Christian Pulisic explains how he approached his Milan debut, dealing with the current crisis, his experience at Chelsea and preparing for the USA’s World Cup. ‘I plan on scoring goals.’

The USMNT striker was given the rare honour of being the cover star of Time magazine, as the country gears up for co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico next month.

In a series of interviews, he comes across as serious and focused on his career almost to a fault, with friends and teammates urging him to loosen up.

Pulisic wants to shut critics up

Pulisic was one of the first Americans to really make a name for himself in Europe, at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and now Milan, but also faced a great deal of criticism.

“When people say that it wasn’t a successful time, it is interesting to me, because I feel like that’s how everyone’s career kind of goes,” said Pulisic of his Chelsea spell.

“It’s not just constantly soaring up.”

He made an immediate impact at Milan after the move in 2018, scoring on his debut in the 2-0 victory over Bologna.

“I didn’t do so much thinking and listening to all types of instruction,” says Pulisic. “I was just like, ‘You know what? I’m just gonna go play.’”

This attitude has served him well so far, but it has all gone wrong in 2026, failing to score a single goal in all competition for the Rossoneri or the USMNT.

When Time asked how he planned on dealing with this incredible slump in form, he was brusque.

“I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.”

Yet when he does reflect on previous difficult moments, such as when he was left out of the Gold Cup squad last June, it becomes evident why the current form has been so frustrating.

“That time was difficult for me, because normally I can shut people up with my play. That’s what I’ve done my whole career. I’m in my offseason, so like people are just talking about me, and I can’t just go freaking score and shut them up.”

He has been playing consistently, but not scoring or shutting people up.

“Going at the goal, creating attacking actions, for me, that’s why I play the game,” he noted when discussing his approach.

“You obviously have to do all the other parts, defend and run, different things. That’s fine and all. But what gives me joy and excitement is creating ways to score, and scoring goals and finishing them.”

Pulisic insists he believes America could win the World Cup, but has no intention of making any promises.

“That’s just not how I work. But I can sit in my bed at night and picture holding up the World Cup trophy. I did that as a kid. I’m not going to stop. You have to believe. Why not?”

Inter are expected to reward Cristian Chivu for winning the Scudetto in his first season, offering him a new contract to 2028 with improved wages.

The 45-year-old could not really have asked for a better debut season on the Nerazzurri bench, as he marched them to the Serie A title with three rounds to spare, and is now preparing for the Coppa Italia Final against Lazio on Wednesday.

He was appointed last summer with just days to get ready for the Club World Cup after Simone Inzaghi decided to walk away, and inherited a squad that ended the previous campaign empty-handed.

Chivu appreciated by Inter

Inter President Beppe Marotta has repeatedly said that he wants Chivu to remain for many years, and he is going to put his money where his mouth is.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Romanian has been offered a new contract that adds one year to the current agreement, taking it to June 2028.

More importantly, it will increase his salary from the current €2.1m per year to €3m.

Remarkably, this is the first full season for Chivu as a senior coach, as he took over Parma in February 2025 for the final 13 games of that term.

Before that, his only coaching jobs were all in the Inter youth academy from 2018 to 2024.

Davide Bartesaghi admits it is ‘my dream to stay at Milan for as long as possible’ and reveals a surprising Rafael Leao gift. ‘This is a magnificent club.’

The 20-year-old has spent his entire career in the Rossoneri jersey and entered the senior squad consistently from this season.

He has made 30 competitive appearances so far this term, with two goals and one assist, so he sat down with club legend Serginho in the Off The Pitch podcast.

Bartesaghi a lifelong Milan supporter

“It was a different Milan when you were there, so many champions and a different atmosphere. I started watching Milan play a little later than that,” confessed Bartesaghi.

He recently signed a new contract that runs to June 2030 and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Paolo Maldini as a one-club man.

“It is my dream to stay at Milan for as long as possible, this is a magnificent club. I have a passion for Milan, the history speaks for itself.”

Bartesaghi is a left-back, but he took centre-stage in last season’s Supercoppa Italiana triumph, beating Inter 3-2.

“It was totally unexpected, but we still believed we could do it. That was my first trophy, one of those moments I will never forget. Moving from the youth team to the senior squad was indescribable, a dream come true. I know that I have to keep going and do far more than I did this season. I hope many more kids can experience this in future.”

Despite their stuttering recent form that has them clinging on to third place in Serie A, he insists the mood in the dressing room is still positive.

“We must always be respectful for the older players, be eager to listen and learn, but also have your say, not just stay silent.”

Bartesaghi reveals that teammate Rafael Leao surprised him after the first unexpected brace of his Serie A career.

“After I scored a brace against Sassuolo, Rafael Leao congratulated me, then the day after he gave me a huge framed picture of my celebration.

“Alexis Saelemaekers is the funniest teammate, Mike Maignan the most serious. The most severe coach I had was Sergio Conceicao, my favourites are Allegri and Pioli.”

Lautaro Martinez assures he doesn’t see any good reason to seek a transfer now or in the future. ‘I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home.’

