Reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that Michele Di Gregorio has lost his no.1 status for the remainder of the season and that Mattia Perin is expected to be Juventus’s go-to shot stopper until the 2026-27 season.
Di Gregorio has made a series of high-profile errors between the sticks for Juventus in 2025-26, which led to his being dropped for the last four matches between Serie A and the Champions League play-off second leg against Galatasaray.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti had hinted that he would give Perin a run of two or three games in an attempt to take some of the pressure off Di Gregorio, but that run has now extended to four matches, and La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that the situation is unlikely to change between now and the end of the 2025-26 season.
After that, there is a possibility that neither Di Gregorio nor Perin stay on with Juventus after the summer transfer window according to Tuesday’s report.
The Pink Paper claims that Juventus need to raise around €11m to avoid making a capital loss on Di Gregorio, who joined on loan with an obligation to buy from Monza for a reported €18m in the summer of 2024.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that there are still options for Di Gregorio elsewhere in Serie A, and that it is not out of the question that another side picks him up this summer.
Could Juventus replace both Di Gregorio and Perin this summer?
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 16: Mattia Perin of Juventus looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Juventus and US Sassuolo – Serie A TIM at on January 16, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Perin, meanwhile, is now 33, has never been Juventus’s first choice, and is unlikely to claim the no.1 spot if the Bianconeri are to bring in another stopper this summer, which reports elsewhere claim is likely to happen.
Perin had been linked with a move to Genoa during the January transfer window, and La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that it is not out of the question that he again seeks a move away for a sort-of ‘last dance’ as a no.1 in Serie A with just over a year remaining on his current Juventus contract.
Meanwhile, several other goalkeepers have been linked with moves to Juventus in recent weeks, including Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario and Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez.
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Alisson Becker of Liverpool celebrates after Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool (not pictured) scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool at City Ground on February 22, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Atalanta’s Marco Carnsecchi would be the ‘dream’ option for Juventus, but the 25-year-old is not expected to come cheap.
If Juventus are to bring in another goalkeeper this summer to serve as an understudy, La Gazzetta dello Sport has recommended a list that includes Lazio’s Ivan Provedel, Verona’s Lorenzo Montipo, Lecce’s Wladimiro Falcone, Cremonese’s Emil Audero and Bologna’s Federico Ravaglia.
Various reports suggest that Republic of Ireland international Troy Parrott is a potential option for Milan approaching the 2026 summer transfer window.
Reports Milan plotting move for AZ Alkmaar’s Parrott
Miguel Delaney of the Independent reports that Milan are ‘actively’ looking to sign a new striker this summer, that Parrott is a potential option for the Rossoneri and that his current club, AZ Alkmaar, are open to the idea of a sale this summer.
It is understood that Alkmaar will seek a fee in the region of around €30m (reported as £25m by outlets in the UK) to sell the Republic of Ireland international this summer.
Milan are not the only interested party. In fact, there are several sides across Europe keen on a potential deal for Parrott, including Fulham in the Premier League, Real Betis in LaLiga and VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
Parrot has come up with 28 league goals from 52 appearances in the Eredivisie since joining AZ Alkmaar from Tottenham Hotspur, where he began his professional career. The 24-year-old has 14 goals from 22 league appearances this season, plus four from four outings in the cup and nine from 13 appearances in the UEFA Conference League.
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – NOVEMBER 16: Players of Republic of Ireland celebrate their sides third goal scored by Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at on November 16, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by David Balogh/Getty Images)
Parrott also made history with the Republic of Ireland national team earlier this season. Back in November, he netted a brace in a shock 2-0 win over Portugal, and then provided a hat-trick in an eventual 3-2 win away against Hungary a few days later to secure his nation a surprise spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In doing so, he became the first ever player to score an away hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland side in a competitive fixture and also the first player to score a hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland since Robbie Keane 11 years prior.
The Lega Serie A have confirmed that Roma wing-back Wesley Franca will be suspended for one match and that Inter and Lazio head coaches Cristian Chivu and Maurizio Sarri are among those who picked up bans during the 29th round of 2025-26 fixtures.
Official: Wesley, Chivu and Sarri decisions confirmed after Serie A week 29
Three red cards were dished out by the officials during the 29th round of Serie A fixtures. The harshest of those punishments has been handed to Pisa’s Rafiu Durosinmi, who has earned a two-game ban for having kicked out at an opponent in an off the ball incident during his side’s 3-1 win over Cagliari.
Adam Obert was also shown a red card during Cagliari’s 3-1 loss against Pisa and has picked up a one-match suspension as a result.
Wesley was also sent off during Roma’s 2-1 defeat away against top-four rivals Como for what many feel was a harsh second yellow card offence. His ban has been upheld, and he will be suspended for Roma’s upcoming Serie A test against Lecce.
