The infamous #ConteOut hashtag on social media has reappeared on Saturday and Sunday as disgruntled Napoli fans have begun to call for the coach’s head after the disappointing 2-0 defeat against Lazio at the Stadio Maradona. 

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Napoli’s slim hopes of challenging Inter for the 2025-26 Serie A title took a major blow with their 2-0 defeat at home against Lazio, a game in which Conte’s side failed to register a shot on target. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that this might have been Napoli’s worst performance under the stewardship of the 2024-25 Scudetto winner. 

The result leaves Napoli 12 points behind Inter with just five games of the season left to play, and though the Partenopei still look set to secure Champions League qualification, there have been some calls for Conte to leave the club as the result of various events over the last few weeks. 

Napoli’s last two results have been underwhelming: A 1-1 draw against Parma preceded the Lazio loss, which ended a string of five consecutive victories. 

Conte has regularly pointed to Napoli’s injury troubles at various stages of the 2025-26 campaign, but given that the club’s star players – Kevin De Bruyne, Scott McTominay, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Stanislav Lobotka – have all been available for the last few weeks after a difficult season of injuries, this excuse is no longer valid. 

There is a sense that, despite the injury troubles, Napoli should have been slightly more competitive this season given the summer of heavy spending they had during the transfer window. 

Some fans also feel that Conte has not adequately addressed the reports linking him with a return to the Italy national team set-up as a replacement for Gennaro Gattuso, either, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the club during the final run-in. 

• Read more: Four potential replacements if Conte leaves to take over Italy national team job

Fans call for Conte to leave Napoli

Ma vi sembra normale che un allenatore prima di una partita dica che arrivare secondi o quarti non cambia nulla???

Un calciatore che deve pensare? Con che spirito può scendere in campo?#Conteout

— 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗰4⃣ 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙕𝙖𝙢𝙗𝙤 (@licekimi7) April 18, 2026

Lobotka, Anguissa, Spinazzola e Politano CAMMINANO e in panchina continuano a marcire calciatori come #Gilmour (che non gioca mai e non si sa perché), Alisson Santos, Elmas, Gutierrez e chi più ne ha più ne metta.#CONTEOUT#NapoliLazio

— MaRiOh ! #ConteOUT (@Dekmar83) April 18, 2026

#conteout è semplice, 0 gioco, 0 idee, 8 milioni all'anno e gestione del triplo impegno pessima.

— Peppedm (@pepped992) April 18, 2026

Un solo aereo per Conte Manna Savic Beukema Buongiorno Politano Di Lorenzo Lang Lucca KdB e tutto lo Staff di Conte,tutti via da Napoli.
Non se ne può più.#ConteOut#Napoli https://t.co/BmcsEtzA3G

— El 4-3-3 (@Naples___) April 19, 2026

#NapoliLazio

Biancocelesti DOMINANTI, l'allenatore da 10 milioni all'anno si ostina a inserire i fantomatici FAB4 relegando e mortificando il talento di #McTominay schierato fuori ruolo.
SE NE DEVE ANDARE! #ConteOUT

— MaRiOh ! #ConteOUT (@Dekmar83) April 18, 2026

#CONTEOUT ….VIA DA NAPOLI STANOTTE E COME HAI DETTO IN SILENZIO…..

— Asaw (@weswesas) April 18, 2026

Chi tiene davvero alla maglia azzurra e alla squadra del Napoli e, come me, ne ha seguito le sorti anche nei momenti più bui della sua storia, desidera che Antonio Conte vada via a fine stagione. Tutto il resto è falsità e visione non oggettiva degli eventi.#ConteOUT

— MaRiOh ! #ConteOUT (@Dekmar83) April 18, 2026

Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal for Manchester City, but there is no Riccardo Calafiori in the Arsenal squad as the two sides prepare to do battle in a potential decider for the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon. 

Donnarumma starts but no Calafiori in Man City vs. Arsenal

The Premier League title race could go down to the wire as just six points separates the leaders Arsenal and reigning champions Man City heading into the final stretch of the 2025-26 campaign. City have played one game fewer than their title rivals ahead of Sunday’s meeting. 

Italy international Donnarumma starts in goal for Manchester City in what is his 29th consecutive Premier League appearance. The Azzurri captain has played every league fixture and all but one of the Champions League fixtures he has been available for since joining city from PSG over the summer. 

There is no Calafiori in the Arsenal squad, however. Head coach Mikel Arteta confirmed during his pre-match press conference that the former Roma and Bologna defender was touch and go for the Man City game, but the Gunners have decided to go with Piero Hincapie at left-back and have decided to leave Calafiori out altogether. 

Arteta had an opportunity to observe Calafiori along with Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard, who had all been doubts, during Saturday’s training session. Odegaard is the only one of those three to have been called up and goes straight into the starting line-up.

Reports in Italy claim that Atletico Madrid will seek to negotiate a discount with Juventus for winger Nico Gonzalez, despite the fact that the two sides have already agreed upon the terms of a conditional obligation to buy. 

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Where Juventus and Atletico Madrid stand with Nico Gonzalez

Nico Gonzalez is on loan at Atletico Madrid with a conditional obligation to buy from Juventus. The Argentine moved to Madrid for a loan fee of €1m, with potential bonuses of up to another million, and a potential obligation to buy fee that is set at €32m. 

According to recent updates, Atletico Madrid will trigger Nico Gonzalez’s buy option in the event that he plays for at least 45 minutes in 21 (roughly 60%) of the team’s LaLiga fixtures this season. 

As things stand, Nico Gonzalez has made 22 appearances in LaLiga, providing three goals in the process, but has only played for 45 minutes or more in 15 of those matches. 

Given that Atleti only have seven league matches of the 2025-26 season left to play, and given that Nico Gonzalez has only played for 45 minutes or more twice in the last seven league matches, there is a chance that the obligation to buy clause is not triggered. 

According to recent reports from Matteo Moretto on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, Atletico are still satisfied with the performances that Nico Gonzalez has put in this season and are still keen to bring him on board for 2026-27, but are keen to avoid having to pay the €32m fee they agreed with Juventus last summer. 

Assuming that the obligation to buy clause is not triggered, Atletico will look to negotiate a discounted fee with Juventus ahead of a potentially permanent deal for Nico Gonzalez in the coming summer transfer window.

Sunday’s reports claim that Gian Piero Gasperini is disappointed by the lack of public support from Roma owner Dan Friedkin following last week’s back-and-forth with senior advisor Claudio Ranieri. 

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Gasperini and Ranieri have come to blows in a series of interviews and press conferences and reports earlier this week claimed that the two were effectively ignoring each other at the club’s training ground as a result. 

Ranieri claimed in an interview that Ranieri was not among the club’s top three candidates to come in as head coach at the end of last season, while Gasperini has often been critical of the players that have been brought in and of the club’s medical staff as well. 

This situation has left fans divided, picking sides and there have been suggestions that it is fairly inconceivable to see both Gasperini and Ranieri working together at the club next season. 