Every summer there are reports of the world’s biggest clubs showing an interest in the Argentina international, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Lautaro Martinez only has eyes for Inter

Each year, the suggestion is immediately shot down by the player, his agent, and the Nerazzurri, so is there never even the slightest temptation?

“No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here,” Lautaro Martinez told Cronache di Spogliatoio in a sneak peek via Tuttomercatoweb.

It might be easy to say this after winning the Serie A title, on track for the Coppa Italia, and the Capocannoniere crown, but there is far more to it than just what happens on the field.

“My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible.

“I achieved so many personal and team targets here.”

This commitment saw him rewarded with the captain’s armband, as he has scored 173 goals in 372 competitive appearances in the Inter shirt since joining in 2018.

While they ended last season empty-handed, El Toro never wavered from the idea of rebuilding with Inter and looking to the future.

Antonio Cassano has given Gian Piero Gasperini some surprising advice after the Claudio Ranieri row. ‘He has a weak squad, he should leave Roma and go to Milan.’

The former Roma, Milan, Sampdoria and Real Madrid player was speaking on his podcast Viva El Futbol and discussing the current Serie A campaign.

With the Giallorossi back in the hunt for the top four, the tension over the argument with former director Ranieri has fallen into the background.

Cassano gives Gasperini advice

“Ranieri talked absolute rubbish,” insisted Cassano.

“Knowing what the atmosphere is like at Roma, if things were to go badly next season, everyone would turn on Gasperini and it would be totally reversed.

“The Friedkin family need to give him a decent squad. In these years, Roma never went beyond fifth place, and if they try to build a team around Paulo Dybala, then they’ll get nowhere.”

Ranieri claimed that Gasperini was by no means the first choice for the job last summer, even though he had to leave Atalanta first, and insisted that the coach had given the all clear to players that were later flops.

“As soon as problems emerge, the fans will say Ranieri was right,” added Cassano.

“I would advise Gasperini to leave, if he puts himself on the market, he could go to Milan. He’s had eight exceptional months dealing with a really weak squad.”

Max Allegri’s future at Milan is far from clear and they are currently in third place, but back within reach of Roma for those Champions League spots.

Udinese defender Oumar Solet has been heavily linked with Inter and Newcastle United, but it’s now reported the asking price has been set at €25m.

The 26-year-old has been very impressive so far this season at the Bluenergy Stadium, adding three goals and an assist in 32 Serie A appearances from central defence.

Solet ready for next move

He had been snapped up as a free agent by Udinese in January 2025, after a contract dispute with RB Salzburg, having come up through the Stade Lavallois youth academy.

It means any sale would be pure profit, and the Friulani aim to make it a big sale, knowing there is no shortage of interest in the Frenchman.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Udinese have now decided that Solet will be available for €25m in the summer.

Newcastle United sent scouts to view him in action over the last few weeks, while Inter have been pursuing him for quite a few months.

The Nerazzurri’s interest might also depend on the fate of Alessandro Bastoni, because if the Italian is sold to Barcelona, then Solet would be a suitable replacement in the back three.

Italy Under-21 international Michael Kayode thinks he has cracked why English football moves at a higher tempo after moving to Brentford and has no Juventus regrets. ‘The training is much tougher in Italy.’

The 21-year-old came up through the youth academies at Juventus and Fiorentina before earning his €18m move to Brentford and the Premier League in January 2025.

He made 41 appearances for the Bees so far this season, contributing one goal and two assists from right-back, and is a regular for Italy at Under-21 level.

Kayode enjoying life at Brentford

How has he dealt with the differences between Italian and English football?

“The training is much tougher in Italy, and you get far fewer days off,” revealed Kayode on Chiamarsi Bomber.

“Here you train 4-5 times a week, then you rest a lot more. Perhaps this is why people think English football has a higher tempo, because you only train as much as you need to, then feel fresh both physically and mentally once you play the game.

“It gives you more time to spend with your loved ones. Besides, the training sessions are almost all 11 against 11, we rarely spend that much time focusing on tactics. It’s about taking men on.”

Kayode looked back on his career path and a move that might’ve been devastating to a young player, when he went on loan to Gozzano and Juventus didn’t want him back.

“I might seem crazy, but I don’t regret it at all, because the fact Juve dumped me did give me the strength to reach this level. We were around 60 kids in that group and only 2-3 now play at professional level. Gozzano gave me the chance at age 16 to play against older opponents, Serie D is very different to a youth team.

“I loved being at Fiorentina, Alberto Aquilani was a great coach, both tactically and as a person. Vincenzo Italiano called me into the senior squad and his mentality is incredible, he always wants you focused.

“One day, he started me against Genoa, I didn’t think it was possible! I really did not expect that at all. I owe him so much, he wanted me to always have the hunger to keep improving.”

Real Madrid are starting to realise how important Carlo Ancelotti was to the club, as it’s reported the Italian quashed the tension that erupted today in a brawl that sent players to the hospital.

