winning 22 league matches out of 27.

“Milan’s victory would keep the title race more alive, but for the good of our football, the neutral fan should, above all, hope for a match that is enjoyable, played at a high tempo, competitive, well refereed, with the game allowed to flow and without continuous interruptions,” concluded Capello.

“After all, we’re talking about first and second place in the standings, facing each other in a match broadcast in many countries abroad. It would be important to show that Italian football is high-quality and not boring to watch.”

Serie A has named Napoli talent Antonio Vergara as the Rising Star Of The Month for February 2026.

Napoli’s Vergara was the best U23 player in Serie A last month, Lega Serie A said in a statement on Wednesday.

Vergara is Serie A’s Rising Star Of The Month – official statement

“The Rising Star Of The Month award for February has been assigned to Napoli player Antonio Vergara. The trophy will be presented during the pre-match of Napoli vs Torino, scheduled for Friday, 6 March 2026 at 8.45 p.m. at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples,” the statement read.

“The winner of the trophy, reserved for Under-23 players (born starting from 1 January 2003), has 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.

“For the final calculation were considered the matchdays from 23 to 26 of Serie A 2025/2026.”

Another Napoli player, McTominay, won an award for February as he scored the best goal in Serie A last month.

Vergara has yet to make his Italy debut, but according to several reports, he could be called up for the first time later this month, when the Azzurri play in the World Cup play-off.

Napoli star Scott McTominay scored the best goal of the month in Serie A in February, with a long-range shot in a 3-2 win over Genoa.

Scotland international McTominay’s goal in Genoa-Napoli on February 7 was voted the best in Serie A last month.

McTominay levelled the score for the Partenopei with an outstanding goal from distance, helping his side to secure an eventual 3-2 victory.

Just a few minutes after his goal, however, McTominay was forced to be subbed off due to an injury and has not returned to action since.

The former Manchester United midfielder has scored ten goals and provided four assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this term.

McTominay scores best Serie A goal in February 2026

Il gol di McTominay contro il Genoa vince l’Iliad Goal Of The Month di febbraio pic.twitter.com/afpbKn78GR

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA) March 4, 2026

Former Juventus star Miralem Pjanic feels the Bianconeri should sign Bernardo Silva next summer if they can’t afford Sandro Tonali.

Former Roma and Juventus star Pjanic is currently in Dubai, working to become a qualified football agent. The 35-year-old released an interview with Gazzetta to discuss their former Serie A clubs after a spectacular 3-3 draw at the Stadio Olimpico last Sunday.

Pjanic on Roma and Juventus transfers

“Gasperini is doing a great job in Rome and what an impact Malen has had,” Pjanic said.

“But the other night, Juventus showed their DNA, the ‘until the end’ spirit. The race for the Champions League is still 11 matches long and Juve can qualify.”

Pjanic worked with Spalletti at Roma and is not surprised by the improvements the Bianconeri have shown under the Italian tactician, although the Old Lady still sits sixth in the standings, four points below fourth-placed Roma.

“No, because it’s the right move. In Rome, I was coached for six months by Luciano. He’s a top manager,” said the former midfielder.

“Spalletti has given the team a clear identity, and the club now needs stability to start winning again. Spalletti is the right man to begin a new cycle, but obviously, he’s not enough. At least three top-level signings will be needed, one for each department.”

Reports in January suggested Juventus had already begun preliminary talks with Bernardo Silva, whose contract at Manchester City expired in June.

“Locatelli has adapted very well to Spalletti’s style of play; now, he has to keep it up,” Pjanic noted.

“However, in the summer, if they can’t afford Tonali, then I’ll go for Bernardo. He’s the champion Juventus needs Quality, personality, experience and charisma. Bernardo makes you take the next step.”

Juventus also hope to extend Dusan Vlahovic’s contract, and Pjanic had some advice for the Serbian international.

“I would tell him: Are you sure you’ll find a better place than Juventus and Turin, an extraordinary club and city to play in? It’s not easy. I say from personal experience,” he said.