• Read more: Gasperini’s tears of love and tension as Ranieri dispute has Roma fans divided

Gasperini unhappy with lack of Friedkin support at Roma 

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Gasperini has been left disappointed by the lack of public support from the club’s ownership in the midst of this war of words with Ranieri. 

The Friedkins have flown into Rome on several occasions previously when there has been tension between the head coach and the club’s senior management, i.e with Jose Mourinho and Tiago Pinto, and with Daniele De Rossi and Lina Souloukou, but this time around, the Americans are not expected to visit the Italian capital until the end of the season. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Gasperini feels there has been a ‘lack of protection’ and that the ‘risk’ of the head coach walking away from his position at the end of the season isi ‘growing more and more’.

The threat of relegation remains for Cremonese, who were held to a 0-0 draw at home against Torino in Serie A’s early kick-off on Sunday afternoon. 

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La Cremo came into today’s game needing a result, sitting in 17th place but level on points with Lecce in the relegation zone. They made just one change to their starting line-up with Antonio Sanabria returning to the XI in place of David Okereke, while visitors Torino went with an unchanged team after recording back-to-back victories over the last two weeks. 

Click here to read more about how the teams lined up.

It wasn’t a spectacular showing from either side in the opening 45 minutes: The two sides registered a combined two shots in the opening 45 minutes, neither of which were on target. 

The first was a blocked attempt by Alberto Grassi following a Cremonese corner and the second was a wildly flashed shot from Federico Bonazzoli off his left foot from the corner of the penalty area 41 minutes in. 

Bonazzoli came much closer with the game’s first shot on target 57 minutes in, bending an effort off his left again, which was heading for the top corner this time. Alberto Paleari was at full stretch to tip it behind for a corner.

Federico Baschirotto thought he had opened the scoring two thirds of the way through proceedings after a scramble in the area following an Alessio Zerbin delivery, but the goal was later ruled out after a VAR check. The officials deemed that Baschirotto had committed a foul on goalkeeper Paleari while lunging in with his attempt to get the ball over the line. 

David Okereke provided a great ball across the face of goal after a bursting run down the right flank, but Marcus Holmgren Pedersen got a crucial interception in just before it arrived at the feet of Sanabria.

Despite their best efforts, Cremonese and Torino ended Sunday’s meeting goalless. Cremoense remain without a win at home in Serie A since early December and are now just one point above the relegation zone with 18th-placed Lecce due to play on Monday night, now aware that an overtake is on. Torino stay put in 12th place and will remain there for the week regardless of the other results on Sunday and Monday.

Cremonese 0-0 Torino

19-04-2026 11:30

MatchDay 33

Stadio Giovanni Zini

Cremonese

Torino

0 - 0

Player statistic

2nd half

		78'		Saúl Coco
		80'		Alieu Njie
		80'		Enzo Ebosse

Match statistic

65

Possession %

35

14

Total shots

4

4

Shots on target

1

6

Shots off target

2

4

Blocked shots

1

6

Corners

1

0

Offsides

1

11

Fouls

12

Cremonese

Torino

Starting lineups

1

Emil Audero

Goalkeeper

6

Federico Baschirotto

Defender

3

Giuseppe Pezzella

Defender

22

Romano Floriani Mussolini

Defender

60'

5

Sebastiano Luperto

Defender

84'

33

Alberto Grassi

Midfielder

73'

24

Filippo Terracciano

Midfielder

27

Jari Vandeputte

Midfielder

60'

38

Warren Bondo

Midfielder

99

Antonio Sanabria

Attacker

84'

90

Federico Bonazzoli

Attacker

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

68'

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

76'

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

76'

19

Ché Adams

Attacker

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

68'

Substitutes

69

Lapo Nava

Goalkeeper

16

Marco Silvestri

Goalkeeper

23

Federico Ceccherini

Defender

15

Matteo Bianchetti

Defender

55

Francesco Folino

Defender

30

Mika Faye

Defender

21

Simone Lottici Tessadri

Midfielder

77

David Okereke

Attacker

60'

7

Alessio Zerbin

Attacker

60'

32

Martín Payero

Midfielder

73'

9

Milan Djuric

Attacker

84'

4

Tommaso Barbieri

Defender

84'

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

98

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

68'

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

76'

14

Tino Anjorin

Midfielder

76'

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

90'

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

Inter are on their way to claiming the 2025-26 Scudetto and a potential date for the trophy celebrations has already been identified. 

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When could Inter receive the Serie A trophy?

Inter have a 12-point lead at the top of the Serie A table heading into the final five matches of the 2025-26 season after their 3-0 victory over Cagliari and second-placed Napoli’s 2-0 defeat at home against Lazio on Sunday. 

This means that there is a chance that Cristian Chivu’s side mathematically secure the title in their next Serie A fixture against Torino. The Nerazzurri will still have several chances to mathematically secure the Serie A trophy before the final round of the 2025-26 season even if they fail to win next weekend. 

If Inter secure the Serie A title within the next three matches, which is highly likely given their +12 advantage and a reasonable run of fixtures against Torino and Parma coming up in the next two weeks, they will receive the Serie A trophy on the pitch in their final home match of the 2025-26 season, which falls against Hellas Verona on May 17. 

The time of Inter’s match against Verona on May 17 is yet to be officially confirmed.

Reports in Italy claim that Romelu Lukaku is finally set to return to Napoli after a rift with the club that saw him fined after failing to report for training in March. 

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Lukaku finally expected to return to Napoli

According to reports from Corriere dello Sport, Lukaku is expected to return to Napoli training on Monday ahead of the final five matches of the 2025-26 Serie A season. The Belgian reportedly communicated the decision to the club via his agent. 

The Belgium international has only been fit enough for 64 minutes of action across seven substitute appearances in all competitions this season after suffering a major hamstring injury in a pre-season friendly against Olympiacos just before the Serie A campaign got underway. 

This injury and subsequent fitness issues kept Lukaku out of action until January, but he has only gone on to play for 40 minutes in Serie A since then. 

As a result, Lukaku did not join up with the Belgium national team for the March international break and due to a hip flexor issue. He had been due to report to Napoli’s training ground during the international break, but despite the club’s wishes, the striker instead decided to stay in Belgium to continue his recovery. Napoli decided to fine the 32-year-old for his leave of unauthorised absence. 

According to Corriere dello Sport, Lukaku and head coach Antonio Conte have not seen each other face-to-face since Napoli’s 1-0 victory over Cagliari on March 20, but this will soon change as Lukaku prepares to return to training with the rest of his teammates on Monday.

Reports in Italy claim that Pierre Kalulu will be the next player whose contract Juventus seek to extend following the recent renewals of captain Manuel Locatelli, star attacker Kenan Yildiz, versatile midfielder Weston McKennie and head coach Luciano Spalletti. 

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Kalulu to receive new and improved Juventus contract?

Juventus have been busy tying up the futures of some of their key players in recent months. Locatelli, Yildiz and McKennie have all committed their futures to the Bianconeri until the summer of 2030, while Spalletti has signed up for at least another two years, until the summer of 2028. 