The incident is all over the headlines in Spain and beyond, with multiple reports of a vicious training ground fight between Aurelien Tchaouameni and Federico Valverde.

The situation was so bad that it’s claimed Valverde was thrown into a table, where he hit his head and was knocked unconscious, taken to hospital for tests and stitches.

This was just 24 hours after the same two teammates reportedly clashed in training, with coach Alvaro Arbeloa seemingly unable or unwilling to intervene.

Ancelotti kept Real Madrid egos in check

Spanish paper AS point out that this is where Ancelotti’s influence at Real Madrid was sorely underestimated, as he had seen similar bubbling tension between players last season, but was able to keep it under control.

The Italian provided an authority and experience of dealing with big egos, still the only coach in history to have won all five major European League titles.

He had two different spells at Real Madrid, from 2013-15 and again from 2021 to 2025.

With the Merengues, Ancelotti won three Champions League trophies, two editions of LaLiga, three European Super Cups, three editions of the Club World Cup, two Copa del Reys and two Spanish Super Cups.

Only now that he has moved on to a new role with the Brazil national team can Real Madrid truly appreciate his man-management skills.

“It is a job with a lot of power and responsibility. I can choose what time I train, who I put in, but in the end, it is a relationship between people,” said Ancelotti.

“That is the most important aspect. Sometimes I ask the players, ‘who are you’ and they tell me ‘I am a player.’ And I tell them ‘no, you are a person who plays football.’

“I try to have a relationship with them on a personal level as well as a professional one, because that way you can get better performance from the professional. It is not easy because the player always wants to play. And 11 do it, but 15 go to watch the game.

“But if you manage to have a good personal relationship with them, this helps you to work better. You have to be honest with people.”

There are growing reports that Milan are very close to finalising personal terms with Leon Goretzka, who will be a free agent from Bayern Munich.

The veteran midfielder has long been in their sights as a potential reinforcement who can bring valuable experience to a side that already has Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot.

He turned 31 in February and is available as a free agent from July 1, when his current contract with Bayern Munich will expire.

According to ESPN Deportes and ActuFoot, Milan are now confident they are extremely close to securing an agreement with Goretzka.

Milan ready to win Goretzka race

There was plenty of competition for his signature, including within Serie A from Napoli and Juventus, plus Arsenal, Olympique Marseille and Bayer Leverkusen.

The Rossoneri can lock him down if they manage to secure a Champions League qualifying spot, and currently sit third in the Serie A table.

The Germany international made 45 competitive appearances for Bayern Munich so far this season, scoring five goals and providing four assists.

Goretzka also has 69 senior caps for his country, where he scored 15 goals.

Udinese midfielder Arthur Atta has been named the Serie A Rising Star of the Month for April 2026 and will receive an award this weekend.

Every month, the Lega Serie A assigns a trophy for the best young player who made a real impact in the Italian top flight, and this time it will go to Atta.

Impressive Atta shines for Udinese

The 23-year-old joined Udinese in 2024 on loan from Metz, making the move permanent a year later for €8m, and has gone from strength to strength this season.

He scored five goals and provided four assists in 29 Serie A games, finding the net against Milan and getting a superb brace in the 3-3 thriller with Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in April.

The French midfielder will be presented with his Rising Star of the Month award ahead of kick-off when Udinese host Cremonese this weekend in Serie A.

You can enjoy some of his highlights in this official video from the Lega Serie A.

Milan have reportedly told Christopher Nkunku and agent Pini Zahavi that he is for sale, but only if someone comes in with a bid worth €40m.

The 28-year-old was signed from Chelsea last summer at a cost of €37m plus bonuses and has failed to make much of an impact at San Siro.

He scored just six goals with three assists in 32 competitive games, and was rarely chosen in the starting XI, even during an injury crisis of strikers.

Milan put Nkunku on the market

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, a meeting with agent Zahavi confirmed that Milan are eager to sell after just one season, especially as they are also looking at another forward represented by the same agent, namely Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

With the cost of the transfer only a year ago, Milan want to sell for €40m to avoid making a net loss on the player.

In truth, around €30m would suffice to make their money back, but the Rossoneri hope Nkunku can get a better figure on the market this summer.

He is a France international with two goals in 18 senior caps, though his last game for Les Bleus was back in November 2025.

Marco Palestra insists he feels ‘ready for a big club and you must have ambition’ after his Cagliari loan, but was ‘angry’ at first when Atalanta transformed him into a full-back.

The wing-back is a product of the Atalanta youth academy and has flourished during the loan spell in Sardinia, even earning his first senior caps for Italy.

He met with DAZN for their My Skills show and spoke about his experience at the Unipol Domus.

Palestra exploded onto Serie A scene

“It has been a wonderful year that changed my life,” said Palestra.

“I think it was the best decision I could’ve made in every way. My Atalanta teammates had told me I would not regret coming to Cagliari. You really do feel welcomed here, it is a unique club with an entire island behind it.”