Parma’s Enrico Delprato, Pisa’s Michel Aebischer and Cremonese’s Warren Bondo have all now picked up five yellow cards for the season and will all be suspended for Serie A week 30.
Chivu has also been suspended for Inter’s upcoming trip to Fiorentina after being shown two yellow cards against Atalanta on Saturday, and Lazio’s Sarri has also been suspended for one match after leaving his technical area and making disrespectful comments towards the match officials against Milan.
Italy national team striker Mateo Retegui is back in Florence and is reportedly working individually one week early ahead of Italy’s World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of the month.
Retegui’s Italy training camp has already begun
Retegui currently plays for Al-Qadsiah, who sit in fourth place in the Saudi Pro League standings. The Argentine-born Italy international has provided 15 goals from 25 league outings so far this season.
Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, there will be no Saudi Pro League matches this coming weekend, which means that compared to the rest of his Italy teammates, Retegui has an extra week off ahead of the World Cup play-offs, which kick off on March 26.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Retegui has already arrived in Florence, where Italy’s Coverciano training base is located, has rented an apartment nearby and is expecting to train individually every day until the rest of the squad reports for duty after their league fixtures this coming weekend.
According to the Pink Paper, Retegui was concerned about the long pause that he would have had between matches, and decided to return to Italy a week early after phone calls with the FIGC and CT Gennaro Gattuso.
UDINE – OCTOBER 14: Mateo Retegui celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between against Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Tuesday’s report states that Retegui’s training camp ‘has already begun’.
Retegui is one of several strikers expected to be called up to the Azzurri squad for this month’s World Cup deciders against Northern Ireland and either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fiorentina’s Moise Kean, Inter’s Pio Esposito and Atalanta’s Giacomo Raspadori are also expected to be included among Gattuso’s selections.
Retegui is Italy’s leading goalscorer since Gattuso was called in to replace Luciano Spalletti as CT last summer. The national team has scored 19 goals from six matches since then: Retegui with five, Kean with four, Esposito with three and Raspadori and Gianluca Mancini with two apiece. Matteo Politano, Sandro Tonali and Alessandro Bastoni have one each.
Northern Ireland head coach Michael O’Neill insists that Italy are ‘the team with everything to lose’ ahead of the meeting of the two nations in the World Cup play-off semi-final next Thursday, and believes that playing the match in Bergamo benefits the Green and White Army.
Italy will host Northern Ireland at Atalanta’s New Balance Arena in Bergamo for the World Cup play-off semi-final coming up on March 26. The winner of that match will progress to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in a one-legged play-off final on March 31 for a spot at the final tournament.
Italy have not yet announced their squad for the March international break, but are expected to by the end of this week. Northern Ireland confirmed their selections on Monday night, and O’Neill has given his verdict in front of the media at his press conference in Belfast.
O’Neill on Italy pressure, Tonali quality and a venue that ‘suits’ Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland head coach admits that there is a clear difference in quality between the two sides.
Italy are expected to name a full squad of top-flight players, most of whom will have played in the Champions League at some stage this season, while Northern Ireland are only able to offer four Premier League players, 13 from the EFL Championship and eight from England’s third tier. They also have representatives from the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Championship and the 2. Bundesliga.
“I mean, they’ve got a bunch of players who play in Serie A, play for Inter Milan, Lazio, Roma, Napoli,” said O’Neill during his press conference on Monday night (via The Irish News).
“They also have players that play in the Premier League at top clubs as well. You know, Tonali is arguably as good a midfield player as there is in the Premier League. Calafiori at Arsenal as well. So, it’s going to be a very, very tough game. There’s no doubt about that.
“We’re going to have to step up. If you look at our squad there, there’s 13 players in the Championship. There’s four at Premier League clubs and the rest are League One or playing their football elsewhere.
“So, it is a big step up for us. But it’s a step up we’ve made in the past. I think we made it in the Germany game, albeit we didn’t get the results that we felt we maybe could have done. We have to try and make that step up again.”
Given the difference in personnel available, O’Neill believes that Italy are the ones with more pressure heading into the World Cup play-offs.
“If you look at this game, we’re the team with everything to gain. They’re the team with everything to lose,” he said.
“They have a lot of expectation as a football nation. Their players will have to deal with that. But that’s for them, we can’t really use it.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Players of Italy sing the national anthem prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“We’ve just got to make the game as difficult for the opposition as possible and then those types of things will, I think, become factors in the game in terms of their mentality to the game and how we try and obviously make it more prevalent for them to think about things like that.”
Italy have won five of their first six matches since Gennaro Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti as CT, but fell to defeat against Norway on home soil in their most recent test, which sent them to the play-offs instead of the final World Cup tournament.