According to Tuttosport, Kalulu is likely to be the next players to receive a contract extension from Juventus. 

The Frenchman has played more minutes than any other Juventus player this season with 3,841 across 43 appearances in all competitions. This is almost 400 minutes more than the second-most featured Juventus player, Lloyd Kelly on 3,426 minutes. 

Kalulu already has a contract that runs until the summer of 2029, so there is no real rush for the Bianconeri to get a deal done, but Sunday’s reports claim that there is ‘great desire’ on the club’s part to hand Kalulu a new contract. 

This contract is likely to come with an extension of one or two years, until the summer of 2030 or 2031, and will also come with an increase in wages. 

Kalulu reportedly earns around €2.5m per season on his current deal with the Bianconeri, and Tuttosport claims that a new contract could see him earn similar figures to Locatelli, who reportedly receives around €4m per season on his new contract. 

More pressing for Juventus, however, is the currently injured Dusan Vlahovic, who is the highest earner in Serie A but has a contract that will expire at the end of the 2025-26 season. CEO Damien Comolli has recently confirmed that there is unlikely to be any news on that front until the end of the season.

Cremonese and Torino have made just one personnel change between them as the two sides prepare to do battle at the Stadio Zini in Serie A’s early Sunday kick-off. 

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Hosts Cremonese currency find themselves in 17th place in the Serie A table, but are level on points with Lecce in the relegation zone. They were beaten 1-0 by Cagliari last time out in Serie A and have not won since their 2-0 victory over Parma in March. 

Torino have won back-to-back matches under Roberto D’Aversa, most recently claiming a 2-1 victory at home against Hellas Verona, which has them up to 12th in the league standings after 32 matches. 

Cremonese have made just one alteration to their starting line-up for Sunday’s clash against Torino, with Antonio Sanabria returning to the XI to replace David Okereke at centre-forward. Jamie Vardy remains out with muscular fatigue. 

Torino, meanwhile, are completely unchanged after their victory last weekend, with Che Adams, Giovanni Simeone and Nikola Vlasic leading the attack, supported by a midfield of Cesare Casadei and Gvidas Gineitis. 

Kick-off is due at 11.30 BST.

Cremonese vs. Torino: Confirmed line-ups 

Cremonese (4-4-2): Audero; Terracciano, Baschirotto, Luperto, Pezzella; Floriani Mussolini, Bondo, Grassi, Vandeputte; Bonazzoli, Sanabria.

Torino (3-4-1-2): Paleari; Coco, Marzipan, Ebosse; Pedersen, Casadei, Gineitis, Obrador; Vlasic; Simeone, Adams. 

19-04-2026 11:30

MatchDay 33

Stadio Giovanni Zini

Cremonese

Torino

0 - 0

Player statistic

2nd half

		78'		Saúl Coco
		80'		Alieu Njie
		80'		Enzo Ebosse

Match statistic

65

Possession %

35

14

Total shots

4

4

Shots on target

1

6

Shots off target

2

4

Blocked shots

1

6

Corners

1

0

Offsides

1

11

Fouls

12

Cremonese

Torino

Starting lineups

1

Emil Audero

Goalkeeper

6

Federico Baschirotto

Defender

3

Giuseppe Pezzella

Defender

22

Romano Floriani Mussolini

Defender

60'

5

Sebastiano Luperto

Defender

84'

33

Alberto Grassi

Midfielder

73'

24

Filippo Terracciano

Midfielder

27

Jari Vandeputte

Midfielder

60'

38

Warren Bondo

Midfielder

99

Antonio Sanabria

Attacker

84'

90

Federico Bonazzoli

Attacker

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

68'

16

Marcus Pedersen

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

76'

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

76'

19

Ché Adams

Attacker

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

68'

Substitutes

69

Lapo Nava

Goalkeeper

16

Marco Silvestri

Goalkeeper

23

Federico Ceccherini

Defender

15

Matteo Bianchetti

Defender

55

Francesco Folino

Defender

30

Mika Faye

Defender

21

Simone Lottici Tessadri

Midfielder

77

David Okereke

Attacker

60'

7

Alessio Zerbin

Attacker

60'

32

Martín Payero

Midfielder

73'

9

Milan Djuric

Attacker

84'

4

Tommaso Barbieri

Defender

84'

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

98

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

68'

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

76'

14

Tino Anjorin

Midfielder

76'

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

90'

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

Inter now have a 12-point lead at the top of the Serie A table heading into the final five rounds of 2025-26 Serie A fixtures, which means that Cristian Chivu’s side could mathematically confirm the league title next weekend. 

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Cristian Chivu is on course to win the Scudetto in his first full season as a head coach. The Nerazzurri have amassed 78 points after 33 rounds of Serie A fixtures, 12 more than Napoli and 15 more than Milan, who have played one game fewer. 

Inter’s chances of claiming the Serie A table were boosted even further after their 3-0 win over Cagliari on Friday night, while second-placed Napoli fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Lazio on Saturday. 

What needs to happen for Inter to win the Serie A title next week?

Inter have a chance of claiming the Serie A title in their next league fixture, away against Torino on Sunday evening, however, this scenario depends on results elsewhere going their way. 

In order for Inter to win the Serie A title next week, they will need to beat Torino, which they are widely expected to do, but will also require Napoli dropping points at home against Cremonese on Friday night and for third-placed Milan to drop points against either Verona or Juventus in their next two matches. 

Inter could also draw against Torino and still win the Serie A title next weekend, but that requires Napoli to lose at home against Cremonese and for Milan to not pick up any more than three points in their next two matches against Verona and Juventus. 

Luciano Spalletti has a big call to make regarding the selection of Kenan Yildiz for Juventus’s upcoming Serie A clash against eighth-placed Bologna on Sunday evening. 

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Yildiz returned to training with the Bianconeri group on Saturday, but missed the vast majority of the week’s training due to recurring pain and inflammation in his knee. Spalletti is hoping that the Turkish talent will be available, but it remains to be seen whether he or Jeremie Boga will start on Juventus’s left wing against Bologna. 

Juventus are also without Dusan Vlahovic in attack as they prepare for the crucial final six league matches of the 2025-26 season. 

Spalletti’s side are currently in fourth place and have an opportunity to move five points clear of the fifth-placed Como and sixth-placed Roma with a victory against Bologna on Sunday. 

Bologna, meanwhile, are looking to get back to winning ways after being eliminated by Aston Villa in the quarter-final of the Europa League on Thursday night. Vincenzo Italiano’s side have, however, won their last two Serie A matches leading into the Juventus clash. 

Pre-match reports indicate that it will be Federico Bernardeschi and Jonathan Rowe supporting Santiago Castro from the wings, rather than Riccardo Orsolini and Nicolo Cambiaghi. 

Kick-off is due at 19.45 BST. 

Juventus vs. Bologna: Probable line-ups 

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Thuram, Locatelli; Conceicao, McKennie, Boga; David. 

