Maurizio Sarri delivered one of his more candid and self-reflective post-match assessments after Lazio’s hard-fought draw with Parma, describing a deeply difficult season in characteristically dry terms, and admitting he could have done without the experience at this stage of his career.
“I would call it a formative season,” Sarri told Sky Sport, via LaLazioSiamoNoi.
“It would have been better if it had come 15 years ago, because I had more need to be formed back then. At this point, I could quite happily have done without it.”
It was a telling admission from a manager who has operated at the very top of European football for over a decade, and a public acknowledgement of just how much this campaign has tested him personally.
ROME, ITALY – JANUARY 14: SS Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri during the SS Lazio training session at the Formello sport Centre on January 14, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Lazio 1-1 Parma – Sarri acknowledges difficulties in tight draw
On the match itself, Sarri acknowledged that Parma’s compact 5-3-2 had caused problems, particularly in the first half.
“Usually if you keep it goalless until the 70th minute against a setup like that, you win, unfortunately we couldn’t manage that,” he said.
“In the first half we played too much with the ball stuck to feet and without the right rhythm. The second half was better given the nature of the game.”
He was also keen to contextualise the result within the broader difficulties his squad have faced throughout the campaign.
Playing without Provedel, Patric, Gila, Zaccagni and Rovella, and in front of a significantly reduced crowd, the point felt more valuable than it might otherwise appear.
“Fortunately the group seems to have become a real group,” Sarri said. “Today’s reaction is testament to that, this was a match that could have ended very badly.”
On the striker situation, Sarri was measured in his assessment of January arrival Ratkov, noting that the forward is still adapting to a new country, language and style of football after just two and a half months in Italy.
“It is normal that he is finding it difficult,” he said. “He is a little behind where we need him to be right now.”
Carlos Cuesta made no attempt to hide his disappointment after Parma were denied all three points against Lazio by a deflected Noslin equaliser, but the Spanish coach was equally emphatic that his side had produced exactly the kind of performance needed to secure their Serie A survival.
“What a shame, it is a real pity,” Cuesta told Sky Sport, via LaLazioSiamoNoi.
“We were strong not only defensively but offensively too. We produced a great performance, though we knew we would face a strong opponent with a lot of individual quality who could cause us problems.”
He was measured in his overall assessment, acknowledging that a point still moves the needle in the right direction.
“We could have won and taken three points, but the approach was right from the very first action, and that will be fundamental to picking up as many points as possible between now and the end of the season.”
GENOA, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Carlos Cuesta, head coach of Parma, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 19, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
Parma coach Cuesta: ‘We must focus on picking up points’
On the subject of survival, Cuesta refused to engage with any specific targets or calculations. “We do not make tables,” he said plainly. “We will be safe when the mathematics tell us so. We focus on the matches and on making points.”
The Parma head coach also took the opportunity to reflect on the broader principles underpinning his side’s identity.
“The fundamental concept of my football is compactness,” he said.
“And then there are many other aspects linked to the quality of the squad, which were at a high level tonight. We must maintain them and do even better, it is part of our journey. We need to take this restart after two bad defeats and become more aware of our strengths, and above all make sure our supporters can be proud of us.”
Massimiliano Allegri has spoken of his personal disappointment at Italy’s World Cup elimination while calling on football’s governing bodies to address the structural problems holding back the country’s young talent, ahead of Monday’s blockbuster Serie A clash with Napoli at the Maradona.
The Milan head coach was in a positive mood as his squad trained in front of a enthusiastic group of supporters, acknowledging that the players had earned genuine goodwill from the fanbase through their performances this season.
“We are very happy that the fans came out today, because they won’t be with us in Naples,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“I think this year the players have earned the respect and esteem of the supporters through their commitment and determination in matches.”
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 21: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of AC Milan, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Milan boss Allegri: ‘We must help young players develop better’
On the World Cup, Allegri was measured but sincere. “I don’t know why we didn’t qualify, what I do know is that as an Italian I am very disappointed,” he said.
“From this situation, the relevant authorities must thoroughly examine solutions that can help young players develop into good footballers.”
It is a sentiment that echoes the broader chorus of concern from across Italian football in recent days, and notable coming from one of the country’s most prominent and successful coaches.
On more immediate matters, Allegri confirmed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek has returned to full fitness, with Matteo Gabbia the only absentee, the defender expected back on Tuesday.
The prospect of facing a Napoli side that has recovered its key players was greeted with respect rather than concern.
“Napoli are a strong team, especially now that they have everyone available,” Allegri said. “It will be a wonderful match and we will need a great team performance.”