“If you look at this group, they’ve had a change of manager after two games. Gennaro Gattuso’s been in for six games. They lost their last game 4-1 at San Siro against Norway. A game where they played well in the first half to be honest, and led 1-0, but they would have been disappointed with how the game finished in the second half as well,” said O’Neill.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
“I personally went to a game in Bergamo on the 27th of December. I saw Inter and Atalanta play, so I know what the atmosphere is like.That was a good atmosphere at the game because, obviously it’s not a derby but they’re very close by, Bergamo and Milan, so there was a big Inter Milan away support there as well.”
O’Neill believes that Italy selected Bergamo as the host city for this play-off semi-final due to their ghosts at other venues, but insists that the New Balance Arena will make the Northern Ireland squad feel more comfortable compared to San Siro or the Stadio Olimpico.
“I think that possibly their history has made them make that decision. They’ve lost play-offs I think in the San Siro and as I touched on, their last game in San Siro against Norway. The outcome wouldn’t have been what they’d hoped for. So maybe they feel the smaller stadium brings less pressure. I don’t know.”
“For us the venue is fine. Most of our players play their club football weekly in venues of that size. They’re not running out in front of 80,000, 90,000 people every week. So I think the venue suits us.”
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – NOVEMBER 17: Players of Northern Ireland pose for a team photograph prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Luxembourg at Windsor Park on November 17, 2025 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Northern Ireland have officially announced their squad to take on Italy and either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the crucial World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of March.
Italy will host Northern Ireland on March 26 in Bergamo for the World Cup play-off semi-final. The winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the play-off final on March 31, which will be a one-legged decider for a spot at the final tournament.
The losing semi-finalists are due to play a friendly against each other on March 31 as well.
Northern Ireland head coach Michael O’Neill has named a bumper squad of 28 players for the upcoming play-off semi-final against Italy. The major absentee for the Green and White Army is Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season with a serious knee injury.
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – NOVEMBER 17: Conor Bradley of Northern Ireland runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Luxembourg at Windsor Park on November 17, 2025 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Italy are the clear favourites heading into the semi-final given their home advantage and the clear gulf in quality between the two squads.
Italy are yet to announce their squad, but it is expected that all of the players included will play for top-flight sides, and the majority of them for clubs who have participated in the Champions League in 2025-26.
For comparison, the Northern Ireland squad has just four Premier League-affiliated players: Sunderland duo Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume, Crystal Palace’s Justin Devenny, who has five league starts to his name this season, and Liverpool youngster Kieran Morrsion, who has only ever played 71 minutes of senior football at club level; his two appearances coming in domestic cup competitions.
Otherwise, the Northern Ireland squad features 13 players from the EFL Championship, eight players from EFL League One, and one apiece from the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Championship and 2. Bundesliga.
Confirmed Northern Ireland squad to face Italy and either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – NOVEMBER 17: Jamie Donley of Northern Ireland celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Luxembourg at Windsor Park on November 17, 2025 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Roma’s Neil El Aynaoui and his family were the victims of a terrifying robbery at the midfielder’s home in the capital in the early hours of Tuesday morning according to various reports in Italy.
El Aynaoui and family victims of terrifying break-in
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and others, a gang of six armed individuals broke into El Aynaoui’s home in Castel Fusano, where several Roma and Lazio players live, at around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning.
The robbers entered through a living room window after breaking off the grated covers and proceeded to confront El Aynaoui and his family with guns.
WALSALL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Boubacar Kamara of Aston Villa during the pre-season friendly match between Aston Villa and AS Roma at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium on August 06, 2025 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
El Aynaoui was reportedly the first person in the house to be woken during the incident. He along with his mother, brother and their respective partners were locked in a room as the robbers proceeded to steal jewellery reported to be worth €10,000, a Rolex watch and a collection of designer handbags.
Unfortunately, El Aynaoui is not the first Roma or Lazio player to be affected by an incident like this. In recent years, Wesley, Mario Gila and Mario Vecino have also been victims of robberies of burglaries, as have Mattia Zaccagni, Toma Basic, Chris Smalling, Phillipe Mexes and Christian Panucci in years gone by.
El Aynaoui immediately informed his club of the incident, and he will not be involved in training with Roma on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s Europa League round of 16 decider against Bologna.
Youssouf Fofana admits that having to adapt to a new role at Milan has been a big challenge, insists that he is still dreaming of a World Cup call-up despite being omitted from the France squad since 2024, and says that he is ‘divided’ as to whether or not he has had a ‘good’ season in 2025-26.
Fofana ‘unsure’ on Milan role, 2025-26 season ‘not good enough’
The Rossoneri midfielder sat down for an in-depth interview with l’Equipe, during which he discussed his preferred position, his tactical development since moving to Italy and the difficulties of standing out amongst a talented pool of French midfielders.