Bologna (4-3-3): Ravaglia; J.Mario, Lucumi, Heggem, Miranda; Ferguson, Freuler, Pobega; Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe. 

Where to watch Juventus vs. Bologna 

Tonight’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and through DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Massimiliano Allegri is expected to revert to a more familiar 3-5-2 shape when Milan take on Hellas Verona away from home in Serie A on Sunday evening. 

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The Rossoneri experimented with a four-at-the-back system last time out in the league, but fell to a massively disappointing 3-0 defeat at home against Udinese in the process. 

That result has left Milan in third place in the Serie A table, and ahead of kick-off against Verona, they are currently three points shy of Napoli in second and 15 shy of rivals Inter at the summit, having played one game fewer than both. 

Hosts Verona, meanwhile, are stuck in the relegation zone in 19th place on 18 points after 32 matches and require a miracle if they are to avoid relegation to Serie B at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

Verona have Tomas Suslov back from suspension, but he might have to restart from the substitutes bench. Armel Bella-Kotchap is also available again after missing the last five matches with a hamstring injury, but is unlikely to be thrown straight back into the starting XI. 

Pre-match reports indicate that Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao will both keep their places in the Milan attack and that Alexis Saelemaekers is likely to start from the bench. Zachary Athekame is expected to start for the Rossoneri at right wing-back. 

Matteo Gabbia is also in line to return to the starting line-up, likely alongside Fikayo Tomori and Strahinja Pavlovic in Allegri’s back three. 

Kick-off is due at 14.00 BST.

Verona vs. Milan: Probable line-ups 

Verona (3-5-2): Montipo; Edmundsson, Nelsson, Frese; Belghali, Akpa Akpro, Gagliardini, Bernede, Bradaric; Bowie, Orban. 

Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Athekame, Fofana, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Leao, Pulisic. 

Where to watch Verona vs. Milan

Today’s game will be available to watch live in the UK through DAZN and will also be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer through BBC Alba’s coverage. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

Join us for all the pre-match build-up, in-game coverage and post-match reactions on the Football Italia Liveblog.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Inter here we go 

Napoli crumble, 21st Scudetto very close 

The Nerazzurri stay at +12, now need four points from their next five matches. Conte slips against Lazio and departs the throne: ‘That’s that done, it’s better to stay quiet now’

Milan and Juve, Champions League time 

Big opportunities in Verona and against Bologna 

The Devil Allegri: ‘It’s not in my DNA to change often’. Spalletti sets the tone: Boga and Conceicao ready, Yildiz doubt 

Gasp draws then Ranieri stings 

Atalanta comeback 

‘Don’t put me on the same level as him’. And fourth place slips away

Corriere dello Sport 

All for Lucio 

Juve see the ChampionsLeague, Objective +5 

Roma stopped: 1-1 against Atalanta, Spalletti takes on Bologna at 19.45 

He could tie up fourth place and lengthen the gap upon Gasp and Fabrega. Conceicao, David and Boga looking for the fifth victory in the last six games. Yildiz starts from the bench. Italiano trap: He’s won eight games away from home 

Inter, Scudetto in Turin 

Napoli sink | Lazio clear out the Maradona (0-2): Chivu could become champion on Sunday 

Goals from Cancellieri and Basic bring the Nerazzurri closer to their 21st title. Milan in Verona (14.00) to draw level with Conte 

Tuttosport 

‘Juve, even more!’ 

Against Bologna to draw closer to the Champions League: Spalletti raises the pressure 

Despite the win against Atalanta and the missteps from Como and Roma that have consolidated fourth place, the coach calls for a raise of the defence and of levels: ‘This isn’t enough for me, I want more intensity’.  Yildiz is improving: He’s available. Defenders: Baidoo from Lens emerges. After Locatelli, Kalulu’s contract is being negotiated. 

Inter, Scudetto already on Sunday? 

Napoli crumble against Lazio: 0-2 

Cancellieri and Basic violate the Maradona. Four points away from mathematically winning it, but Chivu (+12) already has the possibility of celebrating against Torino

‘Toro, winning is the bare minimum’ 

In Cremona at 11.30: D’Aversa pushes 

The coach demands heads held high for the season finale: ‘A draw? I wouldn’t be happy’. Simeone still talking about River Plate. Cairo, loans and doubts 

Krstovic also score for Lucio 

Atalanta hold Roma 

Hermoso equalises in the final minute of the first half, but the Giallorossi can’t get any further: The Champions League spots could move five points away this evening

Max: ‘Leao? The boos are deserved’ 

Verona-Milan at 14.00 

Cesc Fabregas says that Fabio Grosso ‘put on a masterclass’ but warns that Como ‘weren’t even at 10%’ after his side fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sassuolo on Friday evening. 

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There was a rapid influx of goals at the end of the first half at the Mapei Stadium, as Cristian Volpato and M’Bala Nzola struck within two minutes of each other to send the hosts 2-0 up. Nico Paz halved the deficit in first-half injury time, but that was as far as the comeback went. 

Today’s result leaves Como two points behind Juventus in the Champions League positions, now having played one game more. 

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Fabregas reacts to Sassuolo 2-1 Como

Speaking during his post-match interview with DAZN, Fabregas insisted that he wasn’t trying to ‘look for excuses’ and instead congratulated Sassuolo and head coach Grosso on their ‘masterclass’ performance. He later went on to add that he thought his side ‘weren’t even at 10%’ of their usual selves. 

“When you lose, you always look for excuses. We apologise to the fans and congratulate Sassuolo, the coach put on a masterclass today,” Fabregas sais. “We weren’t fluid, the ball was too slow and Lauriente was difficult to control. We look forward to the next one.” 

Fabregas feels that Grosso set up differently to how he normally does. 

“This isn’t the normal Sassuolo, who defend the whole game and then massacre you on the counterattack. There was an incredible density of players. We tried every way to get through but today wasn’t our day. We didn’t have the quality. 

“The second goal was the most disappointing thing. We’re not this sort of team. We have to accept it and continue to prepare better if we want to get to certain levels.

“Every game is different. We try to be as complete as possible. Today we weren’t even at 10%. Bad for us, but congratulations to Sassuolo. Let’s think about the next game and prepare well.” 

Fabio Grosso says that he felt ‘emotional’ after watching his Sassuolo players put in a ‘masterpiece’ performance in their 2-1 victory over the Champions League-chasing Como in Serie A on Friday evening: ‘I’m proud of these guys, of what they have done and of what they will continue to do’.

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Quickfire goals from Cristian Volpato and M’Bala Nzola towards the end of the first half were enough for Sassuolo to hold onto all three points, despite Nico Paz pulling one back on the stroke of the interval. 

You can see how the action unfolded on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Grosso reacts to Sassuolo 2-1 Como

“I told the boys that they made me emotional today, they put together a masterpiece. Playing this game against this opponent shouldn’t have been taken for granted, but instead we did really well,” said Grosso during his post-match interview with DAZN.

“We chose the right moments in the game to do the right things, so well done to the boys. 

“It’s been an amazing year, now we have to recover and recharge. We will find other teams difficult to face and will come up against teams that put in performances of the highest level.” 