A scrappy but tense affair at the Stadio Olimpico ended level, with Lazio failing to find a winner after Tijjani Noslin’s fortunate equaliser cancelled out Enrico Delprato’s well-taken opener in a result that does little to help either side’s objectives in the end of season run-in.
Parma arrived in Rome as the more cohesive unit in the opening stages, moving the ball patiently and waiting for gaps to exploit.
Their reward came on 15 minutes when Delprato latched onto a free kick, controlled beautifully inside the box and directed a precise finish into the bottom right corner to give the visitors a deserved lead.
Lazio struggled to find their rhythm in the first half despite plenty of possession.
Edoardo Motta, deputising for the injured Ivan Provedel, was called upon to make a fine save from Emanuele Valeri late in the half, while Alessio Romagnoli met a corner with a well-directed header that Parma’s keeper did brilliantly to tip away.
The home side went in at the break needing a response.
ROME, ITALY – APRIL 04: Enrico Delprato of Parma Calcio 1913 celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammates during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Olimpico on April 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Lazio 1-1 Parma – Biancocelesti improve in second half to snatch point
Maurizio Sarri made a triple substitution on 58 minutes, introducing Noslin, Lazzari and Cancellieri in search of greater energy and attacking threat.
The changes had the desired effect, and on 77 minutes Lazio levelled, although fortune played its part.
Kenneth Taylor picked out Noslin inside the box, and the Dutch forward’s effort took a significant deflection to wrong-foot goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and find the net.
Parma might have restored their lead late on when a penalty appeal was initially waved away, only for referee Matteo Marcenaro to consult VAR before ultimately deciding against awarding the spot kick, a decision that prompted considerable frustration from Carlos Cuesta’s players on the touchline.
A point each, then, though both sides will feel they had chances to claim all three.
For Lazio, it keeps them unbeaten at a critical stage of the season, although perhaps they should have been winning today, while Parma’s survival battle continues to hang in the balance with the gap above the relegation zone just eight points.
Inter are moving decisively to secure Guglielmo Vicario as their new first-choice goalkeeper ahead of next season, with sporting director Piero Ausilio having already made a trip to London to accelerate negotiations for the Tottenham stopper.
According to CalcioMercato.it, the Italian international has been on Inter’s radar for some time, and the club are now ready to make their move ahead of what promises to be a busy summer.
Vicario’s valuation of between €15 million and €20 million is considered well within Inter’s reach, and the Nerazzurri are determined to move quickly before rival clubs can enter the race.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Francesco Pio Esposito and Yann Sommer celebrate following the team’s victory in the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Vicario ready to succeed Sommer at Inter
The signing would signal the end of an era at the club, with Yann Sommer expected to remain but transition into a backup role.
The Swiss international has been a reliable and high-quality presence since joining the club, but the Nerazzurri’s hierarchy have decided the time is right to plan for the long term with a younger option between the posts.
Vicario has established himself as one of the Premier League’s more dependable goalkeepers since joining Tottenham and is considered ready to step up to a leading role at one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
With Italy’s goalkeeping debate set to intensify in the wake of the World Cup elimination, a move to Inter would also keep him in contention for the national team setup under whoever takes charge of the Azzurri.
Jurgen Klinsmann has delivered a stinging verdict on Italian football’s crisis, drawing on his deep personal connection to the country to make one of the most pointed observations yet about why the Azzurri keep failing to qualify for the World Cup.
The former Germany manager and World Cup winner, who played for both Inter and Sampdoria during his career and whose son currently plays for Cesena, told the Corriere dello Sport, that the penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia left him sleepless and deeply saddened. “I suffered enormously with my Italian friends in Los Angeles,” he said.
“The night after I struggled to sleep.”
His diagnosis of the underlying problems, however, was blunt and unsparing.
“Italy is paying for a lack of leaders, a lack of players who take on opponents in one-on-one situations, and a lack of trust in young players,” Klinsmann said.
epa11076040 South Korea head coach Juergen Klinsmann holds a press conference ahead of a Group E match against Bahrain at the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup at the Main Media Centre in Doha, Qatar, 14 January 2024. EPA-EFE/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT
Klinsmann: ‘In Italy, they’d send Yamal and Musiala to Serie B to gain experience’
He then offered a comparison that cuts to the heart of Italian football’s conservatism.
“In Italy, Yamal and Musiala would probably be sent to Serie B to gain experience.”
It is a damning hypothetical but one that resonates powerfully given the ongoing debate about how few young Italians receive meaningful first-team opportunities.
