This Saturday, Charlotte FC face Inter Miami on Matchday 4 of the 2026 Major League Soccer season at Bank of America Stadium. As happens every time the Herons visit another city, the expectation is to see Lionel Messi, but this time fans will be disappointed.

The Argentine forward is not part of the starting lineup selected by head coach Javier Mascherano, nor is he on the bench. In fact, reports indicate that he did not even travel with his teammates to North Carolina for this match.

The reason for that absence reportedly has nothing to do with physical issues or tactical decisions by the coach, but rather with a precautionary choice. “Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will be absent from tonight’s match in Charlotte. The coaching staff decided to give them rest,” reporter Jose Armando wrote on his X account.

Inter Miami have a key Concacaf Champions Cup clash ahead next Wednesday against Nashville SC, and the idea was to avoid risking an injury that could rule Messi — as well as De Paul — out of that match.

Last Wednesday, the Herons visited Geodis Park for the first leg of the Round of 16 in the continental tournament, where they drew 0-0. Now everything will be decided in the second leg, which will be played at Chase Stadium. Considering that the team’s future in the Concacaf Champions Cup depends on that match, it makes sense that Mascherano preferred to rest his main star this Saturday.

Messi’s 900th goal still on hold

Last Saturday, Lionel Messi scored one of the goals in Inter Miami’s win over DC United. It was the Argentine forward’s 899th career goal, and it came during the first half of the match, which sparked speculation that his 900th goal might even arrive that same night in Baltimore.

However, the second half passed without Leo getting another opportunity to score. Something similar happened last Wednesday, when the Herons drew 0-0 against Nashville SC. With his absence from Saturday’s clash against Charlotte FC, the long-awaited 900th goal will now have to wait at least until next Wednesday, when Inter Miami play the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 against Nashville SC at Chase Stadium.

* Developing story

Uncertainty has suddenly surrounded the future of Christian Pulisic at Milan, raising questions about why negotiations over a new long-term contract have unexpectedly slowed down. The American star has become one of the central figures in the club’s attacking system, yet talks about extending his stay at San Siro have quietly been placed on hold.

With interest reportedly growing from several Premier League sides and speculation increasing around his future, the timing of the pause has sparked curiosity among fans and observers. The winger remains a vital player for Milan and a cornerstone for the United States men’s national soccer team, but the club has chosen to delay final decisions about his long-term future—at least for now.

Despite Pulisic’s importance to Milan, the club’s leadership is said to have decided to temporarily suspend negotiations for a contract renewal until the end of the 2025-26 season. The move is not believed to reflect tension between the player and the club. Instead, the team’s hierarchy wants to keep the focus firmly on the final months of the campaign before entering complex negotiations about a new multi-year agreement.

According to Calciomercato, the club intends to meet with the player’s representatives once the season concludes to determine the best path forward for both sides. This approach allows Milan to prioritize on-field objectives before addressing administrative matters.

Even without an immediate extension, the club remains in a strong contractual position. Pulisic’s current deal runs until June 2027, and Milan also holds a unilateral option to extend the agreement until 2028, giving the Italian giant valuable leverage in any future negotiations.

The real reason behind the delay as Premier League interest grows

While the pause in negotiations initially sparked speculation, the explanation appears to be largely strategic. Both Milan and Pulisic’s camp have reportedly agreed to delay talks until after the season and upcoming international commitments, allowing each side to avoid distractions during a crucial period of the campaign.

The Rossoneri are believed to be planning a major long-term contract offer that could keep Pulisic at the club until 2031, potentially including a significant salary increase. Such a deal would ensure that the American winger spends the peak years of his career at San Siro. For now, however, the club prefers to finalize those discussions when the sporting calendar is less congested.

Even with Milan holding the contractual advantage, the situation has not gone unnoticed across Europe. Several clubs are said to be monitoring Pulisic closely, with teams from the Premier League reportedly among the most attentive observers. His revival in Italy after leaving Chelsea has re-established his reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous wide attackers.

Among the clubs linked with potential interest is Arsenal, while other English sides have also been mentioned as possible admirers. Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey even suggested the American could be a potential successor to Mohamed Salah if the Egyptian forward eventually leaves Anfield. For now, however, these connections remain speculative, with no formal offers reported.

What does the future hold for Pulisic?

Despite the pause in negotiations and the growing interest from abroad, Milan still views Pulisic as a long-term cornerstone of their project. The club is widely expected to exercise the optional one-year extension in his contract, ensuring his deal runs until 2028 while negotiations over a longer agreement continue.

If a new contract running through 2031 is eventually agreed, it would firmly cement Pulisic’s place as one of the modern stars of the Rossoneri era.

At Milan, patience has become the defining approach toward Christian Pulisic during a challenging stretch of the 2026 season. Despite the American forward’s ongoing struggle to rediscover his scoring touch, manager Massimiliano Allegri continues to trust him as a central figure in the team’s attack.

The decision might appear surprising at first glance. After all, Pulisic has yet to score a goal in 2026 and has endured a frustrating run that has tested both his confidence and consistency. Yet Allegri’s faith has not wavered, keeping the winger in the starting lineup alongside key attacking partners. Behind that loyalty lies one specific factor that has quietly reassured the Milan coaching staff and convinced them that better performances and goals are on the horizon.

The opening months of 2026 have not been easy for the American international. Pulisic’s last goal came on December 28 against Hellas Verona, and since then, the winger has endured a prolonged drought in both goals and assists. For a player known for decisive contributions in attack, the absence of direct involvement in scoring has naturally drawn attention.

Part of the challenge has stemmed from minor physical issues earlier in the year, which disrupted his rhythm and limited his impact during several matches. Those setbacks made it harder for the winger to maintain the level of sharpness that defined his early performances with Milan. Even so, the club’s coaching staff and teammates have continued to support him. Allegri has repeatedly emphasized that the American’s quality remains unquestioned, and that temporary dips in form are part of a long season.

Encouraging signs in the Milan derby

One of the most telling examples of Pulisic’s gradual recovery came during the recent Derby della Madonnina against Inter Milan. While the winger did not score or provide an assist in the match, his performance offered several encouraging signals. He showed improved composure in possession, demonstrated greater sharpness in transitions, and played a key role in Milan’s pressing strategy.

More importantly, the match suggested that Pulisic is physically returning to his best condition after earlier setbacks. That improvement has become the foundation of Allegri’s continued trust.

The key statistic behind Allegri’s faith

The most revealing detail emerged from the physical data recorded during the derby. In 84 minutes on the pitch, Pulisic covered more than 11 kilometers, making him one of the most active players in the match. The statistic may not appear glamorous compared to goals or assists, but for the Milan coaching staff, it carries enormous significance.

The distance covered demonstrated that the winger’s fitness level has significantly improved, confirming that the physical problems that hampered him earlier in the season are now largely behind him.

Beyond sheer effort, the work rate also had a tactical impact. Pulisic’s movement helped disrupt Inter’s build-up play, forcing mistakes and making it harder for the opposition to organize attacks from the back. For Allegri, this type of contribution is crucial in the modern tactical structure of the Rossoneri.

The Milan manager has not hesitated to publicly back the American forward. Speaking about Pulisic’s condition, Allegri recently explained that the winger is steadily improving and contributing positively to the team. “Physically, he is doing much better. He had a good game in the derby. He’s constantly growing,” Allegri said when discussing Pulisic’s recent performances.

The organization of the Finalissima has been a headache for all parties involved. The need to find a venue to replace Qatar has forced a tense series of meetings between UEFA, CONMEBOL, Spain and Argentina that still have not produced a resolution.

In that context, Argentina reportedly have set two conditions for the match between the champions of Europe and South America to take place. “AFA’s last counteroffer to play the Finalissima: that it be played on March 31 and at a neutral venue, or it won’t be played,” journalist Gaston Edul wrote on his X account this Saturday.

This report highlights one of the issues that has sparked controversy in recent days: the venue. With Qatar ruled out due to the political tensions that have affected the region for weeks, the most viable alternative appears to be Europe, an option that satisfies all parties since the vast majority of the players are based there.

However, UEFA’s attempts to take the clash to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid have not been well received in South America, where officials believe it violates a key aspect of the Finalissima’s organization: the neutrality of the venue. Reports indicate that Argentina prefer other cities such as Rome, London or Lisbon.

This dissatisfaction with the proposal to play in Madrid even led the president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia, to publicly state that his idea was to bring the match to Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. It has now become clear that this was a negotiation strategy, considering the venue is already booked on those dates for a series of AC/DC concerts.