Cagliari do not have an option to make the move permanent, so he will return to Bergamo in the summer.

However, with big clubs like Inter and Arsenal already hovering around him, it is also unlikely that he’ll stay there either.

“I am dreaming of playing for Italy regularly, and I know that it depends on what I do now at Cagliari.”

Does Palestra feel that he is ready for a big club?

“Yes, in order to improve, you must have ambition that can take you to become a top player. With every game I played this season, my confidence continued to grow.

“I didn’t expect to be in the Serie A Team of the Season in my first real campaign, I never would’ve thought that at the start.”

He is a very attacking full-back who can play on the right or left, but which does he prefer?

“If I had to choose, I would say the right, but I’m fine on the left too. I started out playing in midfield until the Under-17s, then they had a shortage of left-backs due to injuries, so the coach put me there.

“I was really angry at first, I didn’t like it, but after three games I was moved to right-back, and there I realised this could be my position.

“If I had continued as a midfielder, maybe I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wasn’t exactly someone who stood out.”

Palestra is able to play in both roles because he is largely two-footed.

“I prefer to do some things with my left foot, like taking men on, but when it comes to shooting, I’m more right-footed. I try not to think about it too much, that way I can use both.”

Venezia have just earned promotion to Serie A, announced new investment worth €100m and Francesca Bodie takes over as President, in a club backed by Tim Leiweke and rapper Drake.

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The Lagunari secured their top two status in the Serie B tournament with one round to spare, just a year on from their relegation.

They are already planning big changes for the top flight, and it starts at the very top, as President Duncan Niederaurer will retain a minority stake in the club ownership group.

However, the new President is Francesca Bodie, with her father Tim Leiweke and Rob Hamwee becoming co-chairmen of the Venice Operations Committee.

Venezia have big ambitions in Serie A

“Venezia is an iconic team with a century-old history in the world’s most beautiful city, and we will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence ​and victories to ​enhance the ⁠legacy of this storied club,” Leiweke said in a statement.

The presence of Bodie suggests Venezia will push forward on plans to build a new stadium, something that has been suggested for literally decades, going back to previous owner Maurizio Zamparini.

Rapper Drake had already worked with Bodie and Leiweke at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the owner of the Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and Toronto Maple Leafs.

“They know what success means and how to achieve it. We have succeeded before and I am excited to bring that energy to Venice,” said Drake.

The rapper became part-owner of Venezia in 2024 and is now boosting his investment in the club following promotion to Serie A, with Leiweke seemingly bringing an extra €100m ($117.72 million).

Leiweke was criminally indicted in 2025 in the US for alleged stadium bid rigging over the Moody Center at the University of Texas, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump that same year.

Milan fans are planning a vocal protest against CEO Giorgio Furlani this weekend, but owner Gerry Cardinale is said to be pleased with his work boosting profits.

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The anger in the fanbase has been bubbling up in recent weeks and exploded after the 2-0 defeat to Sassuolo left even Champions League qualification at risk.

Furlani blamed for Milan woes

Some bombarded the club’s social media accounts with insults towards Furlani, others even set up a petition demanding he be fired, as he has become the figurehead for their recent struggles.

Now it is reported Milan ultras are planning a protest taking aim squarely at Furlani during this weekend’s big Serie A match against Atalanta.

However, RedBird chief Cardinale seems to be very satisfied with the way his CEO is running the club, especially after hitting a new record of profits from player sales.

Calcio e Finanza note that the Rossoneri should come in at a profit of €101.8m, better than the previous best of €78m set in 2001-02.

Furlani comes from a finance background and joined Milan via Elliott Management, who helped Silvio Berlusconi sell the club to Yonghong Li and then take over when that loan was unpaid in 2018.

When Elliott sold the Diavolo to RedBird in December 2022, Furlani replaced Ivan Gazidis as CEO.

Dusan Vlahovic will be a free agent on July 1 and with no new Juventus deal, he is reportedly now waiting for Barcelona or Bayern Munich offers.

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The striker and club had agreed to postpone any negotiations on an extension until he made a full recovery from a serious injury in November 2025.

Now he is back in the squad and scored a goal in the 1-1 draw with Verona, but there is still no sign of an agreement.

The Bianconeri are believed to be offering a salary of €6m per season, half of his current wages, while the biggest argument is over commission fees.

Vlahovic ready to wait it out

According to Sportmediaset, this is because the Serbia international has his eye on leaving Serie A after experiences with Fiorentina and Juventus.

He had been heavily linked with Milan and a reunion with ex-Juve coach Max Allegri, but is reportedly now waiting for proposals from Barcelona or Bayern Munich.

The Blaugrana might need to replace ageing Robert Lewandowski, while Bayern need an understudy for Harry Kane.

There has also been some Premier League interest from Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, but this too has calmed recently.

David De Gea is now 35 years old and still making big saves for Fiorentina, but it’s reported the only club he’d accept a move for now is Manchester United.

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The Spanish goalkeeper was out of action for over a year after his contract with Manchester United was allowed to run down in July 2023, as he preferred to wait for the right opportunity.