“I’m convinced Vlahovic can have a record-breaking season with Spalletti. Luciano has brought the best out of every striker. Dzeko, Icardi, Osimhen. I also have faith in David. Lille is not Juventus, but you don’t score 25 goals per season by chance. As Allegri would say, calm down…”

Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz have recently extended their contracts in Turin. Would the Turkish star have made it to the starting XI in Pjanic’s Juventus?

“He would certainly have been in the squad; then he would have to battle it out with Dybala, Douglas Costa and Ronaldo,” the ex-Bianconeri star replied.

“Yildiz is extremely strong; now it’s up to him to prove it: the future is his. He has fantastic skills.”

Former Juventus and Roma star Miralem Pjanic now lives in Dubai, where he sometimes ‘hears the sound of Iranian missiles being intercepted’ but feels ‘safe’ and ‘constantly reassured by the local authorities.’

The Middle East conflict has tragically escalated in recent days, involving many Europeans living in the area.

Among them is an ex-Juventus, Roma and Barcelona midfielder who lives in Dubai.

Pjanic ‘safe’ in Dubai despite Middle Eastern crisis

“I live near the city centre. Sometimes you can feel something strange in the air, and you can hear the sound of Iranian missiles being intercepted,” the ex-midfielder told Gazzetta.

“But we are safe and constantly reassured by the local authorities. I receive messages and notifications from friends living in Europe, and almost all of them are fake news.”

The 35-year-old retired after playing the 2024-25 season at CSKA Moscow and is preparing to become a qualified football agent.

“I’m learning the job by collaborating with my agent, Fali Ramadani,” he said.

“I put together experience, football knowledge and the many languages I speak.”

A former Bosnia and Herzegovina international, Pjanic won four Serie A titles at Juventus, two Coppa Italia titles, and one Supercoppa Italiana. He also reached the Champions League Final in 2016-17.

He was included in the Serie A Team of the Year for three seasons in a row, from 2015-16 to 2018-19.

He played 281 games in Serie A for Juventus and Roma, scoring 42 goals and providing 74 assists.

Moise Kean is working to recover from his latest fibula injury, but the Fiorentina and Italy striker has already targeted World Cup qualification with the Azzurri: ‘We are an excellent group.’

Fiorentina and Italy striker Kean was subbed off in the second half of the Tuscans’ 3-0 loss against Udinese on Monday and will undergo medical examinations today.

Kean recovering from latest injury

According to Corriere dello Sport, the Italy international will miss the next two matches against Parma and Rakov.

The striker, however, was more cautious about his fitness and told Repubblica he hopes to be available for the next league match.

“I try to improve day by day. I work with a great staff, and I’ll try to be there for the next game, he said.

Kean has been a regular starter for Italy under Gennaro Gattuso and hopes to bring the Azzurri to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

“I hope to break this taboo this summer. I was lucky; I experienced the triumph of 2006,” he said.

“I remember that night. I watched the final against France at the bar downstairs from my house, together with my brother. At the end of the match, you couldn’t understand anything with beers and chairs flying around in the little square. People were happy, and it was beautiful.

“There’s the right atmosphere, and we are an excellent group,” Kean continued.

“We are united and care about each other; we trust each other. We are friends beyond teammates. We needed this. I know we’ll play good games, I have good vibes.

“I have big targets. I continuously think about it. I work for it every day, and I hope to give my contribution.”

Gattuso has recently visited all Italy players for dinner, travelling to different cities and countries.

“It was nice to see him again. He always gives us a lot of energy, which is what we need,” Kean said.

“The coach and I often talk; we have a similar character. Every time I talk with him, I feel stronger.

“He really says what he thinks, and we like it. He’s a real one, and we’ll give everything for him.”

Donyell Malen joined Roma from Aston Villa in the January transfer window, and only Harry Kane has scored more goals than the Dutchman in Europe’s top-five leagues since, reports Corriere dello Sport.

Safe to say Roma striker Malen has had a tremendous impact in the capital, having netted six goals in his first seven Serie A appearances.