Could the Finalissima change dates?

Differences over the venue are not the only source of tension right now between Argentina and Spain. With the delay in making a decision on that issue, the calendar has also become an obstacle to staging the match.

Originally, the Finalissima was scheduled to be played on Friday, March 27, a date that is now just 13 days away. That means deadlines are already extremely tight, considering logistical matters such as ticket sales, security operations and team organization.

That is why the reported request from the Argentine Football Association to move the match to March 31 could make sense, as it would provide more time to sort out the organizational details for the clash. The problem with that proposal is that it would force Argentina and Spain to change their plans for the FIFA break.

With the Finalissima scheduled for March 27, the clash between Argentina and Spain was supposed to be each national team’s first match of the international window. Days later, Lionel Scaloni’s team were set to play Qatar, while Luis de la Fuente’s squad were scheduled to face Egypt. If the date is changed, both teams would be forced to move those other matches earlier, if possible, or accept that they will not be played.

Luciano Spalletti was ‘surprised’ by Jeremie Boga’s new role for Juventus against Udinese and insists Andrea Cambiaso needs to ‘wander all over the pitch’ to be effective.

The Bianconeri were coming off a 4-0 win over Pisa and knew that they could take advantage of the fixture list to close the gap on fourth place.

It was a tough slog at the Bluenergy Stadium, but Boga proved decisive with his third goal in as many Serie A games, this time turning in the Kenan Yildiz assist.

Francisco Conceicao had also put the ball in the net, though it was disallowed because Teun Koopmeiners was offside and interfering with play.

Spalletti impressed with Juventus approach

“The team did really well, maintaining that level of determination to close the game as soon as possible. We had also scored a second, but that’s fine, because we were up against a very strong opponent,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.

Kenan Yildiz initially started as a False 9, but as usual he seemed to enjoy himself far more when moved over to the left flank and Boga was more central.

“I had never put Boga there, I always played him on the left, but he surprised me with the way he moved as a striker today,” confessed the coach.

“Yildiz I’ve said before doesn’t entirely enjoy being a centre-forward because he doesn’t yet have the art of dealing with a defender who is constantly on his tail. Starting from there I think creates problems for him.”

Kosta Runjaic confessed that Udinese struggled with the long balls from Manuel Locatelli over the top, which is where the goal came from.

“The lads did well to put those balls over the top, because if you let Udinese defend inside their own half, you’re not getting through that blockade,” noted Spalletti.

“So rather than allow them to be comfortable in those physical situations, we preferred to put them on the back foot by forcing them to run back.”

Andrea Cambiaso is another player whose versatility can be both a benefit and a problem for Juventus, as he often struggles to find the right position, but the coach insists this only has positives.

“If he doesn’t wander around all over the pitch, then I won’t pick him,” replied Spalletti to criticism from the Sky Sport Italia studio.

“These aren’t spaces, they are half-spaces, and you need players who can find them and drag others out of position. Being able to find those spaces where they open up is a quality that benefits the team.”

This was also the second consecutive clean sheet for the Bianconeri, so what improved in their defending?

“When we see more of the ball, then we defend better. Possession isn’t just a superficial exercise, it is used to create chances, and that doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. You consolidate the dominance of the game, and then choose the moments when should take those risks. We were perfect in that today, not allowing Udinese many counter-attacks that we had to chase back,” replied Spalletti.

“This reflects the mentality, as tonight we played with the mentality of a strong team.”

This result means Juventus leapfrog Roma and Como into fourth place for one night, and could well stay there, depending on the result of tomorrow’s showdown between those two teams.

Riccardo Calafiori and Gianluigi Donnarumma were the two Italians in action in today’s Premier League action, with both playing a vital role in the ongoing title race.

Sandro Tonali missed Newcastle United’s 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, after he was taken ill in the run-up to the game.

Calafiori shines for Arsenal as Gunners close in on Premier League

Calafiori started at left-back for Arsenal today as they hosted Everton at the Emirates Stadium, after Ecuadorian Piero Hincapie was given a rest by head coach Mikel Arteta.

In the 17th minute, Everton fashioned a good chance to break the deadlock but Calafiori made a fantastic block to deny the Toffees the lead in London.

Arsenal went on to win the game 2-0, opening up their gap at the head of the league table.

Later in the day, Manchester City travelled to the capital to face relegation battlers West Ham. Gianluigi Donnarumma started in goal for Pep Guardiola’s team, but conceded the Irons’ only shot in the entire match.

So as Calafiori works hard to keep Arsenal’s advantage, Donnarumma had a quiet night – with one painful sting in the tail.

Kosta Runjaic admits Udinese ‘were not able to compete on the same level’ with a practically full-strength Juventus. ‘They have world class players like Kenan Yildiz and Jeremie Boga.’

The Friulani suffered a 1-0 home defeat this evening, as Boga turned in the assist from Kenan Yildiz to beat Maduka Okoye, the goalkeeper having made several big saves.

Francisco Conceicao had also managed to find the net, but it was disallowed because Teun Koopmeiners was considered to be interfering with play in an offside position.

Runjaic acknowledges Udinese limits

“Juventus played better, that is clear, we expected to have less possession, but were missing a little bit of quality at times. We also had chances, soccer is not just about playing better, but taking the chances,” Runjaic told Sky Sport Italia.

“Ekkelenkamp had a good situation, Zaniolo was in a good position when there Atta should’ve had a cut-back ball, and other choices were made.

“Juventus are a strong team, they have world class wide players like Yildiz and Conceicao, so right now we are not able to compete on the same level.”

Udinese are now in mid-table, so for the remaining nine games of the season, will he motivate them aiming for Europe or just to improve on last season’s tally?

“I don’t need to push the team,” shrugged Runjaic.

Udinese seemed to struggle with long balls down the left in particular, where players like Yildiz and Boga managed to control and attack the near post.

“Juventus are a very versatile team, they are able to play short combinations, but also dangerous with deep balls from Locatelli, and one of those we didn’t defend well enough, so they scored the goal. It is not easy to protect a fantastic deep ball like that, they have players who are running deep and can receive with one touch.

“It’s not easy to find the balance, we did better in the second half, but that is just one of many elements.”

Yildiz moved over to his preferred left side, that added to the sense that Udinese’s defence was struggling, but Runjaic points out his choices were also limited.

“It’s nothing new, Yildiz played many times as a winger, so it was just a matter of time. We were completely aware about this, but were also missing players like Zanoli, Bertola and Solet. It is not an excuse, but we were unable to perform with a full squad.

“On the other hand, Juve put all their quality out without any big injuries at the moment, so if it wasn’t Yildiz, then Conceicao would do something. We don’t need to look for micro-details, it’s not about this.”

Juventus battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Udinese on Saturday evening, with a first half goal from Jeremie Boga all that separated the two sides.

Football Italia’s Man of the Match was Boga, for his vital goal that continues his good start to life in Bianconeri.

Udinese 0-1 Juventus – Player Ratings

Udinese: Okoye 6.5; Ehizibue 6, Kabasele 5.5, Kristensen 6; Zarraga 5 (Mlacic N/A), Ekkelenkamp 5.5 (Miller 6), Karlstrom 5.5 (Piotrowski N/A), Atta 5.5, Kamara 6 (Arizala 6); Zaniolo 5, Davis 6

Best Udinese player: Maduka Okoye – Made six saves tonight to keep his team in the game and cannot be faulted too much for Boba’s goal. Looked very competent and prevented the scoreline from being a lot worse.

Lowest Udinese rating: Nicolo Zaniolo – Uncharacteristically poor compared to his typical performances for Udinese this season, struggling to have much involvement at all beyond a yellow card.

Coach: Kosta Runjaic 6 – Would have preferred, obviously, to come away with a result but will not be too disheartened with his team’s performance against a side with much more financial pull than themselves.

Juventus: Perin 6; Kalulu 6, Bremer 6.5, Kelly 6, Cambiaso 6; Locatelli 6.5, Thuram 6 (Koopmeiners 6); Conceicao 6.5 (Miretti N/A), McKennie 6, Boga 7 (Gatti N/A); Yildiz 7

Best Juventus player: Jeremie Boga – Once again finding the back of the net, bringing him two goals off Jonathan David’s Serie A tally for the season, the Ivorian is proving to be an excellent winter addition. Created a number of good chances for his teammates too.