Grosso was asked how pleased he was with the performances of Cristian Volpato and M’Bala Nzola, who provided the crucial goals against Como. 

“Very happy,” he said. “It’s a group that trains well, it’s right to praise them for being protagonists. I’m happy with the people who work for me, together we always try to do our best. We’re doing amazing things, we want to continue, knocking that we’re facing very good opponents.” 

And where does Grosso see Volpato playing his best football? Out wide or through the middle? 

“I talk to him a lot, for me he has impressive potential. I believe in him, he has really great qualities. Every now and then he slows down a bit, but he puts in a lot of good will. If he understands that certain things can change, he can affect games at very high levels,” Grosso replied. 

Sassuolo are now five points away from reaching an impressive tally of 50 points heading into the final five games of the season. 

“We’ve done a lot, quickly and unexpectedly. It wasn’t an easy start, but then we got back on track.

“We’ve done amazing things, getting through a few scuffles, but maintaining our identity. I’m very proud of these guys, of what they have done and of what they will continue to do.” 

Inter are preparing to take on Cagliari in Serie A on Friday afternoon, but there was a slight surprise in Cristian Chivu’s starting XI, as regular first-choice goalkeeper Yann Sommer was left out of the line-up for Josep Martinez. 

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• Click here to follow the action from Friday’s Serie A matches on the Football Italia Liveblog

Why Martinez is playing instead of Sommer in Inter vs. Cagliari

Martinez has spent the last two seasons serving as Sommer’s understudy in San Siro, but has been Inter’s go-to goalkeeper in domestic cup competitions this season. He has played in all three of Inter’s Coppa Italia fixtures so far this season, plus the semi-final of the Supercoppa Italiana. He also has two Serie A appearances to his name this term. 

According to pre-match reports, Chivu intends to play Martinez for the second leg of Inter’s Coppa Italia semi-final against Como coming up on Tuesday evening (April 21). 

However, given that Martinez has not played since the first leg of the Como semi-final, which took place six weeks ago on March 3, Chivu has decided to play Martinez against Cagliari in order to give him a ‘warm-up’ according to reports from TMW. 

Curiously, Martinez’s last appearance in Serie A also came against Cagliari on September 27, and that game ended in a 2-0 victory in favour of the Nerazzurri. His only other outing in the league this term ended in a 2-1 victory at home against Sassuolo on September 21.

Friday’s Serie A action brings a clash of two of the Esposito brothers as Inter prepare to host Cagliari in a family-affair in San Siro. 

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Esposito brothers boast near-identical goal tallies ahead of Inter vs. Cagliari

The league leading Nerazzurri have a nine-point lead at the top of the Serie A table heading into the final six matches of the 2025-26 season. A victory against Cagliari will take them 12 points clear of Antonio Conte’s Napoli and 15 clear of Massimiliano Allegri and Milan. 

You can see how the action from Friday’s Serie A fixtures unfolds on the Football Italia Liveblog.

Both sides will have an Esposito in their squads this evening. Both boast remarkably similar goalscoring records in 2025-26 as well. 

Inter’s Francesco Pio is arguably Italy’s biggest breakthrough star of the 2025-26 season with six goals and four assists to his name from 30 appearances in Serie A this season. He also has one in the Coppa Italia and another two in the Champions League for a total record of nine goals and six assists from 42 outings. 

His older brother Sebastiano, on loan from Inter with an obligation to buy, also has six goals from 30 Serie A appearances and another in the Coppa Italia. His seasonal tally currently stands at seven goals and six assists from 33 outings. Taking Champions League football out of the equation, both brothers would have had the same tally of goals (7) and from the same number of appearances (33). 

Juventus have officially announced that captain Manuel Locatelli has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract extension, which will tie him to the club until the summer of 2030. 

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Locatelli’s previous deal had been due to expire in the summer of 2028, and recent reports indicate that his new deal comes with an increase in wages from around €3m per season to roughly €4m per year. 

The Italy international signed off on his contract on Friday, which was officially announced later on the same afternoon. 

Locatelli joined Juventus in a €37.5m deal from Sassuolo in 2021 and has since gone on to make 224 appearances for the club across all competitions, registering nine goals and 17 assists during that time. 

His is the latest in a series of important contract extensions for Juventus this season, following the lengthening of contracts for head coach Luciano Spalletti, star attacker Kenan Yildiz and versatile midfielder Weston McKennie, who would have been out of contract in the summer without a new deal. 

What Juventus said about Locatelli’s new deal 

“We all remember when Manuel, upon his arrival in 2021, spoke with great emotion about having always been a Juventus fan,” said CEO Damien Comolli in a statement on the club website.

“His contract renewal therefore represents the natural continuation of the growth of his leadership on the pitch, of his indomitable Juventus spirit, in complete harmony with the values ​​and ambitions of our Club. It is a further step towards giving solidity and continuity to our sporting project, with an eye to the future and the goal of making the team increasingly competitive.”

Mikel Arteta was unable to confirm either way as to whether or not Riccardo Calafiori will be available for Sunday’s potential Premier League decider between Manchester City and Arsenal: ‘We will try tomorrow to push everybody’. 

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Will Calafiori be fit enough to feature in Man City vs. Arsenal?

Calafiori has missed Arsenal’s last two matches, the 2-1 Premier League defeat against AFC Bournemouth last weekend and the 0-0 draw with Sporting CP in the Champions League on Wednesday, as the result of an unspecified knock. 

It remains to be seen whether the Italy international will be available to face title rivals Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Arsenal currently have a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side, but City have played one game less, which means that they could move within three points of the league leaders with a game in hand heading into the final run-in if they win on Sunday. The two teams are only separated by a margin of three on goal difference. 

Previewing what is arguably the biggest game of the Premier League season during his pre-match press conference, Arteta told reporters that Calafiori is among the players who are ‘close’ to returning, but that a final decision will only be made after training on Saturday. 

“We will try again,” Arteta said when asked about the availability of Calafiori and his teammates Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber. 

“Some players are quite close, but the turnaround is short, so we will try tomorrow to push everybody. And, if they are in good condition, they will be part of us, and if not, they won’t. They haven’t been in the last few weeks unfortunately.” 

Arteta went on to confirm that England international Bukayo Saka is the only Arsenal player definitively ruled out of the Man City clash as things stand: “Bukayo is out, that’s for sure. The rest, let’s see.”

Watch as Gian Piero Gasperini walked out of his pre-match press conference in tears ahead of Roma’s visit from his former club Atalanta coming up on Saturday evening. 

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Watch: Gasperini gets emotional in pre-Atalanta press conference

It has been a difficult few weeks for Gasperini, who has reportedly fallen out with senior advisor to the club Claudio Ranieri, with reports claiming that one of them is likely to depart the club in the near future. 

Gasperini addressed the ongoing issues in the Roma camp during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, and became visibly emotional when discussing his time at Atalanta. 

“In Rome, there’s everything you need to do well. In Bergamo, I succeeded because the environment around me was united, and the club’s work was extraordinary,” the Roma head coach said.