Fofana says that he had been used to playing just in front of the defence before he joined Milan back in the summer of 2024, but now, he features in more of a box-to-box role on the right of a midfield three.
“At first I had to learn on a tactical level,” Fofana told l’Equipe. “As we all know, Italy puts a big emphasis on that, it’s not a cliché at all. I thought I was coming with a good tactical background, but they really pay attention to everything.
“It took me a while to understand that you can play a very good 90 minutes here and in the end, it ends up 1-0 in favour of the opponent. That’s because you’ve been beaten tactically. It took me a while to get that efficiency and tactical discipline.”
Fofana says that there has been ‘two phases’ of his development since moving to Serie A: “I’m living (the second one) now. It’s a change of position,” Fofana said. “It’s as if for five years I’d looked at football in a certain way and now my perception is changing.
“I don’t see the pitch from the same angle. I don’t really have the same benchmarks. For example, when I played in front of the defence, I always knew there were two players behind me, another diagonally on the right and another on the left. I could make passes into those areas without looking.
“Now it’s completely different. I play on the right. When we don’t have the ball, I’m really high up, almost like a striker. When we have it, I’m between the lines. I used to go and get after these players.”
Fofana was asked what it is like to have to learn a new position at the age of 27.
He said: “When you’re told you’re going to play higher up, you’re happy at first. In the end, I learned that that’s not necessarily what I want. I do it for the team. I like to be at the start of the action, to control everything: the speed of my team’s play, the tempo, the ball recovery.”
And what has Fofana learned from this tactical repositioning?
“That I needed to play much faster. When I played in front of the defence, the player marking me was often a striker, who didn’t necessarily defend very well. Whereas here, the player who marks me is usually a defender, usually a tougher opponent. I have to be stronger, to take in more information than before.”
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 02: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Neil El Aynaoui of AS Roma during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Fofana says that he is unsure whether he would describe the 2025-26 season as a ‘good’ one on a personal level.
“It’s a very good question,” he said. “I agree to learn, but am I doing well for the season? Not good enough, I think. In the position where I play, there’s more focus on statistics, and I think I could have been more efficient.
“I could have had six goals this season and more assists, and then I might have told you that my season’s been good. Aside from that, I’m looking at the medium term. There’s the World Cup and I’m not sure that I’m expected to play in this position.”
Fofana was asked whether that is frustrating for him with the 2026 World Cup quickly approaching.
“At club level, I do it.. Especially when you’re in the mix to win a trophy. But will it help me in the future? I’m divided about that.”
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Youssouf Fofana of AC Milan competes for the ball with Nicolo’ Barella of Inter during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Fofana has not been called up to the France national team squad since October 2024.
“At first it wasn’t a great experience. I wondered why I wasn’t getting called up. Then I started watching the matches and said to myself ‘okay Youssouf, there are other midfielders that are just as strong as you. Whether you’re there or not, the France team gets the same results, so you have to work and wait’.”
Jonathan David’s time at Juventus could be coming to an early end, but the Old Lady are still hoping to spin a profit on the Canada international during the summer transfer window according to the latest reports.
David has largely failed to impress during his time in Serie A with Juventus. The 26-year-old has scored seven goals from 39 appearances across all competitions this season, and has recently lost his place in the starting line-up despite the absence of his only real competitor at centre-forward, Dusan Vlahovic.
Recent reports indicate that Juventus are already looking to move the Canadian on at the end of the 2025-26 season.
How much do Juventus need to avoid making a loss on David?
Fortunately for Juventus, David arrived on a free transfer last summer, and therefore, turning a profit on him should not be a massively complicated procedure.
Though there was no transfer fee involved, Juventus confirmed that they had to pay €12.5m in commission fees in order to seal the deal with David during the summer transfer window. That €12.5m sum is payable over three financial years.
According to the latest reports from Tuttosport, there is still plenty of interest in David, despite his struggles at Juventus.
TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 25: Jonathan David celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and SSC Napoli at Juventus Stadium on January 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Premier League sides Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham had both reportedly explored a potential deal for David in January. Forest and West Ham did end up bringing in new strikers in January, and both, Lorenzo Lucca and Taty Castellanos, came from Serie A.
Tuttosport have recently reported that Ligue 1 side Lyon, currently managed by David’s former Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca, could be poised to make a move during the summer transfer window.
Monday’s report adds that Marseille could also be among the interested parties this summer. David provided 87 goals and 17 assists from 178 appearances during his five years in France.
Cremonese are due to host Fiorentina in the final fixture on the Serie A week 29 schedule on Monday evening, but Davide Nicola will have to do without centre-forward Jamie Vardy for this evening’s massive relegation clash. Here’s why.