Lowest Juventus rating: Khephren Thuram – Had a difficult first half before having to come off early in the second period due to a knock. Was not involved a whole lot when he was on the pitch but he wasn’t atrocious.

Coach: Luciano Spalletti 6.5 – Will be happy with his team’s performance, and less so with the scoreline. Spalletti’s tactics overwhelmed the opposition but poor finishing of chances meant the match was a lot closer than the Italian coach may have liked.

Jeremie Boga scored for the third Serie A match in a row to give Juventus a precious 1-0 victory away to Udinese, but a Francisco Conceicao goal was disallowed.

The Bianconeri ended their crisis with a 4-0 win over Pisa, but with Dusan Vlahovic and Emil Holm still out, dropped Jonathan David to bring in Jeremie Boga as support for False 9 Kenan Yildiz. The Friulani were also back on track, beating Fiorentina 3-0 and holding Atalanta 2-2, not coincidentally once Keinan Davis returned from injury. Arthur Atta and Oumar Solet were available again, though Adam Buksa, Nicolò Bertola, Jordan Zemura and Alessandro Zanoli missed out.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Boga got down the left to force a tricky save out of Maduka Okoye at the near post, then Francisco Conceicao scuffed the finish on the resulting short corner and had another attempt charged down by Thomas Kristensen.

Arthur Atta tested Mattia Perin at the near post, as did Boga at the other end with Okoye, but it was only a warning.

Juventus took the lead when another long ball allowed Kenan Yildiz to spring the offside trap down the left, holding off Oier Zarraga to roll across for a Boga tap-in from six yards. It was his third goal in as many games.

It was wide open before half-time, as Atta fired over from close range after a loose ball fell into his path, then Boga again tested Okoye after running onto a Francisco Conceicao through ball.

On the resulting corner, Andrea Cambiaso forced a big reaction save out of Okoye at the back stick.

Juve lost Khephren Thuram to injury and Udinese wasted an astonishing chance to equalise, as Keinan Davis rolled across from the left only for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp to stumble, unable to tap in from six yards.

Okoye flew to palm away the Manuel Locatelli curler, while Teun Koopmeiners couldn’t keep his header down from six yards on the Boga cross.

Yildiz tested Okoye at the near post, then his strike was on target until deflected wide by Kingsley Ehizibue.

Juventus thought they had doubled their lead on 70 minutes when Kenan Yildiz twisted and turned, threaded through for Francisco Conceicao, who took one touch before sweeping into the far bottom corner from 12 yards. However, Koopmeiners was offside and got out of the way to let the ball through, so the goal was disallowed following a VAR review.

Yildiz completed a give and go with substitute Fabio Miretti, the Italian seeing his finish parried from close range by Okoye.

Udinese 0-1 Juventus

Boga 38 (J)

14-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 29

Friuli Stadium (Dacia Arena)

Udinese

Juventus

0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Nicolò Zaniolo		32'
		38'		Jeremie Boga (Assist: Kenan Yıldız)

2nd half

Branimir Mlacic		88'
Christian Kabasele		90+2'
		90'		Lloyd Kelly

Match statistic

44

Possession %

56

10

Total shots

22

2

Shots on target

8

7

Shots off target

9

1

Blocked shots

5

2

Corners

6

Offsides

3

12

Fouls

14

Udinese

Juventus

Starting lineups

40

Maduka Okoye

Goalkeeper

27

Christian Kabasele

Defender

11

Hassane Kamara

Defender

67'

19

Kingsley Ehizibue

Defender

31

Thomas Kristensen

Defender

14

Arthur Atta

Midfielder

84'

8

Jesper Karlström

Midfielder

76'

32

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

Midfielder

67'

10

Nicolò Zaniolo

Midfielder

6

Oier Zarraga

Midfielder

76'

9

Keinan Davis

Attacker

1

Mattia Perin

Goalkeeper

27

Andrea Cambiaso

Defender

90'

3

Bremer

Defender

6

Lloyd Kelly

Defender

15

Pierre Kalulu

Defender

19

Khéphren Thuram

Midfielder

49'

5

Manuel Locatelli

Midfielder

22

Weston McKennie

Midfielder

7

Francisco Conceição

Attacker

79'

13

Jeremie Boga

Attacker

79'

10

Kenan Yıldız

Attacker

90'

Substitutes

93

Daniele Padelli

Goalkeeper

28

Oumar Solet

Defender

90

Răzvan Sava

Goalkeeper

15

Vakoun Bayo

Attacker

29

Abdoulaye Camara

Midfielder

38

Lennon Miller

Midfielder

67'

20

Juan Arizala

Defender

67'

24

Jakub Piotrowski

Midfielder

76'

22

Branimir Mlacic

Defender

76'

7

Idrissa Gueye

Attacker

84'

23

Carlo Pinsoglio

Goalkeeper

16

Michele Di Gregorio

Goalkeeper

14

Arkadiusz Milik

Attacker

20

Loïs Openda

Attacker

11

Edon Zhegrova

Attacker

32

Juan Cabal

Defender

17

Vasilije Adžić

Midfielder

8

Teun Koopmeiners

Midfielder

49'

21

Fabio Miretti

Midfielder

79'

4

Federico Gatti

Defender

79'

18

Filip Kostic

Midfielder

90'

30

Jonathan David

Attacker

90'

Maurizio Sarri held his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Milan, and the Lazio head coach was in candid and thoughtful mood, touching on tactical concerns, injury news, and even offering a wry observation about what he might envy in his opposite number Massimiliano Allegri.

The return of supporters to the Stadio Olimpico after a period of reduced attendance was a clear source of motivation for Sarri, who rarely hides his affection for the Lazio faithful.

“Both myself and the players are all happy to play in front of our people and a full stadium,” he said, with quotes via LaLazioSiamoNoi.

“It is a strong motivation for us.”

He also revealed he intends to visit the Curva Nord before the match, something he typically avoids out of respect for his players, after supporters extended a personal invitation.

“The fact that they want to greet me means a lot. I think tomorrow I will go.”

Lazio coach Sarri anticipates Milan threat

On the tactical challenge posed by Milan, Sarri was typically precise in his assessment.

“Milan have well-defined characteristics, they hurt you even when they don’t seem in control of the game. Great technical and physical quality, devastating acceleration. We cannot give them open space.”

He then delivered a counterintuitive but sharp observation that will resonate with anyone who has watched Lazio struggle in transition.

“When you play Milan, the most dangerous moment is when we have the ball.”

Set pieces have become a structural problem for Lazio, and Sarri was honest about why. “Without Vecino and Guendouzi, dead balls are now a real issue,” he said. “Having to change formation also means changing the positioning of players at set pieces, none of that makes things easier.”

In terms of injured players, Alessio Romagnoli remains a doubt and will be assessed on Sunday morning, while Patric and Taylor have both been trialled in training as Sarri looks to finalise his options.

Asked what he might envy about Allegri, the Lazio coach allowed himself a smile. “Allegri manages the club with the highest revenue in Italy, they can afford important players. You envy some things, but that is part of the game. What does he envy about me? Ask him,” he laughed.

On his own future, Sarri was measured. He acknowledged that several players are out of contract at the end of the season and that another transitional summer may be coming. “I have a contract. If the club is not happy or if I am not happy, we will speak. But today there is no discussion.”

The sense, reading between the lines, is of a coach who remains committed but is watching closely to see how the club intends to rebuild.

Max Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history as his inspired cameo propelled Arsenal to a potentially pivotal 2-0 win over Everton. The 16-year-old came off the bench and played a crucial role in Viktor Gyokeres’ 89th-minute goal before scoring with the final kick of the game to seal victory and send Arsenal, […]

The post Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Dowman makes Premier League history in dramatic victory appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Arsenal 2-0 Everton: Dowman makes Premier League history in dramatic victory appeared first on Soccer News.

Anthony Gordon dealt Chelsea’s Champions League hopes a blow by earning Newcastle United a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge. England international Gordon faced some criticism after illness meant he started Newcastle’s Champions League draw with Barcelona on Tuesday on the bench, and he issued an emphatic response. Gordon put Newcastle ahead in the 18th minute, […]

The post Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle United: Gordon puts a dent in hosts´ Champions League hopes appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle United: Gordon puts a dent in hosts´ Champions League hopes appeared first on Soccer News.