Klinsmann also pointed to a deeply ingrained tactical mentality as a root cause of Italy’s decline. “Many coaches still work with the objective of not losing rather than winning at all costs,” he said. “And these are the results.”
Coming from a man who experienced Italian football firsthand and retains genuine affection for the country, the words carry particular weight, and add an authoritative international perspective to a debate that has, until now, been largely conducted within Italy’s own borders.
Lazio prepare to host Parma at the Stadio Olimpico this evening, as the Biancocelesti look to increase their winning run to four games.
Maurizio Sarri’s side pick up impressive wins before the international break, particularly against Milan and Bologna, as they quietly pushed up into 8th place in the table.
The match kicks off at 20:45 local time (19:45 BST), and you can follow all the action, as it happens, on our Live Blog.
Parma, meanwhile, sit in 12th place – having failed to win in four games after a winning run of their own. Before the international break, a 2-0 home defeat to Cremonese saw the side booed by their own fans.
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Mariano Troilo of Parma Calcio celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Daniele De Rossi deflected questions about a potential Italy coaching role with characteristic dry humour on Friday, but the Genoa head coach made no attempt to hide the personal pain of watching close friends and former teammates suffer through another World Cup elimination.
Asked at his pre-match press conference whether the FIGC had already been in touch about taking over as national team manager, De Rossi raised a smile.
“I wasn’t expecting that question, I thought you wanted to talk about Italian football’s programme,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“I had prepared myself not to answer.”
He was equally reluctant to add his voice to the wave of public commentary that has flooded Italian football since the Bosnia defeat.
“I think too many people are talking: ex-players, journalists, butchers, delicatessen owners. I am focused on keeping Genoa up, and adding more words to this soup of chatter doesn’t feel particularly important.”
CREMONA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 15: Coach Daniele De Rossi of Genoa CFC 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)
De Rossi: ‘Italy failure not a matter of a coach’s bravery’
His one concession to emotion was genuine and heartfelt.
“What I am left with is the sadness of seeing so many of my friends destroyed, and so many players I grew up alongside as teammates. That sadness stays with me.”
It was a reminder that behind the political noise and institutional drama, the human cost of Italy’s failure is felt most acutely by those closest to the players involved.
On the broader question of whether Italian clubs lack the courage to give young players meaningful opportunities, De Rossi pushed back against oversimplification.
“We could generalise and trivialise the concept if we spoke only about courage,” he said.
“Every player has their own path.”
He pointed to his own record at Genoa, promoting Fini and Venturino while protecting Ekhator from offers and fighting to keep Pisilli at Roma, who has since earned a senior international call-up, as evidence that the issue is more nuanced than a simple lack of bravery from coaches.
“The real courage comes in June,” he added, “when you start from 0-0 and fate tells you whether it paid off.”
Lautaro Martinez returns to the Inter starting lineup for Sunday’s crucial Serie A clash with Roma having missed seven matches through injury, a run in which Inter won just two games, raising questions about their ability to close out the title race without their captain. The Argentine is determined to ensure those concerns are quickly forgotten.
Speaking to DAZN, with quotes courtesy of FCInterNews, Lautaro was measured but purposeful in his assessment of a squad returning from an emotionally bruising international break.
Several of his Italian teammates were eliminated from the World Cup with the Azzurri, and Lautaro was keen to strike the right balance between empathy and urgency.
“We are always here to support them, whether things went well or less well,” he said. “The important thing is that their heads are completely on Inter. We need to turn the page, there are two important objectives ahead of us and no time to think about the past.”
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 14: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano runs with the ball during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Lautaro: ‘Inter dip in form not due to my absence, we need to learn to have fun again’
On Inter’s dip in form during his absence, Lautaro was diplomatic.
“I don’t think it was because I was missing, there were many matches in a short space of time and a dip can happen,” he said. “I don’t think in all our years together we have gone strong for an entire season. But now things need to change. We are still first, which means we have done things well.”
He also addressed Thuram’s recent difficulties, drawing a broader point about collective performance.
“When the team’s level drops, the individual struggles too,” he said. “We need to pull something from within, that something that has been missing in this period.”
His most striking message, however, was about rediscovering joy.
“We need to relax our heads, smile and enjoy ourselves,” Lautaro said. “That is what brought us the titles that had been missing for so long. We must learn to have fun again together, attitude is the most important thing for approaching matches in the right way.”
With the Scudetto and the Coppa Italia both still within reach, the captain’s words carry the weight of someone who knows exactly what this group is capable of when it performs at its best.