Fiorentina eventually convinced him as a free agent in August 2024 and he has shown what is still more than capable of between the sticks, in Serie A and the Conference League.

De Gea still flying with Fiorentina

His contract runs to June 2028 with an option to extend by a further year, so the Viola are sure he will continue to deliver the goods.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, De Gea is intent on playing at Fiorentina until his retirement, unless one particular club comes along with a proposal.

That team is Manchester United, where he already spent the best part of a decade from 2011 to 2023.

If they were to call him in, then the veteran would be tempted for one final show at Old Trafford, otherwise his future is entirely with Fiorentina.

Roma are set to fire director Ricky Massara, with names approached to take over including Piero Ausilio of Inter, Giovanni Manna of Napoli and ex-Fiorentina chief Daniele Pradè.

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The club is in the process of a complete revamp after the dismissal of special advisor Claudio Ranieri due to his disagreements with coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

The Friedkin family are eager to build a structure that will support Gasperini’s ideas, and that also means the removal of Massara as director of sport this summer.

Roma looking for director of sport

There have been several names mentioned to take over the transfer strategy, including some who are already locked down at big clubs.

Tuttomercatoweb suggest that Roma made an approach for current Inter director Ausilio, though the odds of him leaving the Nerazzurri after winning the Scudetto are very slim indeed.

A more likely candidate would be current Napoli director Manna, who made his name setting up the Juventus Next Gen project, a model that Roma are eager to replicate.

Multiple reports including Repubblica point to Manna as the preferred option for the Friedkin family, but it would cost €10m to buy him out of his Napoli contract.

An easier figure to secure is Pradè, who resigned at Fiorentina earlier this season following the disastrous start to the campaign.

He had already worked at Roma in various roles including director of sport from 2000 to 2011.

Hakan Calhanoglu is still training separately from his Inter teammates and is unlikely to be fit for the Coppa Italia Final against Lazio on May 13.

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The Nerazzurri are still celebrating their Scudetto, which was secured with three rounds still left to play, but are back in action on Saturday in Serie A against Lazio.

Curiously, these two teams will meet again on Wednesday in the Stadio Olimpico, but that will be for the Coppa Italia Final, the opportunity for Inter to do the Double.

Inter waiting for Calhanoglu recovery

Calhanoglu is certainly out of this weekend’s match and Sky Sport Italia report the odds of seeing him participate in the Final are also very slim.

He suffered a series of injuries this season, the latest a left thigh issue, and with the World Cup on the horizon for Turkiye he is in no mood to run big risks.

Another player who could miss out is Francesco Pio Esposito, who went off at half-time in the victory over Parma with a back problem and is still not fully healed.

As Lautaro Martinez is not being rushed back either, that means Ange-Yoan Bonny should partner Marcus Thuram upfront.

Luis Henrique is back in training after a right thigh twinge and should be in the squad for this weekend.

Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali reveals why Roberto De Zerbi was ‘enchanting’ as a coach and claims it might be ‘a good thing’ Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.

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The Neroverdi were promoted from Serie B last summer and look to be finishing more than comfortably mid-table, especially after beating Milan 2-0 at the weekend.

It sets them apart as one of the models for Italian football to follow, one of the few clubs to own a stadium, constructed a training ground, and focus on Italian youth both on and off the field.

With that in mind, it is perhaps surprising that Carnevali has suggested the failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup could be a necessary push for Calcio to change its ways.

Sassuolo set template for Serie A

“But maybe it’s actually a good thing that we’re not going to the World Cup, because we need to focus on everything that needs to be put right,” he told The Athletic.

“Because if we’d just gone to the World Cup, perhaps we’d have simply swept all the underlying problems under the carpet. Instead, here we need to try to think things through, bring them out into the open and start working from the ground up with people who have the expertise, with people who have the ability to try and sort out the Italian football system a bit.”

Some of the issues are that TV rights are divided up based largely on history and size of clubs, while the lack of new stadiums is a painful problem.

“In my view, we need to look into a system whereby, when you invest in facilities, training centres, stadiums and the like, and when you invest in young players and give them a chance to play… these should be the incentives available to you,” Carnevali argues.

Clubs like Sassuolo and Atalanta live on their youth academies, but the Italian rules have seen talents poached by other nations with nothing they can do to stop it.

Most recently, it happened with Sassuolo’s Luca Reggiani and Atalanta’s Samuele Inacio snapped up by Borussia Dortmund before they could sign a professional contract.

“These are defeats, these are the real defeats — not the ones you suffer on a Sunday. I gave this lad everything. Facilities, coaches, physios, fitness coach, nutritionist, psychologist. Everything. Then you turn 16, and it’s ‘thank you and goodbye’, because there’s a club that snaps you up and offers you a big contract.”

Sassuolo also helped to launch the careers of some impressive coaches, including De Zerbi in 2021 before he went on to Shakhtar Donetsk, Olympique Marseille, Brighton and Tottenham.