Malen’s fantastic Roma impact

As reported by Corriere dello Sport, only one player in Europe’s top-five league has scored more goals since Malen’s debut with Roma, Bayern Munich ace Kane, who has netted nine times. Malen has six, like Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

Roma have scored 13 goals in seven league games since Malen completed an initial loan move from Aston Villa, going from an average of 1.2 goals per game in the first part of the season to nearly two goals per game.

Only Abel Balbo (seven) and Gabriel Batistuta (nine) have scored more goals than Malen in their first seven Serie A matches with Roma.

Will Malen join Roma permanently?

Furthermore, Malen is the best Serie A player for total shots (36), shots on target (13), shots from inside the box (31, including 13 on target), touches inside the box (70) and expected goals (5.48).

According to reports, Roma have an option to make Malen’s move permanent for €25m in the summer. Their option to buy becomes mandatory if they qualify for the Champions League or the Europa League this season.

Daniel Maldini returns to Lazio’s starting XI for a Coppa Italia semifinal first leg against Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

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

Most Lazio fans will continue their protest against President Claudio Lotito, leaving the stadium practically empty even in such an important match.

The Biancocelesti must cope without Toma Basic, Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot, but Mario Gila and Daniel Maldini have returned from injuries and are expected to return to the starting line-up.

On the other hand, Atalanta have travelled to the capital without Ederson, Charles De Ketelaere and Giacomo Raspadori.

Nikola Krstovic is expected to start up front, according to Gazzetta, while Corriere dello Sport claims that Gianluca Scamacca is the favourite to get the nod.

The other first-leg semifinal was played on Tuesday between Como and Inter, ending in a 0-0 draw.

The deciders will be played on April 21 and 22, but dates and kick-off time have not been established yet.

Lazio vs. Atalanta – where to watch on TV

The game will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 in the UK and Ireland and on Paramount+ in the USA. Football Italia will provide live updates via a liveblog.

Lazio vs. Atalanta – probable line-ups

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Provstgaard, Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares; Belahyane, Cataldi, Taylor; Isaksen, Maldini, Zaccagni.

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Ahanor; Zappacosta, De Roon, Pasalic, Bernasconi; Zalewski, Samardzic; Krstovic.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Real Madrid are considering hiring Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri for the 2026-27 season.

La Liga giants Real Madrid could make an attempt to hire Allegri next season, according to Corriere dello Sport.

Third Real Madrid attempt for Allegri?

The Merengues’ president, Florentino Perez, has already replaced Xabi Alonso with Alvaro Arbeloa this season, but the team’s results continue to disappoint, which will likely lead to a new managerial change in the summer.

Allegri already came close to becoming Real Madrid’s coach in 2019 and 2021.

According to the report, Allegri had even reached an agreement with Real Madrid in 2021, but he ultimately changed his mind after a meeting with the then Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, returning to the Allianz Stadium after two years.

Corriere dello Sport adds that Jürgen Klopp is another option for Real Madrid, but the ex-Liverpool coach seems unwilling to step down from his role as Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull.

What Allegri said about his future at Milan

Sportitalia reported last week that Allegri was considering his future at Milan, where he’s contracted until 2027.

The Italian tactician, however, quickly played down exit rumours, saying: “There’s total harmony with the club regarding the rumours that came out this week.

“Of course, in any discussion, there can be different points of view. It’s important that everyone works for the good of Milan. I’m very happy to have returned to Milan after 15 years and to have started working with a wonderful group of players. The club is planning and structuring Milan’s future. To do that, we need to achieve the most important result. In March, we’re in a fairly good position. Now we have to see if we’re good enough to stay there or take the final step. There’s harmony between the club and me.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Inter go to the minimum

Chivu thinks about the derby: return leg on April 21 or 22 at San Siro. Lazio-Atalanta for the dream final at 21:00.

Heart of Leao

Rafa is more and more a devil. Contacts to extend to 2030. Top salary to beat Premier League competition.