The Italian players’ association, AssoCalciatori, has called for new legislation to mandate the use of Italian players in Serie A, with president Umberto Calcagno arguing that the federation currently lacks the legal tools to enforce any such requirement, and that political intervention may be the only way to change that.
The proposal arrives at a moment of acute national soul-searching following Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination, and the timing is no coincidence.
One of the most frequently cited structural problems in Italian football is the dwindling number of Italians receiving regular first-team football at the top level, and no club exemplifies that trend more starkly than Como.
Despite their remarkable rise in Serie A under Cesc Fabregas, Como have used an Italian outfield player for just one minute across the entire season, a figure that encapsulates the scale of the problem.
It is an extreme case, but the broader picture across the division is only marginally more encouraging, with many clubs increasingly reliant on foreign players at every level of their squads.
AIC chief Calcagno: ‘Serie A needs reform, but this is not a war on foreigners’
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Players of Italy pose for a team photo prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Calcagno was careful to frame the proposal in measured terms. “The federation does not have the legal tools to require that Italians play,” he said, via MilanNews. “We hope that through political channels, regulations on this matter can be studied. But let it be clear, this is not a war on foreigners.”
The distinction matters. The argument is not that foreign players are damaging Italian football, but rather that the absence of meaningful opportunities for Italian players at club level is directly undermining the talent pipeline that feeds the national team.
Many figures from the world of Calcio have made similar points in the days since the Bosnia defeat, highlighting that talented young Italians are either being squeezed out of first-team football in Serie A entirely or forced to drop down the divisions to find regular game time.
Calcagno also struck a forward-looking tone on the broader rebuilding process.
“The disappointment must be transformed into positivity,” he said. “What is important now are the programmes, reaching agreement on them, and then we choose the person to lead.”
It was a clear signal that the association’s priority is structural reform in Serie A and beyond, rather than an immediate focus on who replaces Gravina or Gattuso.
Italy’s third consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup has left a void at the heart of the nation’s football calendar this summer, and while the rest of the world prepares to descend on North America for the tournament, the Azzurri must find a way to rebuild both on and off the pitch.
The immediate programme offers little room for comfort.
With no World Cup to prepare for, a friendly against Greece in June fills what would have been a summer of anticipation.
It is a sobering fixture for a nation that has won the tournament four times, and the match will take place in an atmosphere shaped entirely by the fallout from the Bosnia defeat, likely with no FIGC president elected yet, a new head coach, and with questions about the entire direction of Italian football still very much unresolved.
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: (L-R) Italy Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi, President of CONI Luciano Buonfiglio and President of FIGC Gabriele Gravina look on prior the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
World Cup exit may sting but Italy still have something to play for in 2026
The more meaningful action begins in September, when Italy enter UEFA Nations League Group A1 alongside France, Belgium and Turkey, a genuinely demanding group that offers both a stern test and a genuine opportunity.
The campaign opens at home to Belgium on 25 September before a trip to Turkey three days later.
October brings the biggest challenge of the group stage, with a visit to France on 2 October followed by a home return against Turkey.
The group concludes in November with Italy hosting France before travelling to Belgium.
Nations League Group A1 represents something tangible to play for.
The competition offers a route back to relevance, winners of the top group earn prestige and ranking points, while the Nations League also provides Euro 2028 qualification implications further down the line.
More immediately, it gives whoever takes charge of the Azzurri a competitive platform to begin the rebuilding process in earnest.
The challenge for Italy’s new leadership, both at federation level and in the dugout, will be to channel the anger and embarrassment of this summer into genuine structural reform.
Del Piero, Capello, Baresi and countless others have called for humility and a willingness to start from scratch.
The Nations League fixtures, unglamorous as they may feel right now, are where that process must begin.
Kimi Antonelli has added his voice to the national outpouring of disappointment following Italy’s World Cup elimination, saying the failure gives him extra motivation to keep representing his country at the highest level in Formula 1.
The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, speaking to Sky Sport fresh from back-to-back victories in China and Japan, was asked for his thoughts on the Azzurri’s playoff defeat to Bosnia, and reflected warmly on what Italian football has meant to him personally.
“Obviously it is a shame that we are not going to the World Cup this year,” Antonelli said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“I have a wonderful memory of the Euros, I remember being at a karting race in Sarno when Italy were playing, and after winning my race my mother and I rushed home as fast as possible because we wanted to watch the final. That was a really beautiful period.”
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Players of Italy show their dejection of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Antonelli mourns Italy World Cup absent as stark contrast revealed
The image of a teenage racing prodigy sprinting home to watch the Azzurri lift the trophy captures something of the hold football has on Italian sporting culture, even for those whose own careers lie elsewhere.