“The small city also created an ideal atmosphere. We worked and built things together. There were young players and more, a strong core group. Think about the transfers made and how the money was reinvested. The anomaly of Atalanta was that it was playing in Europe while still making a profit.

“It was not just thanks to me, but above all to a very capable club, which worked in harmony with the coach. Then things changed a bit, partly because ownership changed, and partly because of the ‘father figure’ I was very close to [Antonio Percassi]…” 

Gasperini then paused briefly, began to well up, slammed his hands on the table and decided to walk out of his press conference. 

Gasperini si emoziona ricordando la “sua” Atalanta #Gasperini #Roma #DAZN pic.twitter.com/OO88ckjkZg

— DAZN Italia (@DAZN_IT) April 17, 2026

The availability of Roma wing-back Wesley Franca is also contributing to the ongoing tensions between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and senior advisor to the club Claudio Ranieri, and the latest updates hint towards the Brazilian not being available to face Atalanta in Serie A this weekend. 

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Internal divisions have broken out in the Roma camp. Last week, Ranieri gave an interview claiming that Gasperini was not in the club’s top three candidates for the head coach role prior to his appointment last summer, also hitting back at the tactician for his previous criticism of the players that the club brought in during the transfer window. 

This left the coach and senior advisor reportedly ignoring each other at the club’s training ground earlier this week.  Gasperini has since admitted that he was left ‘surprised’ by the comments that Ranieri made about him last week. 

Now, reports in Italy indicate that the situation has already become untenable and that the club’s owners will have to decide whether to side with Gasperini or with Ranieri and sporting director Ricky Massara. It currently appears unlikely that both parties will still be at the club for the start of the 2026-27 season. 

Gasperini and Ranieri also in disagreement over Wesley availability 

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, Gasperini and Ranieri are also in disagreement over the availability of wing-back Wesley for Saturday’s crucial Serie A match against Atalanta. 

Injuries have been an issue for Roma all season and Gasperini has constantly criticised both the recruitment of injury-prone players such as Evan Ferguson and Leon Bailey, as well as the handling of their situations by the club’s medical staff. 

Wesley, meanwhile, along with January recruit Donyell Malen, are the two signings that Gasperini has previously singled out as examples to follow in the future, but the Brazilian has now also been unavailable for the last three Serie A matches, one through suspension and two as the result of a hamstring injury. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Wesley has been training individually this week and Gasperini had hoped that he would be back and available to play against Atalanta this weekend. The advice from the medical staff, however, is that he is not ready, which prevented him from training with the group on Friday. That is despite the fact that Wesley himself feels okay to play. 

Gasperini has also called upon the advice of an external doctor, Dr. Georg Ahlmaumer, despite the advice from the club’s medical staff. The coach feels that Wesley’s return is behind schedule, while Ranieri, siding with the club’s medical staff, feels that the Brazilian is being rushed back. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport describes the Wesley situation as the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’ in the relationship between Gasperini and Ranieri. 

Gasperini has since had an opportunity to discuss the Wesley situation during his pre-Atalanta press conference on Friday. 

“Wesley currently feels he can play, but the medical staff believes there are risks,” Gasperini insisted. 

“This also leads to issues and discussions. We’ll see what happens tomorrow, but if the doctors say no, I can only follow that. Everything depends on medical clearance. It’s a shame to have lost Pellegrini. Pisilli picked up an ankle sprain at the start of the week. He seems to have recovered; we’ll assess him today.”

Jonathan David has had an opportunity to discuss the criticism he has received in his first season at Juventus, has put to bed any rumours that he hasn’t settled in the dressing room and says that the Old Lady are ‘under more scrutiny than any other club in Italy’. 

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David on Juventus struggles, false rumours and failed panenka penalty attempt

The Canada international, who joined Juventus on a free transfer after five successful seasons with Lille in Ligue 1, spoke to TSN in his homeland after what has been a fairly underwhelming first campaign in Serie A. 

David has made 30 appearances in Serie A this term, but has only started 17 times and is only on five league goals for the season, four of which came in a run of five games in January. For reference, David averaged 17.4 league goals per season during his time in France and never scored fewer than 13 in the league during his five seasons with Lille. 

“For me, I think it’s been up and down. I came to a new club with high hopes, high expectations and obviously I wasn’t scoring as regularly as I wanted to,” David told TSN when asked how he thinks his 2025-26 season has gone. 

He feels that playing for a club the size of Juventus also opens players up to wider criticism: “Juventus is the club that is under more scrutiny than any other club in Italy, there’s all these eyes on you and obviously people will talk.” 

There had been rumours earlier in the season that David had not settled into the dressing room at Continassa, and there were some reports that the players had stopped inviting him out to team dinners. 

Head coach Luciano Spalletti had to step in to put the story to bed, joking that the first time David was invited out for dinner with his teammates, he committed the Italian sin of grating parmesan cheese over seafood pasta, which is why his Italian colleagues, supposedly, didn’t take him out again. 

David insists that these rumours were not true in the slightest. 

“I don’t know how or why that rumour came out but obviously I know it wasn’t true because I’m in the dressing room with these guys, we get along very well,” he said. 

David also faced criticism after making a mess of an attempted panenka from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw with Lecce, which ended up costing Juventus a precious two points. 

“I knew what I wanted to do, it didn’t come off right. After that game there was a lot of talk about the way I kicked the penalty, why it was me doing it.”

It was immediately after the Lecce game that David went on his run of scoring four times in five Serie A matches: “It was a very special moment for myself and I think for the team also,” he said. 

“Maybe sometimes people don’t understand you, people don’t really know you so they tend to judge you but that doesn’t really matter because you have people that are close to you, who care for you, who understand the way you are so I’m not really worried about that.” 

Rolando Mandragora is aware that Fiorentina need a ‘perfect game’ to overturn their 3-0 deficit against Crystal Palace in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie, but warns the South Londoners that ‘we believe in the miracle’. 

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The Viola will host Palace at the Stadio Franchi at 20.00 BST on Thursday evening, requiring a statement performance to overturn the 3-0 defeat they suffered at Selhurst Park last week. 

Palace are the bookies’ outright favourites to go on and win this season’s Conference League title, but Fiorentina are two-time finalists themselves and are hoping to make amends for what has been a largely disappointing season across the board. 

Mandragora previews Fiorentina vs. Crystal Palace second leg: ‘Difficult, but we believe in it’

“We’ve managed to keep ourselves alive and are still in the running. It will take a big feat but we believe in the miracle,” Mandragora warned during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday (via TMW). 

“We’ve often suffered comebacks in the second leg in the past few years. Now could be the right time to do it ourselves. Of course, we’ll need the perfect game and that Palace will concede against us. It will be difficult, but we believe in it.” 

Mandragora hopes that the support from the home fans at the Stadio Franchi will spur the players on on the night. 

“We can do something special with the support of our fans. We didn’t want to disappoint them with a result like that in the first leg. But for most of the game, the performance was there, there were chances. We’ll try to play our game at home, even if they are strong and complete.” 