“To me, De Zerbi is a manager who, when I see him coaching on the pitch, really enchants you,” said Carnevali.

“Watching the team train under De Zerbi is truly a thing of beauty, because you can really see the manager’s influence. And this comes through even more during matches; the ability to give the team an identity.

“De Zerbi always did that for us during those three years, embracing Sassuolo’s philosophy of trying to attack and play attractive football.”

Nicola Zalewski joined Jose Mourinho in complaining about the artificial turf used by Bodo/Glimt in the Conference League. ‘Playing a quarter-final on a pitch like this is unimaginable.’

Since this article was written, the debate around artificial turf in European competitions has continued, particularly in Norway following Bodo/Glimt’s later UEFA campaigns and broader discussions about playing conditions, with Norwegian sites such as Kongebonus also covering the topic.

This was the third time these sides have crossed paths in the Conference League this season and the Giallorossi have never won.

They lost 6-1 here in October for the group phase, drew 2-2 at the Stadio Olimpico and were beaten 2-1 this evening in the first leg of the quarter-final.

Lorenzo Pellegrini had put Roma in front, but Ulrik Saltnes redirected the Brice Wembangomo effort for a Rui Patricio howler and Hugo Vetlesen was totally unmarked to nod in from a free kick.

“There are regrets, because we controlled the game in every moment until going behind. As ever in football, incidents make the difference and we need a great performance in a week’s time,” Zalewski told Sky Sport Italia.

Jose Mourinho complained that the artificial turf in Norway was ‘plastic’ and caused Gianluca Mancini’s knee injury.

“Playing a quarter-final of a European competition on a pitch like this is just unimaginable. Hopefully, UEFA will take action in future years, because this playing surface causes serious injuries.”

With the late Matias Vina error to give away the free kick, it looks as if teenager Zalewski isn’t giving up his spot anytime soon.

“I try to do everything I can with every ball so I can help the team. I am not feeling the pressure, my teammates and the staff are helping a great deal.”

Juventus defender Federico Gatti has reportedly rejected Galatasaray, but would be open to the Premier League with interest from Everton, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

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The central defender turns 28 in June and is expected to leave Turin at the end of the season, considering he has fallen down the pecking order since Luciano Spalletti took over.

His contract runs to June 2030, so the asking price for the Italy international would be around €20-25m.

Gatti has his eye on Premier League

According to Tuttosport, Gatti had been approached by Galatasaray in recent weeks, but was not impressed with the proposal and is waiting for a Premier League move.

He might have no shortage of interested parties, because the newspaper suggests that Everton have been tracking him for a while, now joined by Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.

Fulham are another alternative, although they are seemingly further behind the other Premier League clubs in this race.

Gatti was late to top flight football, not making his Serie B debut until August 2021 with Frosinone, and then earning the transfer to Juventus in 2022 for €9m.

Italian VAR Marco Di Bello came under fire during the Champions League semi-final between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but the IFAB rules explain why he was correct.

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The 44-year-old Italian official was in the booth for tonight’s match at the Allianz Arena in Munich, the second leg after a 5-4 thriller in Paris last week.

Di Bello representing Italy in Champions League

He infuriated Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany and the fans when deciding not to intervene after the ball clearly struck Joao Neves on the outstretched arm.

Referee Joao Pinheiro of Portugal had also not pointed to the spot for the incident, but he waited for confirmation from Di Bello and was told to play on.

This caused a huge amount of controversy in the media and in the stadium itself, but the IFAB rules show Di Bello was right not to suggest an On-Field Review.

It is because the ball was fired onto Joao Neves’ arm by PSG teammate Vitinha.

No penalty for Bayern Munich

The referee waves away the handball appeals as play continues!

TNT Sports & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/K3owB1VoGT

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 6, 2026

In their bid to clarify the handball rules, IFAB added a caveat to the laws of the game, noting specifically that it is not a handling offence if a player is “hit on the hand/arm by the ball which has been played by a team-mate (unless the ball goes directly into the opponents’ goal or the player scores immediately afterwards, in which case a direct free-kick is awarded to the other team).”

When it came to another handball row earlier on Nuno Mendes and PSG wanted a second yellow card, Di Bello could not get involved, as the VAR is not allowed to deal with bookings unless they are to be upgraded to straight red cards.

TWO huge handball shouts from Bayern Munich

The referee gives neither pic.twitter.com/FTyTUmnwQM

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 6, 2026

Fabio Grosso has made such an impact as coach of Sassuolo that he is being linked with several other clubs, including Napoli, Fiorentina, Lazio and Bologna.

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The 48-year-old remains most famous for his playing career, with a decisive role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph, but has become a strong coach since hanging up his boots in 2012.

After a spell at the Juventus youth academy, he worked at Bari, Verona, Brescia, SC Sion, Frosinone and Olympique Lyonnais.

Sassuolo flourished with Grosso

Grosso returned to Italy for Sassuolo in 2024 and took them to promotion from Serie B with five games to spare, then this season has steered them to mid-table comfort.