Antonelli’s comment that Formula 1 is “a sport for amateurs” compared to football, offered with obvious tongue-in-cheek, drew a smile, but his sincerity about the wider national mood was clear.
“It really disappointed me not to see the national team qualify for the World Cup,” he said. “It is one more reason to try to keep flying the flag for Italy in my own field.”
It is a sentiment that resonates at a moment when Italian sport is grappling with a painful paradox, a nation that excels across multiple disciplines, from tennis to athletics to Formula 1, yet cannot qualify its football team for the world’s biggest tournament.
For Antonelli, who has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in motorsport, the burden of national pride sits comfortably on young shoulders.
Alessandro Del Piero has delivered one of the most forthright assessments of Italy’s footballing crisis since the World Cup playoff elimination, calling for genuine humility and structural reform rather than the blame-shifting and self-preservation that has characterised the response from those in power.
Speaking on Sky Calcio Unplugged, the Juventus legend did not mince his words on the gravity of a third consecutive absence from the World Cup. “The first time in 2018 was a shock, the second felt like a nightmare; the third is starting to become embarrassing to justify,” he said. “We were an enormous power and finding ourselves here for the third time is incredible.”
Del Piero was emphatic that the failure cannot be pinned on any single individual, insisting the problems run far deeper than Gattuso’s short tenure or Gravina’s presidency.
“There are many complex situations that have all converged to produce this result,” he said. “Behind all of this there is so much more.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 05: Alessandro Del Piero looks on alongside The FIFA Club World Cup Trophy during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Draw at Telemundo Studios on December 05, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)
Italy legend Del Piero: ‘We only think about saving our own ass, that needs to change’
His prescription for recovery was equally clear, and pointed directly at the culture of self-interest he believes is holding football back in Italy.
“We fundamentally think only about saving our own ass. That needs to change.”
The 51-year-old drew inspiration from Italy’s previous moments of crisis, arguing that adversity has historically brought out the best in the national character. “In our greatest moments of sporting crisis, 1982, 2006, we managed to find energy, creativity, desire and solutions,” he said. “Even today, when we seem far from those solutions.”
On the path to rebuilding, Del Piero identified a fundamental cultural problem in how young players are developed.
“We tell youngsters too much what to do, and this kills their creativity,” he said. “They become good at executing instructions but the moment they step outside that system they make mistakes and get written off as poor players. That is not the truth, the problem is that they have only been taught one thing.”
Alessandro Del Piero looks on during a press conference at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 03, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
His closing message for Italy was blunt. “Pride must be set aside. What is needed now is humility, a willingness to start again, to study and to analyse who is doing things well. We are no longer who we think we are.”
According to TMW, the Portuguese winger had been managing a pubic inflammation but trained fully with the group on Friday alongside his teammates, a timely boost for Massimiliano Allegri as Milan prepare for one of their most important fixtures of the season.
The only absentee from training was Matteo Gabbia, meaning the rest of the squad is fully fit and available for the trip to Naples.
PISA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 13: Christopher Nkuku of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and AC Milan at Arena Garibaldi on February 13, 2026 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Leao not guaranteed to start for Milan despite passing fitness checks
Leão’s return does not guarantee him a starting role, however, with Allegri understood to be weighing up a selection battle between the Portuguese forward and Christopher Nkunku for a place in the starting XI.
The Frenchman has impressed when called upon in recent times and will push hard for the nod.
With Milan six points behind Inter and time running out in the title race, Monday’s second versus third clash at the Maradona is a must-win fixture for Allegri’s side if they are to keep any realistic hope of overhauling the Nerazzurri alive.
Italy’s post-World Cup disaster overhaul is gathering pace, with Gabriele Gravina’s resignation confirmed and attention turning to who will manage the Azzurri in the immediate interim period before a permanent successor to Gennaro Gattuso is appointed.
With two friendlies scheduled before the FIGC presidential election on 22 June in Rome, the federation faces a practical problem, Italy need a coach in place before a new president is even elected, let alone before a new permanent CT can be identified and appointed.
According to Sportmediaset, via CalcioMercato.it, the most concrete option at this stage is current Under-21 head coach Silvio Baldini stepping up on a temporary basis.
The Baldini solution appears the most likely outcome for now.
BERGAMO – MARCH 26: Gennaro Gattuso of Italy looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Italy to follow precedent with potential Baldini appointment
The scenario has a clear precedent.