Napoli dug deep to claim a hard-fought comeback victory over Lecce, and the mood in the dressing room afterwards was one of relief mixed with genuine satisfaction, particularly for Matteo Politano, who finally ended a long personal drought with a goal and an assist in the same game.

“I am so happy, I finally scored that blessed goal that had been escaping me for ages,” Politano told DAZN, via IlNapolista.

“A fantastic, perfect day. We won a difficult game and Conte told us at half-time to stay calm, that one goal would put things right. He knew our strength.”

The experienced winger was equally keen to credit the returning players for changing the game, pointing to the broader squad depth as a key factor in Napoli’s continued push for Champions League football.

Napoli 2-1 Lecce – Hojlund ‘happy’ to find shooting boots

Rasmus Højlund was another man in fine fettle after rediscovering his scoring touch.

“I am happy to have found my goal again and to help the team,” the Danish striker said.

“Players like McTominay, De Bruyne and Politano stimulate us a lot, the squad needs players like them.” He also singled out Politano specifically, noting that the winger has assists running through his veins.

Captain for the evening Alex Meret was more measured in his assessment, offering an honest appraisal of a first half that left plenty to be desired.

“We did not play well in the first half, too many misplaced passes and we gave away dangerous counter-attacks,” he said.

“In the second half we were more aggressive and the goal gave us the momentum we needed.”

Wearing the armband was a source of enormous pride for the goalkeeper, who also spoke of his ambitions to be part of Italy’s World Cup squad. He did flag one area of concern, however, aerial balls and set-pieces.

“The matches are decided there now. We need to be more focused and concede fewer goals.”

Brazilian forward Alisson Santos rounded off the reaction with a neat insight into his goalscoring philosophy.

“I always try to finish at the near post, I believe it puts the goalkeeper in more difficulty,” he said simply. “The most important thing is that Napoli won.”

Antonio Conte warns Napoli that he will be ruthless for the ‘common good, which is Champions League qualification,’ and reveals what he saw with Lameck Banda’s collapse.

It was the worst possible start to the game at the Stadio Maradona when Lecce took the lead in the third minute, as Jamil Siebert was allowed a free header on a corner.

The Partenopei struggled to get back into it, but were transformed at half-time when introducing Kevin De Bruyne and Scott McTominay off the bench.

They equalised within 60 seconds thanks to Rasmus Hojlund meeting a Matteo Politano pull-back, then Politano ended his 43-match drought to turn it around completely for a third consecutive victory.

Conte keeps eye on big picture for Napoli

“I am not someone who tends to pay attention to statistics, but I can only be satisfied when hearing I have such a good record,” Conte told DAZN Italia when informed he has an average of 2.21 points per game in Serie A.

Although De Bruyne had made his comeback last week against Torino, this was his first appearance at the Stadio Maradona since he suffered that serious thigh tear on October 25, converting a penalty against Inter.

With everyone available again, how could this change the Napoli line-up?

“These are all hypotheticals, because we are talking about players who have been out for four or five months, so we cannot expect them to immediately be in good shape,” replied Conte.

“We started out using Elmas against Torino with Gilmour, then in the second half I brought on Anguissa and pushed Elmas further forward. Today we started with Anguissa and Gilmour, then Elmas as a Number 10.

“As we were losing the match, I changed again. These are great players, but we must give them time to regain the match tempo.

“It’s true that the lads need to regain confidence, but the most important thing is the common good, which is what is good for Napoli.

“I made choices today and made changes at half-time. Everyone wants to play, but we’ve got to be smart and they must trust what I see and feel.

“The most important thing is that we qualify for the Champions League.”

There was also tension in the final minutes when Lecce player Lameck Banda collapsed near to Conte on the touchline, so the coach alerted the medical staff to get him treatment.

According to the latest reports, Banda received a knock to the chest moments earlier and was struggling to breathe, but did not appear to lose consciousness.

“I was right there preparing the wall for a free kick and I saw him looking a bit shaky, he started to go down, then he had his hand on his chest, which really frightened me,” revealed Conte.

“I rushed onto the field and called for help, I hope he is doing well and has a quick recovery. Banda is a good lad, he’s expecting a baby too, so I wish him and his family well.”

Luciano Spalletti tells Juventus that the trip to Udinese is ‘about stepping up to the next level, like in video games’ and wants to learn from Bayern Munich’s ‘encyclopaedia of football.’

It kicks off at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Bianconeri had been going through a crisis, which included crashing out of the Champions League and Coppa Italia, but got back on track by thrashing Pisa 4-0.

Jeremie Boga impressed off the bench in the game, so he gets his first start here in place of Jonathan David, moving Kenan Yildiz to a False 9 role.

Spalletti outlines Juventus changes

“It is going to be a very important game for our season, as it is the kind of match where we are stepping up to the next level, like in video games,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.

“My players therefore need to defend all they have built and gone through this term, and do it against a tough opponent.”

Dusan Vlahovic returned to training this week for the first time since his serious tendon injury in November 2025, but is not in the squad yet, missing out along with Emil Holm.

“Udinese are not the team we faced earlier this season in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, they have found their identity. They are also very physical, so we need to make our quality count and the first touch is going to be decisive, as that is what allows you to take control of the ball and rob their physicality of that power,” added Spalletti.

The Juventus coach gained inspiration from watching the Champions League, where Bayern Munich beat Atalanta 6-1 on Tuesday.

“This is why I chose three upfront who have great quality on the ball and can take men on. In modern football, everyone has to find their position on the field with balance and continual changing of role, but doing it in a dynamic and fluid manner.

“Just look at Bayern Munich the other day against Atalanta, they showed us a whole encyclopaedia of movement and positioning in football.

“It’s about realising where the gaps are and not letting Davis gather a long ball to sprint into space.”

Juve hope that with Roma and Como going head-to-head tomorrow for fourth place, it can let them back into that tussle for Champions League qualification.

“What becomes fundamental is that players realise a match can change in a second, and we can dictate what happens in that second. It’s always up to us,” concluded Spalletti.

Lecce player Lameck Banda collapsed during the final minutes of the 2-1 defeat to Napoli, but reports from the club are reassuring on his condition.

The wide forward was in the starting XI for the Salentini at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, a game his team had been leading through Jamil Siebert before Rasmus Hojlund and Matteo Politano turned it around.

Banda collapse worrying for Lecce and Napoli

In the final minutes of the Serie A fixture, Napoli coach Antonio Conte spotted that Banda was struggling to breathe, as he was in the vicinity of the touchline, and immediately alerted the Lecce medical staff.

A hushed silence fell over the crowd as medics ran on to provide assistance, then after a few minutes he was stretchered off and taken to a nearby ambulance on the side of the pitch for tests.

According to DAZN Italia, Banda sustained a knock to the chest around 40 seconds before he collapsed, so was badly winded and struggling to breathe.

He never appeared to lose consciousness, and initial reports from the touchline are reassuring on his condition.

Match Overview

With the 2026 Major League Soccer season beginning to take shape, Inter Miami have quickly rebounded from its opening setback, stringing together two straight wins to climb within a single point of Eastern Conference frontrunners New York City FC and Nashville SC.

Now powered by the influence of Lionel Messi, Miami aim to extend that surge when it meets Charlotte FC, a side still trying to find its rhythm after beginning the campaign with a win, a draw, and a defeat. With momentum on the line and valuable early-season points at stake, this clash promises plenty of intrigue.

Match Overview

Chivas head into their upcoming matchup against Santos Laguna looking to keep the pressure on the top of the Liga MX standings. With 21 points, Guadalajara sit just four behind league leaders Cruz Azul and recently regained momentum by snapping a two-game losing streak in Matchday 10.

Meanwhile, Santos Laguna have struggled all season and remain at the bottom of the table with only five points from 10 games, making this a key opportunity for Chivas to continue their climb—so make sure not to miss the action.

Matteo Politano ended his goal drought after 43 games, as Napoli fought back to beat Lecce 2-1 on the return of Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne to the Stadio Maradona.

The Partenopei regained their confidence with back-to-back 2-1 wins over Verona and Torino. A significant boost was Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa’s first start since November, although Antonio Vergara and Juan Jesus joined Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani on the treatment table. Scott McTominay returned to the bench after a month out. Lecce clambered out of the bottom four with a victory over Cremonese, and had Omri Gandelman back after a knee problem, but missed Medon Berisha, Francesco Camarda and Kialonda Gaspar.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was a very aggressive start from the visitors, who took the lead on their second Antonino Gallo corner of the game, as Jamil Siebert was allowed a free header from six yards at the back post after just two minutes and 20 seconds.