Kaka: ‘Scudetto, it’s not over. Modric will decide it on Sunday.’

Lady Spalletti

Even Locatelli is ready to sign for the new Juve

Put Totti for dinner

Meeting with Gasp, Roma return really close.

Corriere dello Sport

Coppa Italia, semifinal first leg: it ends 0-0 in Como

Cesc blocks Inter

Vojvoda and Valle waste two big chances: Darmian hits the post, and boos for Bastoni. Chivu’s rotations for the derby. Return leg on April 22. Lazio challenges Atalanta (21:00). The Olimpico is empty due to the fans’ protest.

Allegri, Real try

Florentino’s target

Third attempt: the president already moved forward in 2019 and 2021.

Max trendy again in Madrid

From Xabi Alonso’s sacking to Arbeloa’s failure. In Champions, they risk elimination against Man City. Manoeuvres to reach the coach tied to Milan to 2027.

Fiorentina, what a blow. Kean is injured.

Still problems in his fibula: he must miss Parma and Rakov. Vanoli relies on Piccoli.

Napoli, Conte has closed the home

The point average at home is 2.33 points per game. Now seven games out of 11 away from home. Lobotka alarm.

Tuttosport

Como boos Bastoni too

Coppa Italia: 0-0 in the semifinal first leg. The defender continues to pay for Inter-Juve

Blasts of disapproval every time he touched the ball. Chivu, massive rotations with a view to the derby. Three chances for Vojvoda, Darmian hits the post, and the cautious prevail. Everything is postponed to April 22 or 23. Lazio-Atalanta tonight: Lotito attacks Sarri and Baroni.

Lucio deals with it

Vlahovic and Juve discuss the renewal: Spalletti pushes

The coach is convinced he can take Dusan to higher levels. It’s his first choice for the attack, to be strengthened by another big signing (Kolo Muani or… Malen). Behind the scenes: Juve view the father’s presence at the negotiating table positively. Locatelli 2030: contract ready. Club’s announcement on LinkedIn: seeking a figure specialised in injury prevention.

Simeone: it won’t be a Buongiorno in Naples

Cholito returns to the Maradona on Friday.

The love for the city, the duty of repeating himself and the duel with a granata heart. History and behind the scenes of a special match.

Inter star Piotr Zielinski says that winning the domestic double would be ‘fantastic’ but warns that Cesc Fabregas’ Como, their opponents in the Coppa Italia semis, have ‘outstanding’ quality.

Inter will visit Como on Tuesday in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinal. The Nerazzurri boss, Cristian Chivu, didn’t talk to the media on the eve of the game, but sent Poland international Zielinski instead.

Como vs. Inter – Zielinski’s pre-match quotes

“Winning the double would be fantastic, and we’ll do anything to win these important trophies. It’s all in our hands,” Zielinski told Sport Mediaset via FcInter1908.

Zielinski has become a regular starter at the Stadio Meazza this season. This past Saturday, he let Hakan Calhanoglu take a penalty kick in a 2-0 win over Genoa.

It was Inter’s first game after their Champions League elimination at the hands of Bodo/Glimt.

“He [Calhanoglu] has so much quality in his feet, and it was right that he took the penalty against Genoa,” Zielinski said.

“Our fans were fantastic, and they supported us against Genoa. We were disappointed, but we gave an appropriate reply.”

Inter’s next Serie A match is against their city rivals Milan, but before that, they must face Como in Coppa Italia.

“They [Como] have a lot of quality, so we’ll have to pay attention,” Zielinski concluded.

“I was struck by their organisation, they play fantastic football with outstanding quality and have a great coach like Fabregas.

“Nico Paz is an ace; he has great numbers, and we’ll have to pay attention.”

Inter are the Serie A table leaders with a 10-point lead over second-placed Milan.

Sky Sport Italia reports that Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic will return to group training in the coming days and could be called up for a home game against Pisa next weekend.

Vlahovic will resume group training in the coming days, reports Sky Sport Italia.

When will Vlahovic return to action for Juventus?