In 2018, following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup under Giampiero Ventura, Under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio took interim charge for two friendlies against Argentina and England before Roberto Mancini was appointed as permanent manager.
Baldini would be filling an almost identical role eight years on.
The full shape of Italian football’s rebuild will become clearer over the coming weeks, with the presidential election on 22 June set to be the pivotal moment around which all other decisions, including the permanent managerial appointment, will ultimately revolve.
Barcelona have made their first formal move for Alessandro Bastoni, submitting an opening offer of €45 million for the Inter defender, a figure the Nerazzurri have rejected as well below their valuation.
According to Sportmediaset, Inter are holding firm at a minimum of €60 million for Bastoni, whom the club consider a top-level defender regardless of the turbulent two months he has endured, from the controversial incident in the Derby d’Italia through to his red card during Italy’s World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia in Zenica.
Crucially, this marks the first time Bastoni himself has shown a willingness to listen to an offer.
A previous approach from Chelsea was swiftly rejected by both player and club, but Barcelona’s interest appears to carry genuine appeal.
BODO, NORWAY – FEBRUARY 18: Alessandro Bastoni of FC Internazionale Milano reacts after Kasper Hogh of Bodo/Glimt (not pictured) scores his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and FC Internazionale Milano at Aspmyra Stadion on February 18, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)
Barcelona prepare lucrative salary for Inter man Bastoni
The Catalan club are prepared to offer Bastoni a salary of €7 million per season, a significant step up from his current €5 million net at Inter, and the prospect of a new challenge at a club with similar ambitions to his current employers.
Despite the gap between the two clubs’ valuations, Sportmediaset reports that negotiations are continuing, with the conversation now formally open for the first time.
Inter will need to decide whether to stand firm at €60 million or show any flexibility, while Barcelona, well aware of their financial constraints, will need to significantly improve on their opening position if they are to have any realistic chance of securing one of European football’s most coveted defenders.
Juventus have made exploratory contact with agent Jorge Mendes over a potential free transfer move for Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, with the Portugal international given until the end of April to decide the next chapter of his career.
According to Tuttosport, the midfielder is certain to leave City this summer and his options range from staying in Europe to a move to MLS or the Saudi Pro League, with Juventus emerging as a credible contender for his signature after positive early soundings.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 04: Bernardo Silva of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest at Etihad Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Bernardo Silva sets April deadline as Juventus weigh up wage demands
Silva wants to determine how much competitive hunger he still has before committing to any club.
He has not closed the door on the Bianconeri, showing willingness to discuss the possibility of joining the Turin club next season.
The financial demands are significant.
Silva earns around €10 million net per season at City and would not consider anything below €8-9 million. That would require the Serie A giants to make an exception to their internal wage structure, though the club consider his profile worthy of one.
Spalletti’s enthusiasm will ultimately determine whether Juventus push ahead. The De Bruyne-Napoli experience taught Italian football a lesson, players of this calibre only work when every component aligns. If the coach is fully convinced, Juventus move. If not, they walk away.
Gianni Rivera has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next FIGC president, making an informal declaration of candidacy on the same day that Gabriele Gravina finally tendered his resignation following Italy’s third consecutive World Cup elimination.
The 82-year-old, who in 1969 became the first Italian to win the Ballon d’Or, announced his interest during the radio programme Caffè on Rai Radio 1 Sport, via CalcioEFinanza.
“I am ready to become FIGC president because I have a very specific programme that I have developed with friends, including the son of Angelo Sormani,” Rivera said. “It is a model we are studying and preparing that could perhaps be useful for the federation.”
FLORENCE, ITALY – JUNE 03: Gianni Rivera and head coach of Italy Luciano Spalletti after a press conference at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on June 03, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Rivera: ‘No surprise that Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup’
The former AC Milan legend was candid about the scale of the problems facing Italian football.
“There is no reason to be surprised about failing to qualify for the World Cup, I have to say that honestly,” he said. “At this moment there are serious problems that are difficult to overcome. We have shown that we have not overcome them.”
Any candidate wishing to stand in the election must submit formal documentation by 7 June, with the vote itself scheduled for 22 June.
The FIGC presidency is decided by an assembly of 516 weighted votes spread across Italian football’s various stakeholder groups.
The Lega Nazionale Dilettanti hold the largest share at 34%, followed by the players’ association at 20%, Serie A clubs at 18%, coaches at 10%, Lega Pro at 12% and Serie B at 6%. A candidate requires an absolute majority of validly cast votes, including blank ballots, to be elected.
Rivera’s candidacy is not yet official, but the intervention of one of Italian football’s most iconic figures adds a fascinating dimension to what promises to be a hotly contested race to reshape the game’s governing structures.