According to Sport Mediaset, this has put his name on the wish list for many Serie A clubs, above all Fiorentina, where he already worked with director Fabio Paratici at Juve.

They are the favourites, especially as Paolo Vanoli is not expected to stay on after rescuing the club from the threat of relegation.

Other options include Bologna if Vincenzo Italiano decides to move on, while even Napoli and Lazio have considered Grosso in case of a change of direction from Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri.

Sassuolo have put together 14 victories, seven draws, and 14 defeats in Serie A this season as a newly-promoted team.

Curtis Jones dropped a social media hint he would appreciate a move to Inter, while Antonio Cassano claims the Liverpool player is ‘better than Scott McTominay’ at Napoli.

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The midfielder had already been close to this transfer in January, but that fell apart when Davide Frattesi stayed on at San Siro.

Now with a contract that runs down in June 2027, the Nerazzurri are ready to try again and this time Liverpool could be convinced to make a sale.

Jones still thinking about Inter move

It was noted that Jones is keeping a close eye on Inter, because he liked Marcus Thuram’s post on Instagram celebrating the Scudetto victory.

Meanwhile, others are advising Inter to go for the England international, who came up through the Liverpool youth academy.

“He would be a really good signing, he is a mezz’ala with pace, a player suited to the Champions League,” former Italy and Inter player Cassano said on the Viva El Futbol podcast.

“He would be better than McTominay. He has a lot of quality and has won a lot at Liverpool while actually playing, not like Zaccardo and Barzagli who are World Cup winners and played very little.”

McTominay was named Serie A Player of the Season last year when taking Napoli to the Scudetto in his debut campaign after leaving Manchester United.

Cassano is no stranger to controversial comments and made other rather bold claims in the same podcast when trying to draw up his Inter squad for next season.

“I would have a four-man defence, you could put anyone in goal and it wouldn’t make a difference. If you have Nico Paz behind Thuram and Lautaro Martinez, they can hand you the Scudetto before you even start.

“In Italy, Inter could play 2-3-5 and still win.”

Juventus are reportedly ready to sell Fabio Miretti this summer with a €20m price tag, as Bologna, Lazio and Fiorentina are interested after a Napoli offer.

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The midfielder had already been approached by Napoli last term only to see it rejected by the Bianconeri, but now that Luciano Spalletti is in charge, the club has other ideas for his future.

According to Calciomercato, the youth academy product is on the market also because he would provide a pure profit from his sale, helping to boost the club coffers.

Juventus ready to sell Miretti

He failed to impress Spalletti, who is seeking a different type of player in the midfield for next season.

Still only 22 years old, his contract runs to June 2028 and there is no shortage of Serie A sides ready to take him on.

They include Fiorentina, Bologna and Lazio, who would all give Fagioli some regular playing time in the starting XI.

The asking price has been set at a reported fee of €20m, but Napoli might not necessarily come back in for the Italian.

There is a new way to experience San Siro before the iconic stadium gets torn down, as for the next few months you can walk along the rafters 55 metres over the pitch.

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Milan and Inter have now purchased the land around the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, and plan to build a new arena in what is essentially the car park.

Once that is completed, the idea is to knock down the legendary structure.

San Siro opens up for Skywalk tour

Meanwhile, a new way of experiencing the stadium is available for fans, as a skywalk has been opened up allowing people to traverse the red metal beams that criss-cross the roof.

From that vantage point, they can look around at the city of Milan around them, and down at the pitch from a height of 55 metres.

The third tier was put in place for the 1990 World Cup, so the tour would also involve a talk on the architectural history of the arena.

It is the latest attempt to extract some revenue from the stadium, an area where both Inter and Milan have been frustrated at the lack of opportunities.

It can be combined with the museum tour package for visitors to San Siro.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch has slammed Italian tactician Roberto De Zerbi for being ‘a real a**hole’ with Sassuolo and CANMNT midfielder Ismael Kone. ‘Now look at him flourishing.’

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The shocking outburst happened when Marsch was speaking to the Call It What You Want podcast on CBS Sports Golazo America.

He was asked which player had improved the most for Canada and named Sassuolo midfielder Kone, who has flourished this season in Serie A.

However, he also used it as an opportunity to blame one of Kone’s former coaches, as De Zerbi famously humiliated the young player in training at Olympique Marseille.

Marsch praise for Kone is criticism for De Zerbi

“You know, when I took over the team, I think Ismael was a raw, talented person,” Marsch said on the podcast.

“And since then, I’ve talked to him a lot about discipline and concentration and everything from what that means in his daily life, in his nutrition, in his sleep habits, in the way he trains and the way he shows up every day, in the way he plays, in his overall intelligence.

“Going to Italy and playing for a team that was newly promoted, and having to fight through a situation like that in a very organised league, he’s played an incredibly important role in that team and had a great year.

“So I mean, it would probably be easy to say that Ismael is the one. Not just from what I’ve done with him and what the national team has done with him but also what he’s been able to achieve in his career, and the steps he’s been able to make through difficulty I might add.