Confirmed: Vardy unavailable for Cremonese vs. Fiorentina
Just one point separates the 18th-placed Cremonese, who slipped into the relegation zone last weekend, and the 17th-placed Fiorentina ahead of the meeting of the two sides at the Stadio Zini on Monday night.
La Cremo have announced their matchday squad for the Fiorentina clash, and have confirmed that Vardy will be unavailable through injury.
Vardy’s exclusion comes as a result of the knock that he suffered against Lecce in Serie A last weekend. Cremonese have confirmed that the official diagnosis is a “blunt force trauma to his right thigh.”
The 2016 Premier League winner has been a starter for Cremonese for most of the 2025-26 season, and has only missed out on two Serie A since his signing in the summer, which came in the second and third weeks of the season.
The Englishman has five goals and one assist to his name from 24 outings in the Italian top flight this term. 21 of those appearances were starts.
Cremonese squad to face Fiorentina
CREMONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Coach Davide Nicola of US Cremonese reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Genoa CFC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on February 15, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Scott McTominay is one of five Serie A players to have been included in the latest Scotland national team squad ahead of the international break coming up at the end of March.
There is one round of Serie A fixtures coming up this weekend before players head off to their national teams for the first international break of 2026. The international break will be a particularly important occasion for Italy, who will have to face Northern Ireland and potentially Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
There is considerably less pressure in March for the nations that have already booked their places at the World Cup, which includes Scotland. Steve Clarke’s side will play a pair of friendlies against Japan and Cote d’Ivoire on March 28 and March 31 instead.
McTominay and three other Serie A players included in the latest Scotland squad
The reigning Serie A MVP, McTominay, is the star name in the Scotland camp and has been included in the March squad, despite the fact that he has only made one 45-minute substitute appearance over the last five matches after recovering from a calf injury.
To little surprise, McTominay’s Napoli teammate Billy Gilmour has also been included in the latest Scotland squad. Despite being 29 and 24 years of age respectively, McTominay and Gilmour have already racked up an impressive 110 caps between them.
NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 23: Scott McTominay of Napoli poses for a photo as he celebrates victory with teammate Billy Gilmour following the Serie A match between Napoli and Cagliari at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 23, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The inclusion of Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson and Udinese’s Lennon Miller means that half of the midfielders in Scotland’s latest squad are currently playing in Serie A.
Torino striker Che Adams has also been included, and is typically a starter under Clarke.
Steve Clarke has named his first squad of the year, as we begin our warm-up for this summer's @FIFAWorldCup.
Inter have confirmed that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is due for a short spell on the sidelines through injury, but the latest reports indicate that Hakan Calhanoglu is closing in on a return to action for the Nerazzurri.
Inter confirm Mkhitaryan injury, latest on Calhanoglu and summer ‘revolution’
Mkhitaryan came on at half-time of Inter’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta on Saturday afternoon, but suffered an injury to his hamstring before full-time.
Now, the Armenian veteran is expected to be ruled out of his side’s next match away against Fiorentina, and given that the international break falls immediately afterwards, he is not expected to return to action for Inter until early April.
“Henrikh Mkhitaryan underwent tests at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano this morning. The examinations showed a strain in the hamstring of his left thigh. His situation will be reassessed in the coming days,” read a statement on the club website on Monday afternoon.
In more positive news for the Nerazzurri, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Calhanoglu is expected to return to the squad to face Fiorentina on Sunday. The Turkiye international has only been fit enough for two substitute appearances across the last 10 league matches, and has not featured in either of his side’s last two Serie A games.
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Hakan Calhanoglu celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match against Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport also reports that Inter are considering a midfield ‘revolution’ during the next summer transfer window, as Mkhitaryan is now 37, will be out of contract and has not yet decided when he will call it a day on his playing career, while Galatasaray are still reportedly targeting a summer move for Calhanoglu.
The Pink Paper suggests that only one of Inter’s seven first-team midfielders have lived up to expectations this season, and that is Piotr Zielinski. Nicolo Barella, Petar Sucic, Andy Diouf and Davide Frattesi have all come under criticism at various stages of the 2025-26 campaign, despite Inter’s eight-point lead at the top of the Serie A table.
Ahead of Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy national team squad announcement later this week, here is a look at the 15 highest-rated Italian players from the most recent round of Serie A fixtures over the weekend just gone.
Nine out of the 10 Serie A matches scheduled for week 29 took place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the remaining match between Cremonese and Fiorentina will be played at 19.45 GMT on Monday evening.
Then, on Friday, Gattuso is scheduled to announce his Italy national team squad for the crucial World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of the month.