They very nearly conceded an identical second, as this time Tiago Gabriel nodded a Gallo corner over from five yards after the Lameck Banda shot had been deflected off target.

Billy Gilmour prodded inches wide from 12 yards on an Alisson Santos pull-back, while Gallo was decisive to intercept an Alisson cross for Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund couldn’t quite get on the end of a cross from six yards.

Alex Meret got down to parry a Nikola Stulic strike at the base of the near post, while Politano’s screamer only hit the side-netting.

Antonio Conte pulled out the big guns for the restart, introducing McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne, and it paid off within 60 seconds.

Gilmour’s inspired pass sent Politano down the right, he pulled back from the by-line and Hojlund was ready to tap in from six yards.

Tiago Gabriel failed to make the most of slack marking on a free kick moments later, as Walid Cheddira only hit the side-netting against his parent club and Alisson Santos sent through by De Bruyne forced a desperate Wladimiro Falcone save with an outstretched leg.

Napoli turned the game around completely when De Bruyne’s corner was flicked on to the back post for the precise Politano volley. It was his first goal in almost a full calendar year, ending a drought of 43 competitive games.

De Bruyne also sent Alisson Santos through to drill inches wide of the near post, while Siebert did just enough to stop Hojlund getting a shot away from a dangerous position.

There was a hushed silence in the Stadio Maradona when Lameck Banda was struggling to breathe after being winded, but he was stretchered off after a few minutes for treatment. Lecce had completed their substitutions, so played stoppages with only 10 men.

Napoli 2-1 Lecce

Siebert 3 (L), Hojlund 46 (N), Politano 67 (N)

14-03-2026 17:00

MatchDay 29

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Lecce

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		3'		Jamil Siebert (Assist: Antonino Gallo)
		19'		Jamil Siebert

2nd half

Rasmus Højlund (Assist: Matteo Politano)		46'
Matteo Politano		67'

Match statistic

70

Possession %

30

12

Total shots

12

4

Shots on target

2

6

Shots off target

6

2

Blocked shots

4

7

Corners

7

11

Fouls

7

Napoli

Lecce

Starting lineups

1

Alex Meret

Goalkeeper

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola

Defender

72'

17

Mathías Olivera

Defender

31

Sam Beukema

Defender

99

Frank Anguissa

Midfielder

46'

6

Billy Gilmour

Midfielder

20

Eljif Elmas

Midfielder

46'

27

Alisson Santos

Attacker

85'

21

Matteo Politano

Attacker

72'

19

Rasmus Højlund

Attacker

30

Wladimiro Falcone

Goalkeeper

25

Antonino Gallo

Defender

79'

17

Danilo Veiga

Defender

5

Jamil Siebert

Defender

44

Tiago Gabriel

Defender

29

Lassana Coulibaly

Midfielder

46'

79

Oumar Ngom

Midfielder

85'

20

Ylber Ramadani

Midfielder

19

Lameck Banda

Attacker

9

Nikola Stulic

Attacker

59'

50

Santiago Pierotti

Attacker

79'

Substitutes

5

Juan Jesus

Defender

14

Nikita Contini

Goalkeeper

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

9

Romelu Lukaku

Attacker

23

Giovane Nascimento

Attacker

11

Kevin De Bruyne

Midfielder

46'

8

Scott McTominay

Midfielder

46'

30

Pasquale Mazzocchi

Defender

72'

3

Miguel Gutiérrez

Defender

72'

23

Giovane

Attacker

85'

23

Riccardo Sottil

Attacker

14

Thórir Jóhann Helgason

Midfielder

32

Jasper Samooja

Goalkeeper

1

Christian Früchtl

Goalkeeper

36

Filip Marchwinski

Midfielder

18

Gaby Jean

Defender

13

Matías Pérez

Defender

6

Álex Sala

Midfielder

16

Omri Gandelman

Midfielder

46'

99

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

59'

11

Konan N’Dri

Attacker

79'

3

Corrie Ndaba

Defender

79'

8

Sadik Fofana

Defender

85'

Juventus launch a new strike force of Kenan Yildiz, Jeremie Boga, Francisco Conceicao and Weston McKennie against Udinese’s Keinan Davis and Nicolò Zaniolo.

It kicks off at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Bianconeri had been in a crisis of results until thrashing Pisa 4-0 last week, and hope the fixture list can give them a helping hand to get back into the top four.

Dusan Vlahovic returned to training over the last few days, but has not made the trip along with Emil Holm and Arek Milik.

Misfiring Jonathan David is therefore dropped and replaced with Yildiz as a False 9, supported by Francisco Conceicao, McKennie and new entry Boga.

The former Sassuolo and Marseille winger impressed off the bench and gets his first start.

Udinese had a dismal run of three straight defeats, but it’s no coincidence that ended with the return of Davis from injury.

He had a starring role in the 3-0 win over Fiorentina and 2-2 draw with Atalanta, so again partners Italy international Zaniolo upfront.

Arthur Atta and Oumar Solet are back in the squad after injury, but Adam Buksa, Nicolò Bertola, Jordan Zemura and Alessandro Zanoli miss out.

Udinese vs. Juventus line-ups

Udinese: Okoye; Ehizibue, Kabasele, Kristensen; Zarraga, Ekkelenkamp, Karlstrom, Atta, Kamara; Zaniolo, Davis

Juventus: Perin; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, McKennie, Boga; Yildiz

14-03-2026 19:45

MatchDay 29

Friuli Stadium (Dacia Arena)

Udinese

Juventus

0 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Nicolò Zaniolo		32'
		38'		Jeremie Boga (Assist: Kenan Yıldız)

2nd half

Branimir Mlacic		88'
Christian Kabasele		90+2'
		90'		Lloyd Kelly

Match statistic

44

Possession %

56

10

Total shots

22

2

Shots on target

8

7

Shots off target

9

1

Blocked shots

5

2

Corners

6

Offsides

3

12

Fouls

14

Udinese

Juventus

Starting lineups

40

Maduka Okoye

Goalkeeper

27

Christian Kabasele

Defender

11

Hassane Kamara

Defender

67'

19

Kingsley Ehizibue

Defender

31

Thomas Kristensen

Defender

14

Arthur Atta

Midfielder

84'

8

Jesper Karlström

Midfielder

76'

32

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

Midfielder

67'

10

Nicolò Zaniolo

Midfielder

6

Oier Zarraga

Midfielder

76'

9

Keinan Davis

Attacker

1

Mattia Perin

Goalkeeper

27

Andrea Cambiaso

Defender

90'

3

Bremer

Defender

6

Lloyd Kelly

Defender

15

Pierre Kalulu

Defender

19

Khéphren Thuram

Midfielder

49'

5

Manuel Locatelli

Midfielder

22

Weston McKennie

Midfielder

7

Francisco Conceição

Attacker

79'

13

Jeremie Boga

Attacker

79'

10

Kenan Yıldız

Attacker

90'

Substitutes

93

Daniele Padelli

Goalkeeper

28

Oumar Solet

Defender

90

Răzvan Sava

Goalkeeper

15

Vakoun Bayo

Attacker

29

Abdoulaye Camara

Midfielder

38

Lennon Miller

Midfielder

67'

20

Juan Arizala

Defender

67'

24

Jakub Piotrowski

Midfielder

76'

22

Branimir Mlacic

Defender

76'

7

Idrissa Gueye

Attacker

84'

23

Carlo Pinsoglio

Goalkeeper

16

Michele Di Gregorio

Goalkeeper

14

Arkadiusz Milik

Attacker

20

Loïs Openda

Attacker

11

Edon Zhegrova

Attacker

32

Juan Cabal

Defender

17

Vasilije Adžić

Midfielder

8

Teun Koopmeiners

Midfielder

49'

21

Fabio Miretti

Midfielder

79'

4

Federico Gatti

Defender

79'

18

Filip Kostic

Midfielder

90'

30

Jonathan David

Attacker

90'

Former Roma defender Ashley Cole has reportedly been lined up as the new coach of Serie B side Cesena, leaving the staff of the Under-21 England team.

According to Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedullà, Cole is already in Italy and having physical meetings with the Cesena hierarchy to sign the contract.

Surprising Serie B adventure for Cole

The 45-year-old had some experience in Italian football as a player for Roma from 2014 to 2016, when he went on to the LA Galaxy and ended his playing career at Derby in 2019.