The striker could even be called up for a Serie A match against Pisa on March 7, but he’d only start from the bench.

The Juventus star has been sidelined since the end of November, when he suffered a high-degree adductor injury, which forced him to undergo surgery.

His return will boost Luciano Spalletti’s options up front, as Jonathan David has been inconsistent up front for the Old Lady, while Lois Openda was rarely a starter after Vlahovic’s injury.

Following a 3-3 draw against Roma on Sunday, Juventus sit 6th in the Serie A table, four points below the Giallorossi in fourth.

Vlahovic, 26, has scored six goals and provided two assists in 17 appearances across all competitions this season.

His future at the club is also a matter of debate as his contract at the Allianz Stadium runs out at the end of the season.

• Read more – Tottenham Hotspur fans rage at struggling Vicario

The Premier League has removed a video from its X and TikTok accounts that appeared to mock Tottenham and Italy goalkeeper Vicario.

Premier League removes controversial Vicario video

Sources in the UK claim that the Premier League decided to remove the video following a complaint from Spurs.

As reported by The Athletic, the clip showed Vicario blsting a free-kick from inside his own half directly out of play during Tottenham’s 2-1 loss away at Fulham on Sunday. The video was captioned as: ‘Just how the play was drawn up.’

It also included an added caption reading: ‘An interesting free-kick from Vicario,’ followed a laughing emoji, then ‘whoops’ with another laughing emoji, before cutting to new Tottenham coach Igor Tudor.

The Athletic reports that the video was viewed almost half million times on X before it was delated.

Vicario, 29, has kept 13 clean sheets in 38 games across all competitions this season, conceding 54 goals.

La Liga giants Barcelona aren’t the only club interested in Inter star Alessandro Bastoni, as Arsenal and Liverpool have also ‘explored’ the Italian defender’s situation, according to Caughtoffside.

Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool have set their sights on Inter and Italy star Bastoni.

According to Caughtoffside, Liverpool see Bastoni as a potential replacement for Virgil Van Dijk, while Arsenal feel the Italian defender would suit Mikel Arteta’s playing style.

Previous reports suggested that Barcelona are also interested in Bastoni, and the Catalans’ defender Pau Cubarsí has even publicly praised the 26-year-old.

Bastoni’s contract at San Siro expires in June 2028 and Inter are willing to offer him a new deal until 2030.

Bastoni’s Inter and Italy career

The Italian defender is a regular starter for the Nerazzurri. He has scored two goals and provided six assists in 33 appearances across all competitions this season.

He has also scored three goals in 41 appearances with the Italy national team, winning the 2020 Euros.

Roma and Bologna will meet in the Europa League Round of 16, and although the Giallorossi appear slightly favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals, their victory is not guaranteed.

Roma and Bologna, the only two Serie A representatives in the Europa League, will meet in the Round of 16, which is surely no good news for Italian football.

By looking at the Serie A standings, Gian Piero Gasperini’s side looks favourite as the Giallorossi sit fourth, level on 50 points with Napoli, while Bologna are eighth with just 36 points, creating a gap that, on paper, appears as predictable as outcomes calculated by casino platform software.

The first leg will be played in Bologna on March 12, while the decider is scheduled for March 19 at the Stadio Olimpico. The winner will face Aston Villa or Lille in the quarter-finals.

Roma have collected better results than Bologna this season, both domestically and in Europe. The Giallorossi, in fact, finished the Europa League group phase in the top eight, qualifying directly for the next round, whereas Bologna had to go through the knockout play-off, where they beat Norwegian side Brann with a 2-0 aggregate win.

Bologna, however, will prioritise the cup competition, given that they are already quite far away from a Conference League spot in Serie A.

Roma, on the other hand, can’t afford to drop points in the league as they aim to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2017-18.

At the same time, Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano has a special relationship with cup competitions. He has never lifted a European silverware, as Gian Piero Gasperini did with Atalanta in 2023-24, but he has already reached three finals with Fiorentina and one with Bologna.