Fiorentina are five games unbeaten over in Serie A and are finally starting to look safe from relegation after moving eight points clear of the drop zone after their 1-0 win over Lazio on Monday night. 

“It’s been a one-off year and the celebration the other night was a sort of liberation, even if it’s not over yet,” said Mandragora. 

“We didn’t expect to have a season like this. We started with completely different goals and we needed a lot of humility to change them. It wasn’t obvious we’d be in this situation.” 

Despite the 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park last week, Mandragora insists that he didn’t feel too much of a difference in quality between the Premier League and the Serie A outfit. 

“I honestly don’t (notice a difference in quality). Of course, the Premier League is elite, as is Serie A with its pros and cons. Every game has its own story and the first leg told us that they were better than us. We’ll see if we’re better than them in the second.” 

Cristian Chivu is on course to win the Scudetto in his first full season as a head coach, and reports on Wednesday indicate that a contract extension is now close and that the Romanian will be given more of a say on Inter’s transfer decisions moving forwards. 

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Chivu was given his first senior head coach role with Parma last February, but did enough in his short time in charge to convince Inter into appointing him as the replacement for 2023-24 Scudetto winner and two-time Champions League finalist Simone Inzaghi ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Fast forward 10 months later, Chivu and Inter have a nine-point lead at the top of the Serie A table heading into the final six games of the season and it is now widely expected that the Nerazzurri will go on to claim their 21st league title. 

Multiple outlets in Italy indicate that Chivu will be rewarded with a new and improved contract extension at the end of the season, potentially doubling his €2.5m-per-season salary until 2029 or potentially even 2030. 

Chivu and Inter align on transfer strategy

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Chivu will also have more of a say over Inter’s potential recruits on the transfer market moving forwards. 

Last summer, Chivu had no say at all in two of the five new signings that the club brought in: Deals for Luis Henrique and Petar Sucic were negotiated by the club long before Chivu was appointed head coach. 

Additionally, there were two high-profile players that Chivu attempted to sign last summer, namely former Atalanta star Ademola Lookman, now with Atletico Madrid, and Roma midfielder Manu Kone, but was unsuccessful on both fronts. 

This time around, however, the club and coach plan to be in complete harmony in their decision making and are aiming to provide Chivu with players with profiles that suit his style of play. They are said to be targeting more physically imposing players, particularly in defence and midfield.

Names that have been linked with Inter ahead of the summer transfer window include Kone again, Atalanta’s Marco Palestra and Sassuolo centre-back Tarik Muharemovic.

Wednesday’s reports claim that Juventus are interested in potential deals for two Italian left-backs in Lorenzo Bernasconi and Leonardo Spinazzola in the event that Andrea Cambiaso, who has been linked with a potential Premier League move, leaves the club this summer. 

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Juventus could reshuffle left side of defence in summer transfer window

According to reports from Tuttosport, Premier League interest in Cambiaso is hotting up again. The Italy international has on several previous occasions been linked with a move to Manchester City, and now, according to Wednesday’s update, there is interest from Spain and from Milan in Italy as well. 

Juventus had previously cited an asking price of €60m for Manchester City, but this figure could potentially be as low as €40m during the next summer transfer window. 

In the event that Cambaiso does leave in the summer, Tuttosport claims that Juventus could replace him with two relatively affordable options. 

The first is Atalanta’s Bernasconi, who has established himself as a regular Serie A starter for La Dea in the second half of the 2025-26 season, and has also started in 10 Champions League matches this campaign. 

The 22-year-old has been described as an ‘experienced project player’, i.e. one with room to improve but still with a decent level of exposure at the highest level of the game. Wednesday’s report claims that Juventus could strike a deal for a fee in the region of €20m for Bernasconi, who cost Atalanta around €1m to sign from Cremonese in 2024. 

Additionally, Juventus could also make a potential move for the 33-year-old Spinazzola, whose contract with Napoli is due to expire at the end of the season. The Italy international was also linked with a potential move to Milan earlier this week.

Wednesday’s reports claim that Roma star Paulo Dybala is keen to play for Milan under his former Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri, and that La Joya could potentially be one of several new arrivals to reshuffle the Rossoneri attack. 

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Reports Milan could reshuffle attack with Dybala and either Lewandowski or Vlahovic

Wednesday’s reports from Corriere della Sera (via Calciomercato.com) claim that Milan could reshape their attacking department during the summer transfer window and that Dybala could potentially be a part of it, but this still depends on several varying factors. 

Firstly, Milan need to make a decision on Rafael Leao, who has struggled to reach the same heights in 2025-26 as he has done in previous seasons, despite being the club’s top scorer in Serie A this season (with 9) and their joint-top scorer across all competitions (with 10, along with Christian Pulisic). 

This is partly due to a pubalgia issue that has impacted Leao’s fitness, as well as the fact that he has most regularly been playing as a striker in a 3-5-2 as opposed to a left winger in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. 

Certain Rossoneri supporters have grown impatient with the Portugal international, who was loudly booed during the team’s recent 3-0 loss at home against Udinese. Wednesday’s reports claim that Milan could consider a sale this summer, and while an exact transfer fee has not been specified, it is certain that Leao’s €175m release clause will not be met. 

If Leao is to leave, Milan would be left needing to reinvest in their attacking unit. 

Firstly, a more traditional centre-forward is being sought ahead of the summer transfer window, regardless of Leao’s future. Robert Lewandowski, available on a free transfer at the end of his Barcelona contract, has been linked with a move to San Siro, while Milan are reportedly still monitoring the situation between Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic. 

Also out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 season is Dybala, whose future with Roma remains uncertain at this stage. 

Calciomercato reports that Dybala has not received confirmation either way as to whether his Roma contract will be extended or allowed to expire, but that he is already beginning to receive offers within Europe and South America. 

Wednesday’s report claims that Dybala is not opposed to the idea of staying on with Roma, even with a reduction in salary, but that he also has options in Argentina, Brazil and potentially in Italy as well. 

If his time with Roma were to come to an end this summer, Dybala would reportedly prefer to stay in Europe and ideally in Italy. 

This is where Milan comes back in, as Dybala is said to be keen on the idea of reuniting with his former Juventus head coach, Allegri, at Milan. La Joya had also been linked with a potential move to San Siro before joining Roma at the end of his stay with the Old Lady. 

As the 32-year-old has been hampered by injuries, especially over the last two seasons, it has also been reported that he would be ‘willing’ to accept a performance-based contract, i.e. one that depends on appearances and goal contributions. 

Fabio Capello believes that Antonio Conte is primed and ready to re-claim the Italy national team job, but feels that the need to adapt to international management would not put off Massimiliano Allegri either. 

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Conte and Allegri are the two leading candidates to take over as Italy national team head coach following the recent resignation of Gennaro Gattuso. Italy are still without an FIGC President as well, with elections scheduled for June 22, and so a decision on the next CT is not expected to arrive before a new head of the football association is in place. 