Before that, he had made his mark as a full-back for Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

When it came to management, Cole has worked at the Chelsea youth academy, plus as an assistant manager to the likes of Lee Carsley, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and more.

Above all, he worked with Carsley, and is currently the assistant to the England Under-21 team coach.

Cesena were held to a 2-2 home draw by Frosinone today and the decision was made to sack coach Michele Mignani.

It left them in eighth place, the final slot available for the promotion play-offs.

Manu Koné returns to the Roma squad for their fourth place showdown with Como, but Matias Soulé and Paulo Dybala are still out of action with Evan Ndicka suspended.

It kicks off at the Stadio Sinigaglia on Sunday at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

This is a huge crossroads in the race for Champions League qualification, as the two teams are stuck together in joint fourth place.

The good news for Gian Piero Gasperini is the return of Koné, who was not even on the bench after a muscular twinge during Thursday’s Europa League 1-1 draw with Bologna.

Wesley is also back after sitting out last week’s Serie A defeat to Genoa, but he is replaced on the naughty step by Ndicka.

It had been hoped that Soulé would recover from his on-going inflammation of the groin area, but the pain persists and he is again not going to make the trip.

Paulo Dybala, Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson are long-term absentees, leaving very few alternatives in attack.

As for the defence, Ndicka’s ban makes it likely that Mario Hermoso will receive his first start since February 2, having played 25 minutes against Bologna on Thursday.

Roma squad for Como

Svilar, De Marzi, Gollini; Rensch, Angelino, Tsimikas, Celik, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziolkowski, Wesley, Ghilardi; Cristante, Pellegrini, El Aynaoui, Kone, Pisilli; Malen, Venturino, Vaz, El Shaarawy, Zaragoza

Speculation surrounding the future of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has resurfaced once again, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly continuing to monitor the Norwegian star.

According to TEAMtalk, the two Spanish giants remain interested in Haaland as part of their long-term attacking plans.

However, the latest reports have been quickly downplayed. Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta has firmly rejected claims that negotiations have taken place with Barcelona, dismissing suggestions that discussions over a potential future move are already underway.

Haaland remains firmly under contract with Man City after signing a major extension last year that ties him to the club until 2034.

Barcelona’s interest sparks intense debate

The renewed speculation began after Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font claimed he was attempting to secure a “preferential option” to sign Haaland if the striker ever decided to leave Man City.

Font’s comments immediately drew attention across European football, as Barcelona have long been linked with the prolific Norwegian forward.

The club has been rebuilding its squad in recent years and is expected to pursue high-profile signings if financial conditions allow.

However, Pimenta quickly dismissed the suggestion that any formal negotiations had taken place, clarifying that Haaland’s camp has not engaged in talks regarding a transfer.

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Mar 14 2026, 18:38

Erling Haaland is committed to Man City

Haaland’s current situation makes any immediate move unlikely. The striker signed a long-term contract extension with Man City in 2025, committing his future to the Premier League champions for the foreseeable future.

Since joining City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has established himself as one of the most dominant goal scorers in world football.

Haaland has consistently delivered impressive goal-scoring numbers, playing a key role in Man City’s domestic and European ambitions under manager Pep Guardiola.

Real Madrid’s interest in Haaland is not new. The Spanish giants have previously been linked with the striker as part of their long-term strategy to assemble one of the strongest attacking lineups in Europe.

Real Madrid monitor Man City star’s situation as experienced player nears key decision

The post Erling Haaland exit reports have resurfaced again as Man City attackers tops transfer wishlist appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool’s long-standing interest in Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni could soon develop into a transfer battle with Barcelona.

According to Sport, the Premier League side will face strong competition from Barcelona, who are also closely monitoring the Italian international’s situation.

Bastoni has emerged as one of the most highly regarded central defenders in European football.

Inter Milan are believed to value the 26-year-old at around €70 million, and reports suggest the player could be open to a move away from Italy should the right opportunity arise.

Bastoni has become one of Europe’s best defenders

Bastoni has become a central figure in Inter Milan’s defence over the past few seasons.

Operating primarily on the left side of Inter’s defensive line, Bastoni has excelled in a system that demands defenders to initiate attacking play from deep areas.

His precise passing range and ability to carry the ball forward have made him particularly valuable in possession-based systems.

The defender has also established himself as a regular for the Italian national team, further enhancing his reputation across Europe.

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Mar 14 2026, 18:38

Why Liverpool are interested in the Inter defender

Liverpool’s interest in Bastoni has been reported for some time, with the club believed to be evaluating options to strengthen their defense in the coming years.

With veteran leaders such as Virgil van Dijk approaching the latter stages of their careers, the club is exploring long-term solutions capable of anchoring the back line.

Bastoni’s ability to play progressive passes and operate comfortably in a high defensive line makes him an appealing fit for Liverpool’s tactical philosophy.

Barcelona’s involvement in the race for Bastoni adds a new dimension to the transfer saga.

Reports suggest that the Catalan club’s transfer strategy could be influenced by the outcome of their presidential election, which may shape the club’s recruitment priorities moving forward.

From Spain: Liverpool given chance to sign versatile 23-year-old for just €50m

The post Liverpool face €70 million battle with Barcelona for defender considered Van Dijk replacement appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams has emerged as a key transfer target for several Premier League heavyweights ahead of the upcoming summer window.

According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are all actively monitoring the situation of the United States international, with United currently believed to be leading the race for his signature.

Adams has attracted significant attention thanks to his strong performances and leadership qualities in midfield.

While Bournemouth remain keen to keep hold of the player, reports suggest the club could consider offers in the region of £45 million if serious interest materialises.

Tyler Adams has impressed top Premier League clubs

Adams has become an integral figure in the team’s midfield structure. The 27-year-old is widely admired for his work rate, tactical awareness, and ability to disrupt opposition attacks.

Adams typically operates as a defensive midfielder, providing protection for the back line while helping his team transition quickly from defence to attack.

His ability to cover ground, press aggressively, and recover possession has made him one of the most effective ball-winning midfielders in the Premier League.

In addition to his club performances, Adams is also a key player for the United States national team, where he has frequently served as captain.

His leadership qualities and experience at international tournaments have further boosted his reputation across European football.

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Mar 14 2026, 18:38

Man United lead the race to sign Adams

Man United’s reported interest in Adams matches with their ongoing efforts to strengthen the midfield department.

The club has been searching for players capable of providing energy, defensive stability, and tactical discipline in the center of the pitch.

Liverpool and Chelsea are also believed to be exploring midfield reinforcements as part of their long-term squad planning.

Adams’ playing style, combining defensive intensity with intelligent positioning, makes him an appealing option for teams that prioritize high pressing and quick transitions.

Despite the growing interest, Bournemouth are under no immediate pressure to sell. Adams is under contract until 2028, which gives the club a strong negotiating position.

However, a substantial offer could test Bournemouth’s resolve, particularly if the player expresses a desire to take the next step in his career.

Man United & Liverpool handed £86.2m transfer boost following major development 

The post Man United frontrunners to sign £45 million Premier League midfielder ahead of Liverpool & Chelsea appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United’s season has taken a more positive turn since Michael Carrick stepped in as interim manager following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim earlier this year.

However, despite the recent improvement in results and performances, the club is still believed to be planning for a long-term managerial appointment once the season concludes.

According to reports from The Sun, United’s hierarchy have drawn up a shortlist of five potential candidates to take permanent charge at Old Trafford.

The list reportedly includes Oliver Glasner, Unai Emery, Andoni Iraola, Roberto De Zerbi, and Julian Nagelsmann, all managers with strong reputations in European football.

Michael Carrick faces uncertain future at Man United

Carrick’s appointment as interim boss initially appeared to be a temporary measure designed to steady the club after Amorim’s difficult spell.

Since taking over, however, the former United midfielder has overseen a noticeable improvement in the team’s structure and results.

Players have responded positively to Carrick’s leadership, with several improved performances helping United regain momentum in the Premier League and reestablish some confidence within the squad.

Despite this progress, sources suggest the club’s leadership remains committed to appointing a long-term head coach with a clearly defined tactical identity.

United have five managers on their radar

The shortlist reportedly reflects a mix of experienced managers and progressive tacticians.

Oliver Glasner, currently at Crystal Palace, is expected to leave the London club at the end of the season. The Austrian manager gained widespread praise during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he led the club to UEFA Europa League glory in 2022.