During Italiano’s spell at the Franchi, Fiorentina reached two Conference League Finals and one Coppa Italia Final, losing all three.

At Bologna, Italiano won the Coppa Italia, beating Milan 1-0 in the 2024-25 Final.

The head-to-head record with Gasperini is also quite balanced, with Italiano winning seven of their previous 15 meetings, drawing three times, and losing five.

As previously mentioned, the Serie A derby between Bologna and Roma is not necessarily good news for Italian football, as directors of both sides have highlighted.

“As a player, I played in an (all-Italian) final with Juventus. We would have preferred to avoid it for a lot of reasons, including the emotional aspect,” said Bologna executive Marco Di Vaio.

“We’ll prepare well. It would have been a great challenge against Freiburg as well. We’ll see what happens.”

Roma’s Frederic Massara seemed to agree with his colleague: “Perhaps, it could lose a bit of the charm coming from a European match, but we know it’s a nice game, with a lot at stake. The regret is for the ranking, as this does not favour Italy.”

Former Lazio goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani feels Antonio Conte should consider starting Romelu Lukaku and Rasmus Hojlund, but Beppe Bergomi hits back: ‘It’s not a tactic I’d use from the start.’

Lukaku and Hojlund scored vital goals for Napoli on Saturday, helping the Partenopei secure a big 2-1 win away at Verona.

It was Lukaku’s first goal of the season, as the Belgian has recently returned to action after suffering a severe muscle injury during pre-season.

Bergomi: Lukaku and Hojlund to play together for Napoli ‘but not from the start’

Sky Sport Italia pundits Bergomi and Marchegiani, both former Italy players, discussed whether Conte should start both strikers in the upcoming matches.

“They’re both [Lukaku and Hojlund] left-footed, both love to start from the right to cut inside,” Bergomi said.

“Hojlund is quick and fast. You can try, but it’s not a tactic I’d use from the start, but rather during the game.”

Marchegiani replied: “It’s a season where the teams that play two strikers seem to be reaching their targets. Inter have scored 20 goals more than the others.

“Torino put two strikers in and won the game against Lazio. Conte is a coach who can find the right chemistry among players who don’t seem to fit well together. He has changed the system many times this season, and right now, Napoli would benefit from such a shock.”

• Read more – Champions League: Five teams for two spots in Serie A – fixture list compared

Former Roma striker John Carew says Francesco Totti is the ‘strongest’ player he’s ever played with and reveals he started considering an acting career at Aston Villa: ‘At first, I didn’t believe it.’

Ex-Norway international Carew spoke about his career as a footballer and as an actor in his latest interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

A former striker for Roma, Valencia, Besiktas and Aston Villa, among others, Carew retired in 2012 and has now become an actor.

“I work with Panorama, a Scandinavian agency that represents actors. I’ve appeared in about a dozen films, ranging from horror and gangster movies to comedies,” he said.

“One of the best remains Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, shot in London with Angelina Jolie, which was nominated for an Oscar. I also landed on Netflix with the series Home for Christmas, the third season was released in December.”

When did he start considering an acting career?

“It was in 2009. I was playing for Aston Villa and I was 30 years old,” he revealed.

“Some of my friends in London worked in the film industry and one day they told me: ‘John, you have an interesting look to be an actor.’ At first, I didn’t believe it Then I came around and started taking classes. Acting allowed me to create a channel to reach emotions.

“I’d love to act in a beautiful Italian love story. And I’d also like to play the villain in one of the next James Bond movies.”

Carew: Totti the ‘strongest player I’ve ever played with’

Carew spent six months on loan at Roma, playing under legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello.

“Totti is the strongest player I’ve ever played with. Cassano was crazy in the locker room, always pulling pranks on everyone,” Carew said.

“He [Cassano] didn’t understand a word of my English. I was very close to Delvecchio, a big fan of American music, he listened to Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.

“Capello pushed for my loan move from Valencia, where I had won a La Liga title and played in a Champions League Final.”

Three years later, after playing for Besiktas and Lyon, Carew joined Aston Villa and did so mostly thanks to the most notable Villa fan, Prince William.