Despite the uncertainties regarding the leadership of the Italian FA, there are two main candidates for the Italy head coach role, and Fabio Capello, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, has given his thoughts on both. 

Capello on the next Italy CT: ‘Conte knows what awaits him, Allegri is intelligent’

One of the benefits in appointing Conte is the fact that he has already held the Italy head coach role between 2014 and 2016. 

“That would be a plus point for him,” says Capello. “If he returns to the Azzurri dugout, he would already know what awaits him, even though the scenario has changed compared to 10 years ago.

“It’s practically impossible to get worse than this, we’ve hit rock bottom.” 

For Allegri, however, it would be a first step into international football. 

“You don’t have the daily relationship with the players,” Capello warned. “And that’s not trivial, you have less control over what happens during the season. From injuries to the form of various players, you experience everything from the outside until the players are in training camp at Coverciano.”

But does Capello feel that this would be an issue should Allegri take over the Italy job? 

“I don’t think so, it would just be different. As I said, Max is intelligent and would quickly understand how to go about it. It would still clearly be a novelty for him at the beginning, while for Antonio it would not. 

“Allegri, on the other hand, has something more in terms of communication. Conte has been less diplomatic on some occasions in the past.” 

Capello believes that Conte did a decent job with the Italy national team during his time in charge between 2014 and 2016, but feels that the players he had available back then were of a slightly higher standard than the current crop of Azzurri representatives. 

“He definitely had a European championship that was up to par, but there were also some different players available,” Capello said, referring to the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli. 

“And there is no longer a real block of a (club) team in the national side. We have some from Inter, but it’s not as large as we’ve had in the past.” 

This is not the first time that Capello has mentioned the need for a ‘block’ of players who play for the same club to be deployed in the Italy team. 

“Look, the first piece of advice I would give to any coach: You need to create a base of players immediately, possibly focusing on ‘blocking’ a team from the national league.” 

Capello feels that this is easier said than done, though, given the lack of opportunities handed to Italian players in Serie A at the moment. 

“I know it well, our current difficulties stem from here. The level of Italian players has dropped and even the clubs are struggling. So for a recruiter, this is a very complicated task.” 

Capello himself was once offered the Italy national team job but turned down the opportunity: “I received the Azzurri offer, but at the moment I didn’t feel like it and so I refuse. 

“The national team is a matter of feeling and responsibility, and if at that precise moment I didn’t feel I could make myself available and it would have been wrong to do it and accept.

“The Italy job is not to be taken or rejected for the logic of convenience. It’s something you have to feel inside, because when the anthem starts, you are representing your country and you’re not ‘just’ at the service of a club like with other jobs. So I can’t suggest anything either way, it’s all strictly personal.” 

Antonio Conte continues to be linked with a potential move to re-claim the Italy national team head coach job following the recent resignation of Gennaro Gattuso, and Wednesday’s reports claim that Napoli have four potential candidates lined up to replace last season’s Scudetto winner. 

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Who could become Napoli head coach if Conte leaves to take over Italy job?

Conte along with Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri are the two names at the top of the list of potential replacements for Gattuso as head coach of the Italy national team. There have also been mentions of a potential return for Roberto Mancini and suggestions that ex-Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi could be an option as well. 

The Conte option is picking up traction again, especially after an interview given to The Athletic by Napoli President Auurelio De Laurentiis on Tuesday. 

De Laurentiis claimed that Conte ‘will never abandon me at the last minute’, but urged him to decide sooner rather than later regarding his future in order to allow Napoli enough time to line up an adequate replacement. 

According to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, Napoli’s ideal replacement for Conte in the event that he leaves to take over the Italy job is Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. 

Gasperini had also been a candidate to take over at the Stadio Maradona before Conte was given the job in the summer of 2024. His future at Roma has been put in doubt recently as well, following reports of tension between him and Giallorossi advisor Claudio Ranieri. 

There are three other potential options for Napoli as well according to Wednesday’s reports, including Bologna’s Vincenzo Italiano, Sassuolo’s Fabio Grosso, and a potential return for former head coach Maurizio Sarri, who had the Napoli job between 2015 and 2018 and is currently in his second stint with Lazio.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Chivu power 

More weight on the transfer market after the Scudetto 

The Inter coach will sign a renewal to open a new cycle. Salary doubled 

Mazzola, the interview: ‘Deserved title, Lautaro will stay for life and surpass Meazza 

Leao 

Playing them all 

Milan continue ahead with Rafa (despite the whistles) 

The CT race 

Nazionale question 

The Diavolo want to tie Allegri down. De Laurentiis: ‘Conte decide now’ 

Spalletti, here’s Kim again 

Only big names for Juve, the Korean colossal if Bremer goes 

Locatelli signs: 2030

Atletico knock Barca and Yamal out, Super PSG, two goals again in Liverpool

Corriere dello Sport 

Conte changes everything 

De Laurentiis: ‘If he wants to go, say it now’

Antonio is the key | ADL’s interview with The Athletic reopens the discourse on Napoli’s future

A meeting is expected between the President and the ‘coach of miracles’, who will decide whether or not to continue. Gasperini, Italiano, Sarri and Grosso on the list of possible replacements 

Cholo, party with Lookman 

Champions League: Atletico in the semi-finals, Barca out 

Simeone loses 2-1 at home, but the goal from the ex-Atalanta man is enough to get through. Brace from Dembele: PSG win 2-0 again in Liverpool and also make it through. This evening, Real Madrid looking for the turnaround at Bayern Munich’s home (20.00)

From Alisson to Hojbjerg: Spalletti’s list 

Juve’s objectives 

Lucio wants an ‘instant team’ to aim for the Scudetto. Bremer alarms: The €54m clause reachable 

Serie A has lost goals and goalscorers 

782 goals scored 

Only eight in double figures up until now. For the first time in 35 years, the top goalscorer could be won by someone with fewer than 20 (The last was Vialli) 

Tuttosport 

Juve reshape the left 

Bernasconi and Spinazzola if Cambiaso leaves 

Premier League clubs (as well as Milan) interested in the Bianconeri left-back, valued at €40m. They like the 23-year-old from Atalanta and the possibility of signing the Napoli wing-back for free is intriguing. Need €30m to come in in June: From Gatti to Kelly, the players who could save the balance sheet 

Cholo masterpiece, bye-bye Barca

Champions League quarter-final second legs: Dembele freezes Liverpool (0-2), PSG through. 

Atletico in the semi-finals despite defeat: Lookman’s goal decisive after going 2-0 down, Ruggeri heroic. Now it’s Arsenal or Sporting (who kick-off at 1-0). This evening, Real looking for a come-back against Bayern after the 1-2 in Madrid 

Vlasic’s promise: ‘Yes, I’m staying at Toro’ 

Meeting between the fans and the Croatian 

Meanwhile, the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Scudetto also involve D’Aversa: ‘Radice was a hero of mine, he coached me at Monza: A great man’ 

‘Lock yourselves in a room and only come out with reforms’ 

FIGC elections and the new CT, interview with Calentini