“Because it wasn’t easy with De Zerbi and Marseille. De Zerbi was a real, real a**hole with him and he stayed strong. He never doubted himself. He found a new situation, and now look at him flourishing.

“Let me reiterate. De Zerbi was a real a**hole with him.”

The incident in training was when Kone failed to follow some instructions, so De Zerbi declared loudly that he should get off the field and “call your agent” to find another club, because he would not be getting another opportunity with Marseille.

De Zerbi has since left Olympique Marseille too and is now the coach of Tottenham Hotspur, trying to drag them out of the Premier League relegation zone.

As for Kone, the 23-year-old made the move to Sassuolo in July 2025 on loan for €2.5m, making it permanent for a further €10m over the summer.

The Canada international scored six goals in 32 Serie A appearances this season.

There are reports Max Allegri won’t stay, so Milan could look towards ex-Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso or Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano, but one of them is heading to Chelsea.

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The tension is growing behind the scenes after a run of dismal results put Champions League qualification at risk going into the final three rounds of the Serie A season.

Long-term Milan reporter and commentator Carlo Pellegatti claims on his YouTube channel that Allegri is at loggerheads with CEO Giorgio Furlani and will not have another season with him pulling the strings.

This is because it’s rumoured the Rossoneri signed players that Allegri quite simply did not want as part of his squad.

Milan looking for Allegri alternatives

If the coach was to walk away or get fired, then Furlani would turn towards other candidates, and they are already looking around.

The ideal would be Xabi Alonso, who had success at Bayer Leverkusen and was fired by Real Madrid in January, just 34 games into his tenure.

However, the same source insists that Alonso is already in advanced negotiations with troubled Chelsea.

Instead, the next most likely alternative is Italiano, who has hit a plateau at Bologna after beating Milan in the Coppa Italia Final last season.

He had already been considered for the San Siro job before Allegri was appointed.

Top scorer Donyell Malen is training separately from his Roma teammates today, as he deals with a fitness issue in the closing weeks of the season.

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The Netherlands international has been on sensational form since his loan move from Aston Villa in January, with an option to buy for €25m that will be activated in June.

He has so far scored 12 goals in only 17 competitive appearances for the club, along with three assists, and is their top scorer despite only joining mid-season.

Roma eager to avoid Malen setbacks

Malen was spotted training separately from the rest of the Roma squad today at the Trigoria ground, prompting worried questions about whether he could be injured.

However, the Corriere dello Sport insists this was a planned recovery programme following the 4-0 victory over Fiorentina on Monday evening.

Malen was unaccustomed to playing this often at Aston Villa, so with the final push for Champions League qualification coming up, the fitness staff decided to give him a specialised schedule to get him at his best.

Roma will be back in action on Sunday evening when visiting Parma at the Stadio Tardini.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Jose Mourinho has demanded the sacking of Italian fitness coach Antonio Pintus if he is to take the Real Madrid job.

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There are multiple reports over the last few days that the players are irritated with Alvaro Arbeloa and are looking for a new tactician, but could look back for the return of Mourinho.

He had first taken the job when leaving Inter in the wake of their Treble triumph of 2010, where they won the Scudetto, Champions League and Coppa Italia.

Mourinho urges Real Madrid to sack Italian coach

In order to come back, it’s reported Mourinho has a list of demands that were set out during a video call with President Florentino Perez.

They included a request that Real Madrid fire Italian fitness coach Pintus, a 63-year-old who has had several different spells with the Merengues.

He first joined them from 2016 to 2019, then went to work with Antonio Conte at Inter from 2019-21.

There was a return to Real Madrid that summer, working as performance manager and fitness coach in various roles.

Pintus has also worked at Juventus, Chelsea, Sunderland, Olympique Marseille and other clubs.

It is not clear why Mourinho is so dead set against keeping the Italian as part of his coaching staff.

Among the other requests, the Special One also wants at least a two-year contract, for the club to appoint a formal spokesman (something he had already complained about with Roma), absolute independence on sporting decisions, and allowing players to seek a second medical opinion on injuries.

Robert Lewandowski’s agent met with several Italian clubs, including Milan and Juventus, but it’s reported the Bianconeri are cooling their interest.

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The veteran could be available on the transfer market this summer as a free agent, because his current contract with Barcelona runs to June 30, with the possibility of an extension.

Lewandowski tipped for Serie A move

His representative Pini Zahavi is looking around for alternative destinations and that could be in Serie A, so he visited Italy over the last few days for a series of meetings.

It had been suggested that Juve were the biggest rivals to Milan for Lewandowski, but Sky Sport Italia pundit Gianluca Di Marzio insists the talks did little to fuel the fire of their interest.

Instead, Juventus are increasingly frosty on the idea of signing the Poland international, who will celebrate his 38^th birthday in August.

His wage demands are believed to be a major part of the concerns around signing Lewandowski, who scored 18 goals in 42 competitive games for Barcelona so far this season.