Unai Emery, meanwhile, has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most tactically astute managers. His work at Aston Villa has earned admiration across the Premier League, while his previous success, including multiple Europa League titles, highlights his pedigree.

Andoni Iraola, currently impressing with Bournemouth, is viewed as one of the league’s most progressive coaches thanks to his high-energy tactical style.

Former Brighton and Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is also being considered. Known for his possession-based football and innovative tactical approach, De Zerbi has previously attracted interest from several top European clubs.

Finally, Germany national team coach Julian Nagelsmann remains a highly respected figure in the game. At just 38, Nagelsmann has already managed clubs like RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, gaining recognition as one of the brightest coaching minds in modern football.

Man United & Liverpool handed £86.2m transfer boost following major development 

The post Managers shortlisted: Man United have FIVE managers on their radar for the hot seat appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The Saudi Pro League title race continues to deliver drama, and the battle for the Golden Boot has become just as intense. While Cristiano Ronaldo remains sidelined with injury, the spotlight has shifted toward two other prolific forwards: Ivan Toney and Julian Quinones.

All three stars have been central figures in the scoring charts this season, representing Al‑Nassr, Al‑Ahli, and Al‑Qadsiah, respectively. But a dramatic night of soccer, filled with a stunning comeback, title-race implications, and a heated confrontation, has reshaped the race for the league’s top scorer.

What unfolded during and after Al-Ahli’s match against Al-Qadsiah not only altered the dynamics of the championship battle but also reignited the Golden Boot rivalry spectacularly. Al-Ahli entered its away fixture against Al-Qadsiah with the chance to apply serious pressure on league leader Al-Nassr. Early on, the team appeared firmly in control.

The breakthrough came in the 27th minute, when Ivan Toney capitalized on defensive confusion inside the box to open the scoring. The English striker reacted quickest to a loose ball and produced a composed finish to put Al-Ahli ahead. Just before halftime, Valentin Atangana tapped in Galeno’s cross to make it 2-0, putting Al-Ahli firmly in control.

However, Al-Qadsiah mounted a dramatic second-half comeback. Musab Al Juwayr pulled one back in the 63rd minute after a pass from Christopher Bonsu Baah, shifting the momentum. Deep into stoppage time, Turki Al Ammar equalized in the 92nd minute before Ibrahim Mahnashi completed the stunning turnaround in the 98th minute, sealing a remarkable 3-2 victory. The result stunned the visitors and had immediate implications for the title race.

The heated post-match brawl

As emotions ran high after the final whistle, the drama continued off the ball. The match’s intensity spilled over when Ivan Toney became involved in a confrontation with Julian Quinones during the post-match handshake sequence. The altercation quickly escalated, with video footage showing the two Golden Boot contenders exchanging heated words and briefly grabbing each other by the collar before teammates stepped in.

The incident appeared to underline the fierce rivalry between the league’s top scorers, whose competition has intensified throughout the season. Fans quickly reacted on social media, with many describing the scene as a reflection of the high stakes surrounding both the title race and the Golden Boot chase.

Golden Boot race takes a new turn

The aftermath of the match also produced a significant shift in the scoring charts. Ivan Toney now leads the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot race with 25 goals, narrowly ahead of Julian Quinones with 24. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo remains on 21 goals while recovering from injury.

That development has reshaped the competition for the award, particularly as Ronaldo’s absence limits his chances of adding to his tally in the immediate future. The Portuguese superstar had entered the campaign pursuing a historic milestone: becoming the first European player to win the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot three seasons in a row.

He previously claimed the award in 2024 with 31 goals and again in 2025 with 30 goals, reinforcing his dominance in Saudi soccer even in the later years of his career. However, the current season has proven far more competitive, with multiple strikers delivering exceptional performances.

Cristian Chivu and Inter have imposed a press silence in protest at two controversial refereeing decisions in their 1-1 draw with Atalanta.

The coach was sent off for dissent after two yellow cards in quick succession, as he was protesting the decision to give the equaliser from Nikola Krstovic, claiming that Kamaldeen Sulemana had fouled Denzel Dumfries.

Francesco Pio Esposito had given Inter the lead before half-time, while the hosts also had penalty appeals rejected late on for Giorgio Scalvini’s contact with Davide Frattesi.

You can read how DAZN refereeing pundit Luca Marelli evaluated the two incidents here.

Inter stage silent protest

There was a lengthy wait in the press room for Chivu or some club representative to reach the microphones, but nobody ever came.

This press silence is Inter’s way of protesting the decisions of referee Gianluca Mangnaniello, and the failure of VAR to overturn those calls.

This is the second setback in a row for the Nerazzurri, who already saw their Serie A lead reduced to seven points after last week’s defeat to Milan.

If Milan manage to beat Lazio tomorrow, it will close the gap further to just five points.

Inter had also been very unhappy with some calls in the Derby della Madonnina last week, specifically a penalty appeal for handball, even though the referee’s association confirmed there were no errors.

DAZN refereeing expert Luca Marelli has given his verdict on the controversial decisions that infuriated Inter in their 1-1 draw with Atalanta. ‘They are subjective situations.’

There were two significant incidents in the space of a few final minutes of this Serie A match at San Siro, after Francesco Pio Esposito had opened the scoring.

Inter furious with refereeing decisions

Atalanta equalised with Nikola Krstovic only after Kamaldeen Sulemana had robbed Denzel Dumfries on the edge of the area, making the Dutch player stumble and fall over.

Referee Gianluca Manganiello had the whistle in his mouth, seemingly hesitated, and eventually did not blow it, awarding the goal.

A long VAR check confirmed the original decision, which infuriated Cristian Chivu so much that the Inter coach was sent off.

“There is no lower contact between the legs, the only contact is one hand resting on the back, but he doesn’t seem to push,” explained DAZN expert and former referee Marelli.

“In my view, Manganiello was right to let play continue, because any contact is minimal.”

The other moment to hit the headlines occurred a few moments later, when Davide Frattesi got to a bouncing ball first, caught on the boot by Giorgio Scalvini.

Here too, the referee waved play on, and VAR did not consider it necessary to suggest an On-Field Review.

“It is a subjective situation, penalties are a serious matter and should not be given for any contact,” added Marelli.

“I see contact between Scalvini and Frattesi that should be evaluated, but there isn’t a genuine kick from the Atalanta defender.

“I don’t think Manganiello saw it, but I also feel VAR was right not to intervene, because this is not a clear and obvious error.

“It is a situation that can be interpreted and of course all opinions are legitimate.”

Raffaele Palladino thanks Atalanta for ‘battling with such courage’ to a 1-1 draw with Inter, especially thanks to their substitutes, and shrugs off controversy.

La Dea were feeling the pressure after one point from two Serie A games, a 2-2 Coppa Italia semi-final draw at Lazio, and above all Tuesday’s 6-1 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

So when going a goal down at San Siro to Francesco Pio Esposito’s angled drive, it as not to be taken for granted that they’d get back into it.

Palladino hails Atalanta fightback

“This is a great squad, I’ve been asking so much of then for the last four months, and I want to publicly thank them for all their efforts,” Palladino told DAZN Italia.

“They’ve battled with such courage and it’s not easy to play every three days, but they put in a strong performance today. We improved over the course of the match, we had wanted to sit a little deeper and use the transitions in the first half, but didn’t do it well enough.”

This has to be treated as a positive result in the circumstances, and there was a boost with the return of Ederson and Charles De Ketelaere as substitutes after injury problems.

“I knew the inertia of the game could change and those who came off the bench gave us a great energy boost,” continued Palladino.

“Krstovic gave a big hand, we needed his work ethic. We also got De Ketelaere back, Isak Hien won every defensive duel. The players who can come off the bench are a real strength of this club.”

There was controversy too, as Inter were furious a foul wasn’t given for Kamaldeen Sulemana on Denzel Dumfries in the build-up to Nikola Krstovic’s equaliser, then felt Giorgio Scalvini’s contact on Davide Frattesi was worthy of a penalty.

“I never talk about referees. Your own refereeing expert Luca Marelli confirmed the referee did not make a mistake here, so I try to respect everyone’s work.”

Now Atalanta travel to Munich for the second leg of their Champions League tie, having lost the first leg 6-1.

“The result is compromised and there’s a mountain to climb, but we’ll play our game against a great opponent,” concluded Palladino.

Italy international Sandro Tonali is not in the Newcastle United squad travelling for this evening’s game with Chelsea, raising questions on his fitness ahead of the World Cup play-offs.