The Azzurri will host Northern Ireland in a World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on March 26, and the winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the final on March 31: A one-off decider for a spot at the final tournament.
Ahead of the Italy squad announcement, here is a look at the highest-rated hopefuls that were involved in Serie A action this weekend.
Top 15 highest-rated Italy players from Serie A week 29
Matteo Politano (RW/RWB): 7.5* – Napoli 2-1 Lecce
Antonio Caracciolo (CB) 7.5* – Pisa 3-1 Cagliari
Stefano Moreo (CF/RW) 7.5 – Pisa 3-1 Cagliari
Arturo Calabresi (CB) 7 – Pisa 3-1 Cagliari
Nicolo Cambiaghi (LW) 7* – Sassuolo 0-1 Bologna
Pio Esposito (CF) 7 – Inter 1-1 Atalanta
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 14: Marcus Thuram, Nicolo’ Barella and Francesco Pio Esposito of FC Internazionale interact during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Milan. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
MILAN – NOVEMBER 16: Players of Italy pose for a team photograph prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Dusan Vlahovic is targeting a spot in Juventus’s squad to face Sassuolo in Serie A this coming weekend, but there are now doubts over the availability of Khephren Thuram in a case of one in, one out for Luciano Spalletti’s side.
Vlahovic and Thuram updates for Juventus
Juventus picked up a 1-0 win away against Udinese on Saturday evening, which means that they are now in fifth place and one point behind Como in the Champions League positions. Como defeated Roma, who have now slipped to sixth, two points behind the Old Lady.
Juventus went with a ‘fluid’ attacking unit in their game against Udinese, featuring Kenan Yildiz at centre-forward with a supporting cast of Francisco Conceicao, Weston McKennie and Jeremie Boga.
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – OCTOBER 01: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Villarreal CF and Juventus at Estadio de la Ceramica on October 01, 2025 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
Vlahovic had been tipped to return to the squad after more than three months out injured after surgery on his adductor, but was not deemed fit enough in the end.
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vlahovic is now targeting a return to the matchday squad for this Saturday’s match against Sassuolo instead.
GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 31: Khéphren Thuram of Juventus greets the crowd during a warm-up session prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on August 31, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
There are, however, doubts regarding the condition of midfielder Thuram, who was forced off during Juve’s win away against Udinese with a blow to his left ankle.
Thuram’s condition is set to be monitored day-by-day, but as things stand, his inclusion in the squad to face Sassuolo is not guaranteed either way at this stage.
Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has come under further criticism from Tottenham Hotspur supporters after failing to keep out Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick during his side’s 1-1 Premier League draw against Liverpool on Sunday: ‘You’ve got to save that, that’s awful, absolutely shocking’.
It has been a miserable season for Vicario and his Tottenham teammates, who are at genuine risk of relegation from the Premier League with eight games of the season left to play.
With 30 league games gone, Tottenham find themselves in 16th place in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone. Sunday’s draw against Liverpool was the first point that Spurs have picked up during Igor Tudor’s first five matches in charge.
In an extraordinary turn of events, Vicario was then brought on after just 16 minutes of that game with Atletico leading by three goals following two major errors from back-up goalkeeper Anotnin Kinsky.
Vicario troubles continue at Tottenham
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 14: Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur at City Ground on December 14, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Despite restoring his no.1 status at Tottenham this weekend, Vicario has once again come under criticism for failing to stop Szoboszlai’s 18th-minute free-kick on Sunday, which many feel was ‘saveable’ for a top level goalkeeper.
“I mean (Szoboszlai) is a specialist, but a goalkeeping specialist, it’s not far off the middle of the goal. You’ve got to save that, wow. That’s awful, absolutely shocking,” said Jamie Carragher, who was on co-commentary duty for Tottenham’s 1-1 draw away against Liverpool.
“I genuinely believe I could save that. It’s like just off the middle of the goal and instead of just being normal he’s tried to do a “spectacular” one hand save when he could’ve just caught it,” a Chelsea supporter wrote on X.
“Has anyone started investigating Vicario for match fixing yet?,” another joked. “Vicario is on the take!!! How does that go in?!?!,” another Tottenham supporter similarly questioned. One supporter responded: “My first thought too. Has he got a bet on Spurs to be relegated? Pro Keeper should save that 99.9% of the time.”
“We were competing and in the game before Vicario gets a cardboard hand on a saveable free-kick,” said another Tottenham fan.
Massimio Ambrosini has given advice to both Rafael Leao and Massimiliano Allegri after Milan’s 1-0 loss away against Lazio, during which the Portugal international reacted angrily after being taken off in the 66th minute.
Milan slipped to a 1-0 defeat away against Lazio in Serie A on Sunday evening, which means that Inter’s lead at the top of the table has been extended to eight points with nine league games of the season left to go, despite dropping points against Atalanta this weekend.