New Tottenham Hotspur coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that he will stay at the club if they are relegated to the EFL Championship, after signing a five-year contract that he describes as the ‘most important challenge’ in his career.
Speaking to the club’s official X account, the Italian gave a lengthy interview where he discussed why he chose to join Tottenham and what needs to happen to get the club out of their ‘difficult moment.’
“I’m very very happy and very proud to be here. I consider Tottenham one of the most important clubs in the world and so I’m very happy. I have a big responsibility but it’s a big challenge forme and I look forward to start, work with the players and win some games.”
De Zerbi did not sugarcoat the challenge on his hands, making no light of the difficult predicament the North London club find themselves in.
Spurs are just one point above the relegation zone with seven games to play, and De Zerbi has been brought in expeditiously in order to help boost their survival chances.
“I watched a lot of games, especially in the last period. I know very well the players. I love football, so I watch many games per week. I know everything, I know its a tough moment for Tottenham. But I know very well it’s a tough moment. It’s a difficult moment for everyone in Tottenham. I think we have the right qualities to come out from this moment.”
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
De Zerbi: ‘I believe in the players’
One frequently recurring message of De Zerbi’s interview was the undeniable faith he holds in the squad.
“I believe in the players. I think we have to remember who we are, and who the players are because we have very big players. And we have to work with confidence in them and their qualities. They have to show what they are what they are used to playing.”
He then stressed the need to take it a game at a time, and not get too caught up with hypotheticals at this stage.
“I think we have to be focused just on the Sunderland game,I don’t want to speak about the schedule or the Brighton game or the Wolves game. Game by game, we have to prepare the players to win the game and to be focused just on the game.”
Last time we heard an Italian talking about the ‘history of Tottenham’, Giorgio Chiellini became meme immortal. This time, De Zerbi was a little more serious.
“We have to play with courage. We have to play with the qualities of the players, because if I accepted this challenge, it is because I have a lot of confidence in the players and the history of Tottenham football is a very clear style of play.
“The fans in the last seven games, especially in this moment, are crucial. We have to be together, they have to stay close to the players and the players have to give the right mentality and the right attitude to give back to the fans satisfaction and what they want to see on the pitch.
“Because after this part of the season, I think we can become great in the future.”
Roberto De Zerbi (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
De Zerbi talks footballing philosophy & confirms he will coach Spurs next season
De Zerbi was asked about his philosophy and what Spurs fans can expect from his style of play.
“I think it’s not the right moment to speak about my philosophy in football. I’m here now, at the end for the season because we have to win games. And in football, the style of play, the tactical disposition are important.. But it’s a mentality and I would like to help the players reach the best mentality we can show.”
He then confirmed that he will be in charge next season, even if the club are relegated.
“I signed 5 years of contract because for me it’s a big challenge and I will be the coach of Tottenham next season, no matter what.”
The Italian did briefly touch upon his outlook on play and what he expects from his players, but stressed the need to tailor and adapt to what he has available to him in terms of players.
“I love keeping the ball, I love ball possession. I love creating chances, the chance to score. But in the same time, I love 11 defenders when we don’t have the ball because in this time of football we have to attack with 11 players, the keeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not with us.
“I think in this moment we do not have time to work too much in more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have good organisation with and without the ball.
“We have to consider the qualities of the players.We are lucky, I am lucky because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”
Finally, De Zerbi concluded with a touching homage to the sport
“Many times I’ve said football is my life and my life is football. But it’s true because football is my work. I respect football because football gave me everything. And for me, it’s not real work, it’s a passion.
“If I stay at home I watch football, If I work I watch football and nothing changes. For me, Tottenham, especially in this moment, it’s maybe the most important challenge in my career. I’m ready to start this challenge and I go to work with my characteristics, passion, vision of football and knowledge as well.
Roberto De Zerbi has given his first interview as the new head coach of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur today, after he was announced as Igor Tudor’s replacement on a five-year deal.
Speaking to the club’s official social media accounts, De Zerbi broke his silence on the backlash he has received after his handling of Mason Greenwood at Marseille.
Reports this week revisited comments the Italian coach made at the end of last year, where he praised Mason Greenwood’s character and sympathised with the former Manchester United forward.
Greenwood was charged with attempted rape, assault, occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour in 2022. All charges were dropped the following February.
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 16: Robert De Zerbi, Head Coach of Olympique de Marseille, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
De Zerbi: ‘I never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women’
Speaking in Italian, to make himself as clear as possible on the issue, which has caused Tottenham Hotspur supporters groups to express concern with his appointment, De Zerbi said:
‘I have never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women, or violence against anyone more broadly.