“We met in Norway during a dinner with the royal family. I remember we talked only about football and, shortly after, he invited me to England to watch an Aston Villa match, his team,” the former striker revealed.

“He convinced me to move there in 2007: for three consecutive seasons, I sored double digits in the Premier League. He admired me. In 2019, we watched together at Wembley the play-off Final against Derby County, which secured promotion to the Premier League.”

Several media reported that once Carew broke John Arne Riise’s nose during a clash with the Norway national team.

“Many people wrote that, but it’s false,” concluded the ex-striker.

“During a national team training session we had a big of a clash. There were insults and a few shoves, at most a slight slap. That was it. Just things that happen on the pitch. I wasn’t called up for the match against Portugal. Riis and I later apologised to each other.”

Five Serie A teams battle for two Champions League spots: here’s the fixture list, compared, for Napoli, Roma, Como, Juventus and Atalanta.

With Inter seemingly running alone for the Serie A title and second-placed Milan having built a nine-point lead over fifth-placed Como, two Champions League spots remain vacant, and five Serie A teams are still running for the top four.

Napoli sit third with 53 points in the Serie A standings, Roma follow in fourth with 51, Como have 48, Juventus have 47, and Atalanta have 45.

La Dea are the only team still involved in three competitions, having qualified for the Champions League Round of 16 and the Coppa Italia semifinals.

Roma and Como are involved in the Europa League and Coppa Italia, respectively, while Napoli and Juventus only have Serie A left to play for.

La Gazzetta dello Sport has compared the fixture list of the five Serie A contenders for a Champions League spot, and you can check their schedule below.

Don’t forget that Serie A could still get an extra Champions League spot if they finish in the top two in the UEFA coefficient ranking. Serie A is not far behind second-placed Germany, but it has only four representatives left in European competitions this term.

Champions League race in Serie A – Fixture list compared

Napoli 53 points

• Napoli-Torino (Serie A)
• Napoli-Lecce (Serie A)
• Cagliari-Napoli (Serie A)
• Napoli-Milan (Serie A)
• Parma-Napoli (Serie A)
• Napoli-Lazio (Serie A)
• Napoli-Cremonese (Serie A)
• Como-Napoli (Serie A)
• Napoli-Bologna (Serie A)
• Pisa-Napoli (Serie A)
• Napoli-Udinese (Serie A)

Roma 51 points

• Genoa-Roma (Serie A)
• Bologna-Roma (RO16 Europa League, first leg)
• Como-Roma (Serie A)
• Roma-Bologna (RO16 Europa League, second leg)
• Roma-Lecce (Serie A)
• Inter-Roma (Serie A)
• Roma-Pisa (Serie A)
• Roma-Atalanta (Serie A)
• Bologna-Roma (Serie A)
• Roma-Fiorentina (Serie A)
• Parma-Roma (Serie A)
• Roma-Lazio (Serie A)
• Verona-Roma (Serie A)

Como 48 points

• Como-Inter (semifinal Coppa Italia, first leg)
• Cagliari-Como (Serie A)
• Como-Roma (Serie A)
• Como-Pisa (Serie A)
• Udinese-Como (Serie A)
• Como-Inter (Serie A)
• Sassuolo-Como (Serie A)
• Inter-Como (semifinal Coppa Italia, second leg)
• Genoa-Como (Serie A)
• Como-Napoli (Serie A)
• Verona-Como (Serie A)
• Como-Parma (Serie A)
• Cremonese-Como (Serie A)

Juventus 47 points

• Juventus-Pisa (Serie A)
• Udinese-Juventus (Serie A)
• Juventus-Sassuolo (Serie A)
• Juventus-Genoa (Serie A)
• Atalanta-Juventus (Serie A)
• Juventus-Bologna (Serie A)
• Milan-Juventus (Serie A)
• Juventus-Verona (Serie A)
• Lecce-Juventus (Serie A)
• Juventus-Fiorentina (Serie A)
• Torino-Juventus (Serie A)