Aside from the result, there was also a concerning moment for Milan supporters two thirds of the way through their Lazio loss, when Leao refused to give his head coach, Allegri, a hug on the touchline after being substituted off.
The Portugal international reacted angrily, especially after teammate Christian Pulisic had failed to slip him in on goal with a decent opportunity just moments before the substitution was called.
Ambrosini on Leao, Allegri and Lazio 1-0 Milan
Speaking on DAZN after full-time on Sunday, former Ambrosini, a four-time Scudetto winner with Milan, advised Leao that he should channel the anger and frustration that he occasionally shows when he is on the pitch, rather than when he is taken off it.
“I think that he has to show that anger when he comes off when he’s on the pitch,” said Ambrosini. “He always gives that impression that the competitive charge is missing. But he has to channel that anger during the game in one way or another.
“By the 34th minute, he’d touched the ball four times, one of which was a header. The feeling is that by nature and by his characteristics, he’s a player you have to try and keep switched on. He doesn’t light up much, though.”
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Ambrosini also advised Allegri that playing Leao as a centre-forward, especially when the Rossoneri swap to a 4-3-3 is a waste of his qualities.
“As a centre-forward, he takes a lot more breaks than he does when he’s playing out wide. I wouldn’t have changed (the shape) today.
“Milan went from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 in the second half with Pulisic out wide and Leao up front. Again, I would have kept him out wide and gone to a 4-2-3-1. He’s wasted as a centre-forward.”
Paolo Di Canio has taken a damning stance on Milan after their 1-0 loss against Lazio in Serie A on Sunday evening, and believes that only one Rossoneri player should avoid criticism: ‘A team without personality’.
Milan slipped to a 1-0 defeat away against Lazio in Serie A on Sunday evening. Following Inter’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta on Saturday, the Rossoneri had an opportunity to move within five points of the league leaders, but now have a considerably tougher eight-point deficit to make up with nine games of the season left to go.
There had been suggestions that Milan could stage a late fight for the Serie A title after their derby victory against Inter the weekend prior, but many argue that those hopes have now faded away after the Lazio defeat.
Di Canio criticised Milan, Leao and lack of ‘personality’
Paolo Di Canio
Speaking on Sky Calcio Club after Sunday’s loss against Lazio, Di Canio described Massimiliano Allegri’s side as one that is lacking in ‘personality’.
He also singled out Rafael Leao for criticism and says that Luka Modric is perhaps the only Rossoneri player who should avoid criticism after the defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.
“Milan have always found it difficult against teams even less gifted than Lazio, especially when they have to play themselves,” said Di Canio (via Milannews.it)
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Kenneth Taylor of SS Lazio kicks the ball during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
“Leao walks around and only gives you a solution on the counter attack. You can’t have a player walking around for 70 minutes while the others sacrifice themselves, and then get angry because they aren’t playing him in. Allegri has to solve that.
“Milan are a team without personality. Let’s leave Modric aside, who excited me. De Winter, Leao, Pulisic, who plays in the attack and doesn’t give him the ball, guys like that. It’s a team without a general personality.”
Three points separate three teams competing for one spot in the Serie A top four with nine matches of the season left to go, but which of Como, Juventus or Roma has the ‘easiest’ run of fixtures remaining between now and the end of the 2025-26 campaign?
The weekend’s results means that Como currently occupy fourth place on 54 points, Juventus are in fifth on 53 points and Roma in sixth on 51.
In terms of the average league position of their remaining opponents, Juventus and Como have the same average of 11.89, which is marginally higher than the average league position of Roma’s upcoming opponents (12.11).
That said, Juventus are the only side of the three that are not involved in any cup competitions and only have Serie A to focus on.
Roma will take on Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday evening, with the scores currently level at 1-1 at the halfway stage of the tie. The Giallorossi are the pre-match favourites given their home advantage and position in the Serie A table.
Como, meanwhile, will have to take on Inter in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final in April, with the scores currently level at 0-0 after the first leg at the beginning of March.