‘In my life, I’ve always stood up for those who are more vulnerable, more fragile. I’ve consistently foughtand taken a stand to be on the side of those who are most at risk.
‘Those of you who know me well will know that I’m not the kind of person who makes compromises to win more games or to win an extra title. Im sorry if I offended anyone’s feeling with this subject matter.
‘I have a daughter and I’m very sensitive to these things, and I always have been. I hope that over time people will get to know me better and will understand that at that moment I didn’t mean to take a stance.’
Massimiliano Allegri faces a significant attacking headache ahead of Sunday’s crucial Serie A clash with Napoli, with both Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic serious doubts for a fixture that could have major implications for Milan’s second-place finish and their fading title hopes.
According to Pazzidifanta, Leão has been managing a pubic inflammation that forced him to train separately in the days before the international break.
The Portuguese winger spent much of the break in Portugal, with the club’s agreement, undergoing specialist medical assessments, and his availability for Sunday remains uncertain.
Pulisic, meanwhile, endured a difficult spell with the United States national team and is considered unlikely to start even if he is passed fit.
MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Niclas Fullkrug of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on January 18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Fullkrug & Nkunku could partner up for Milan against Napoli
The absences of two such important and distinctive attacking players represent a considerable challenge for Allegri, who must find a way to unlock Conte’s well-organised Napoli defence without his most creative wide options.
Niklas Füllkrug is the most likely candidate to lead the line, having started against Torino in the last Serie A fixture.
Should Pulisic miss out entirely, Christopher Nkunku, who has not started since February’s match against Como, could come in alongside the German, offering greater movement and quality between the lines.
Santiago Gimenez is another option after the Mexican made his return from injury as a substitute against Torino, though his fitness levels after months on the sidelines make a starting role a stretch.
The most probable outcome is Nkunku partnering either Füllkrug or Gimenez, two players more comfortable linking play with their back to goal than the dynamic, direct duo they would be replacing.
The German defender underwent clinical and instrumental examinations at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano on Thursday morning, with results revealing a mild muscle strain in the flexors of his right thigh.
However, Bisseck will not be available for selection against Roma and will not even be named in the squad.
MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 08: Yann Bisseck competes for the ball with Pervis Estupinanof AC Milan during the Serie A match at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Bisseck absence a blow for Chivu & Inter ahead of must-win Roma match
The news is a blow for Cristian Chivu, for whom Bisseck has become an established starter in the back three this season.
With the Italian title race entering its decisive phase and Inter holding a six-point lead over Milan, the coach will need to reorganise his defensive options for a fixture that carries significant weight.
Inter’s statement added that Bisseck’s condition will be reassessed in the coming days, suggesting the club are hopeful the injury will not keep him sidelined for an extended period beyond Sunday’s match.
The timing of the setback, coming just days before one of the season’s most important fixtures, is nonetheless far from ideal for a squad that has also had to manage the emotional fallout of Italy’s World Cup elimination, with several Nerazzurri players heavily involved in the playoff defeat to Bosnia.
Tarik Muharemovic was in a magnanimous mood after Bosnia’s World Cup playoff victory over Italy, offering warm words for a country where he has built his club career while celebrating the realisation of a lifelong dream.
The Sassuolo defender, who plays his club football in Serie A, spoke to Swiss Italian channel RSI in the immediate aftermath of the penalty shootout win, carefully navigating the emotional complexity of eliminating a nation he clearly holds in genuine affection.
“My dream was to play at the World Cup with Bosnia, the greatest dream of all of us,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“All my respect to Italy, my friends and brothers.”
ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Bosnia star Muharemovic: ‘I’m very happy in Italy, I never lost respect’
He was also keen to clarify comments from a previous interview that had apparently been misinterpreted.
“I hope they did not take it badly, because I have many friends and brothers there. I am very happy in Italy. I have never lost respect, I know where I come from and that I am humble. Italy is always in my heart.”
On the match itself, Muharemovic acknowledged how difficult the Azzurri had made things despite playing with ten men for the majority of the contest following Bastoni’s red card.
“They tried everything, even with one fewer player, and it was not easy to hold on for 120 minutes. I am sorry for them.”
His pride in Bosnia’s achievement, however, was unmistakable.
“Bosnia is back and making itself known, this is only the beginning. We can show much more.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
With the World Cup now on the horizon, his message was simple. “We are ready. Now we celebrate, then we think about the World Cup.”
Login