Atalanta 45 points

• Lazio-Atalanta (semifinal Coppa Italia, first leg)
• Atalanta-Udinese (Serie A)
• Atalanta-Bayern (RO16 Champions League, first leg)
• Inter-Atalanta (Serie A)
• Bayern-Atalanta (RO16 Champions League, second leg)
• Atalanta-Verona (Serie A)
• Lecce-Atalanta (Serie A)
• Atalanta-Juventus (Serie A)
• Roma-Atalanta (Serie A)
• Atalanta-Lazio (semifinal Coppa Italia, second leg)
• Cagliari-Atalanta (Serie A)
• Atalanta-Genoa (Serie A)
• Milan-Atalanta (Serie A)
• Atalanta-Bologna (Serie A)
• Fiorentina-Atalanta (Serie A)

Serie A table

Alessandro Florenzi says Rafael Leao is the ‘best player in Serie A’ but Paolo Di Canio argues that Milan are ‘less exposed’ when the Portuguese star doesn’t play.

Leao scored a goal in Milan’s 2-0 win over Cremonese on Sunday, leaving the second-placed Rossoneri 10 points below city rivals Inter.

Sky Sport Italia examined Milan’s performance, focusing specifically on the Portuguese.

Florenzi: ‘Leao the best player in Serie A’

Leao has been struggling with fitness issues this term, but has still scored nine goals and provided two assists in 20 Serie A appearances.

Rather than as a left winger, Leao has been deployed as a centre-forward in Milan’s 3-5-2 system this season.

“I think strong players must take responsibility and must be well-positioned on the pitch,” said Florenzi, an ex-Milan defender who won the Scudetto at Milan alongside Leao in 2021-22.

“They have to play in a certain way to express their football. I don’t know if Milan are giving Leao as much as Leao is giving to Milan right now.

“Milan now play on the counter, which suits him, but I’ve seen him play on a more harmonious team in terms of playing style, and he emerged,” Florenzi continued.

“To me, he remains the best player in Serie A.”

Di Canio: Milan’s dilemma with Leao

Ex-Milan, Lazio and West Ham striker Di Canio hit back: “There’s a dilemma for Allegri as Leao has been decisive in just six games.

“When Leao was subbed off against Torino and Pulisic was introduced, Milan completed the comeback. In six games without Leao, they scored 16 goals and conceded none.

“Tactically, it’s a more solid team, probably less unpredictable, but they are less exposed and get to the goal with strength and technique. It’s not one or two games, it’s six games. This doesn’t mean Leao doesn’t have to play. But what to do with him?”

Di Canio, however, had his stats slightly wrong, as Leao has missed seven Serie A matches this season, not six.

The Rossoneri scored 15 goals and conceded three when the Portuguese was not involved this term.

Goals from Federico Gatti and Jeremie Boga against Roma on Sunday not only preserved Juventus’ push for a top-four finish, but also propelled the Bianconeri into the top three teams in Serie A for goals scored by substitutes.

Boga and Gatti scored late Juventus goals in a 3-3 comeback draw against Roma on Sunday, keeping the Bianconeri four points below the Giallorossi in the Serie A table.

Juventus substitutes’ goals in 2025-26

As reported by Gazzetta, Juventus have now scored eight goals with substitutes this season, the same as Atalanta and Cagliari, putting them in the top three, behind Inter (11).

Filip Kostic already scored a substitute goal against Napoli with Luciano Spalletti in charge.

During Igor Tudor’s tenure, Dusan Vlahovic had netted against Parma and Genoa after being introduced from the bench. Vasilije Adzic did the same against Inter and Juan Cabal against Atalanta.

Boga had already provided the assist for Juventus’ second goal in a 2-2 comeback draw against Lazio.

Last night, the ex-Sassuolo and Atalanta star didn’t have his best performance, with five negative dribbles and possession lost 13 times.

However, he was in the right place at the right time to score his first Serie A goal in three years and keep Juventus’ Champions League qualification hopes alive.