Como’s remaining Serie A fixtures
COMO, ITALY – MARCH 15: Diego Carlos of Como 1907 celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and AS Roma at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on March 15, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Pisa (19th) at home
Udinese (11th) away
Inter (1st) at home
Sassuolo (10th) away
Genoa (13th) away
Napoli (3rd) at home
Verona (20th) away
Parma (12th) at home
Cremonese (18th) away
Remaining home games: 4
Remaining away games: 5
Average league position of remaining opponents: 11.89
Juventus’s remaining Serie A fixtures
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 07: Khephren Thuram of Juventus celebrates his goal with his team-mates and Luciano Spalletti Head coach of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Pisa SC at Juventus Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images)
Sassuolo (10th) at home
Genoa (13th) away
Atalanta (7th) away
Bologna (8th) at home
Milan (2nd) away
Verona (20th) at home
Lecce (16th) away
Fiorentina (17th) at home
Torino (14th) away
Remaining home games: 4
Remaining away games: 5
Average league position of remaining opponents: 11.89
Roma’s remaining Serie A fixtures
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 01: Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Lecce (16th) at home
Inter (1st) away
Pisa (19th) at home
Atalanta (7th) at home
Bologna (8th) away
Fiorentina (17th) at home
Parma (12th) away
Lazio (9th) at home
Verona (20th) away
Remaining home games: 5
Remaining away games: 4
Average league position of remaining opponents: 12.11
Bayern Munich are preparing to hand a debut to 16-year-old goalkeeper Leonard Prescott for the return leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Atalanta on Wednesday evening, as every other stopper in Vincent Kompany’s ranks are either injured or at high risk of missing out.
Bayern injury crisis leads to opportunity for 16-year-old goalkeeper
The Bundesliga giants have a whopping 6-1 advantage over Atalanta heading into their round of 16 leg after dishing out a thrashing in Bergamo last Tuesday.
La Dea are the only Italian side left standing in the competition after the elimination of Inter and Juventus in the play-off round and Napoli’s exit at the end of the league phase.
Atalanta are facing a near-impossible task when they take on Bayern away at the Allianz Arena requiring a six-goal victory to qualify for the quarter-finals. But, the hosts are in the midst of a goalkeeping injury crisis that could lead to a 16-year-old being handed their senior debut between the posts on Wednesday night.
That is because captain Manuel Neuer, who missed out on the first leg against Atalanta, is still unavailable through injury. Back-up option Sven Ulreich is also nursing an adductor tear.
Jonas Urbig, who started against Atalanta last week, is a major doubt due to concussion, and reports in Germany suggest that Bayern are unlikely to take any risks with the 22-year-old, especially with a 6-1 advantage heading into the second leg.
Bayern’s reserve team, Bayern II, are also without 19-year-old goalkeeper Leon Klanac due to a thigh injury, which means that 16-year-old Prescott, currently based with the U19 squad, is the most likely goalkeeper to play against Atalanta on Wednesday according to reports from various outlets.
Prescott was born in New York but has represented Germany at U16 and U17 level.
BERLIN, GERMANY – OCTOBER 11: Leonard Prescott of of Germany U16 passes the ball during the International Friendly match between U16 Germany and U16 Poland at Stadion am Wurfplatz on October 11, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Reinaldo Coddou H./Getty Images for DFB)
The teenager has made 16 appearances for Bayern’s U19 squad so far this season, conceding 30 goals, and has twice been included in the senior matchday squad: Against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga over the weekend just gone and against Atalanta in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 last Tuesday,
Rossoneri legend Alessandro Costacurta says that Rafael Leao was more angry at Christian Pulisic than he was at his substitution two thirds of the way through Milan’s 1-0 loss away against Lazio on Sunday evening.
Leao reacted angrily when he was taken off after 65 minutes of Milan’s disappointing defeat in the capital on Sunday night and appeared to reject a hug from head coach Massimiliano Allegri on the touchline at the time of the change.
Many have taken the opinion, however, that the Portugal international was most frustrated with teammate Pulisic, who had failed to slip him in on goal just moments before the substitution board went up.
Costacurta reacts to Leao substitution
Milan’s defeat against Lazio means that they have now slipped eight points behind league leaders Inter with nine games of the season left to go, when they could have moved within five points of the Nerazzurri. Reigning champions Napoli are now just one point behind the Rossoneri in third place.
“Eight points with nine games to go is a lot. If I were in that team, I’d start thinking about the other sides behind,” said Costacurta on Sky Calcio Club after Milan’s loss on Sunday night (via Milannews.it).
Costacurta agrees that Leao was naturally frustrated about having to come off with almost half an hour left to play, but that he was probably more frustrated at Pulisic for the lack of passes in on goal.
“I was amazed that despite some excellent shots from Leao, Pulisic never gave it to him. Captain America preferred to give it to others and made that clear. I was making the same gestures as Leao: ‘Give it to him, give it to him!’
“He wasn’t angry about the sub, but about Pulisic’s lack of pass. I wouldn’t have taken Leao off, I would have moved him.”
Costacurta also agrees that this was a missed opportunity for his old club.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan shoots whilst under pressure from Patric and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
“For me, Milan missed a great opportunity to put pressure on the strongest side and see how they would have reacted.
“The first 10 minutes, Lazio seemed really up for it, when Milan should have been. The message you send at the beginning is important for the rest of the game. They also played a decent game, but you can’t just give minutes away.”
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