The Premier League clash is due to kick off at Stamford Bridge at 17.30 GMT and Tonali had been expected to start the match.

Instead, he is not even on the bench, and the official club website confirms that his absence is due to illness.

Tonali out of Newcastle United squad

According to Sky Sports UK, this is the same virus that also forced Newcastle United to leave Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade at home recently.

Both those players are back in the starting XI, so that suggests it should only be a short-term issue.

This will be reassuring for Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, who is set to name his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup play-offs.

Arguably, the 25-year-old could do with some rest, having already played 46 competitive games at club level so far this season.

Tonali scored three goals and provided seven assists this term in the Newcastle United jersey.

Antonio Conte warns Napoli their match with Lecce is the start of a ‘mini-tournament’ and reassures fans on his future. ‘My intention is to continue this journey.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei had been stuttering in Serie A, but got back on track with two consecutive victories over Verona and Torino.

With the fixture list providing head-to-head battles and tough trips elsewhere, it’s a chance for them to consolidate third place.

Conte wants final Napoli flurry

“We are starting to recover players who were absent for a very long time. Inevitably, when you are out for that long, it takes time, so I need to evaluate the minutes I give them during the game,” Conte told DAZN Italia.

“I always tell the lads we must try to consider these last 10 matches as a mini-tournament where the Scudetto, Champions League, Europa League and Conference League places will be assigned.

“So we need to be very concentrated and try to do our best.”

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa returns to the starting XI for the first time since November 2025, but Antonio Vergara and Juan Jesus have joined Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani on the absentee list.

Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku are only fit enough for a spot on the bench.

Conte has transformed his tactics several times throughout the season to fit the players at his disposal, so will he reshuffle the pack again?

“We were missing a fundamental element like Di Lorenzo, who along with Mazzocchi are the only players who can be full-backs, so we can’t have a four-man defence without Giovanni. Throwing away all the guarantees we’ve earned with this system now would in my view be dangerous and potentially damaging for us.”

There have been suggestions that Conte could be reconsidering his future for next season, having clashed with President Aurelio De Laurentiis a few times.

“When I arrived at Napoli, I signed a three-year contract, so that is the length of the project. Every end of the season, we sit down with the President, discussing and evaluating where we want to go. We’ll do it again at the end of this season, very calmly,” replied Conte.

“Everyone knows I am very happy in Naples, but at the same time, it is only right to evaluate the project and decide whether it is the right decision to keep going. My intention and desire is to continue this journey.”

Napoli give Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa his first start since November, as Alisson Santos supports Rasmus Hojlund against unpredictable Lecce.

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s three Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Partenopei have the opportunity to consolidate third place after slender and hard-fought 2-1 wins over Verona and Torino.

Antonio Conte has yet more additions to the injury list, losing Antonio Vergara and Juan Jesus, with Stanislav Lobotka, David Neres, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Amir Rrahmani already out.

Scott McTominay has been back in training since Tuesday and therefore gets a spot on the bench along with Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, both recovering from long-term injuries.

Lecce earned a potentially crucial 2-1 victory over Cremonese to drag them out of the bottom four.

Omri Gandelman has shaken off a knee problem, but Medon Berisha, Francesco Camarda and Kialonda Gaspar are out of action.

Nikola Stulic leads the attack with Lameck Banda, while Napoli-owned Walid Cheddira is on the bench.

Napoli vs. Lecce line-ups

Napoli: Meret; Beukema, Buongiorno, Olivera; Politano, Anguissa, Gilmour, Spinazzola; Elmas, Alisson Santos; Hojlund

Lecce: Falcone; Danilo Veiga, Siebert, Tiago Gabriel, Gallo; Coulibaly, Ramadani; Pierotti, Ngom, Banda; Stulic

14-03-2026 17:00

MatchDay 29

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona

Napoli

Lecce

2 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

		3'		Jamil Siebert (Assist: Antonino Gallo)
		19'		Jamil Siebert

2nd half

Rasmus Højlund (Assist: Matteo Politano)		46'
Matteo Politano		67'

Match statistic

70

Possession %

30

12

Total shots

12

4

Shots on target

2

6

Shots off target

6

2

Blocked shots

4

7

Corners

7

11

Fouls

7

Napoli

Lecce

Starting lineups

1

Alex Meret

Goalkeeper

4

Alessandro Buongiorno

Defender

37

Leonardo Spinazzola

Defender

72'

17

Mathías Olivera

Defender

31

Sam Beukema

Defender

99

Frank Anguissa

Midfielder

46'

6

Billy Gilmour

Midfielder

20

Eljif Elmas

Midfielder

46'

27

Alisson Santos

Attacker

85'

21

Matteo Politano

Attacker

72'

19

Rasmus Højlund

Attacker

30

Wladimiro Falcone

Goalkeeper

25

Antonino Gallo

Defender

79'

17

Danilo Veiga

Defender

5

Jamil Siebert

Defender

44

Tiago Gabriel

Defender

29

Lassana Coulibaly

Midfielder

46'

79

Oumar Ngom

Midfielder

85'

20

Ylber Ramadani

Midfielder

19

Lameck Banda

Attacker

9

Nikola Stulic

Attacker

59'

50

Santiago Pierotti

Attacker

79'

Substitutes

5

Juan Jesus

Defender

14

Nikita Contini

Goalkeeper

32

Vanja Milinković-Savić

Goalkeeper

9

Romelu Lukaku

Attacker

23

Giovane Nascimento

Attacker

11

Kevin De Bruyne

Midfielder

46'

8

Scott McTominay

Midfielder

46'

30

Pasquale Mazzocchi

Defender

72'

3

Miguel Gutiérrez

Defender

72'

23

Giovane

Attacker

85'

23

Riccardo Sottil

Attacker

14

Thórir Jóhann Helgason

Midfielder

32

Jasper Samooja

Goalkeeper

1

Christian Früchtl

Goalkeeper

36

Filip Marchwinski

Midfielder

18

Gaby Jean

Defender

13

Matías Pérez

Defender

6

Álex Sala

Midfielder

16

Omri Gandelman

Midfielder

46'

99

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

59'

11

Konan N’Dri

Attacker

79'

3

Corrie Ndaba

Defender

79'

8

Sadik Fofana

Defender

85'

Real Madrid are reportedly continuing to track the situation of Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté, as uncertainty surrounds the French centre-back’s long-term future at Anfield.

According to talkSPORT, the Spanish giants remain attentive to developments regarding Konaté’s contract negotiations with Liverpool, which are still ongoing.

Liverpool are working to secure the 26-year-old’s future, but interest from top European clubs means the situation is being closely watched.

Real Madrid are understood to be among the teams keeping tabs on the defender’s availability should talks between the player and Liverpool fail to produce an agreement.

Konaté has become increasingly important for Liverpool

Konaté has grown into one of the club’s most reliable defensive players. The France international has formed an important partnership in Liverpool’s backline, combining physical strength with impressive recovery pace and strong aerial ability.

Konaté’s defensive attributes make him particularly well suited to the high-intensity style Liverpool have often employed in recent years.

In addition to his club performances, Konaté has also continued to establish himself within the French national team setup, further enhancing his reputation as one of Europe’s leading young defenders.

The French centre-back is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and that has alerted Real Madrid who love to sign players as free agents.

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Real Madrid are looking to strengthen their defense

Real Madrid’s reported interest in Konaté aligns with their long-term efforts to refresh their defensive line.

With some experienced defenders entering the latter stages of their careers, the club is believed to be evaluating options capable of strengthening the squad for the coming years.

Despite the growing speculation, Liverpool are unlikely to let Konaté leave easily. The club considers him a key part of their future defensive plans.

Liverpool are already preparing for defensive changes with young centre-back Jeremy Jacquet set to arrive from Rennes at the end of the season, while promising defender Giovanni Leoni is also expected to return after recovering from injury.

Liverpool remain committed to keeping the French defender, but interest from Real Madrid ensures that the situation will continue to attract attention.

Swap deal: Liverpool ready to finally sign long-term target in smart exchange

The post Real Madrid continue to monitor Liverpool star despite his involvement in contract talks appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Atlético Madrid are reportedly determined to block any attempt by Barcelona to sign Julián Álvarez, as speculation surrounding the Argentine striker’s future intensifies ahead of the summer transfer window.

According to Diario Sport, the Spanish club have no intention of strengthening one of their biggest domestic rivals and would reject any approach from the Catalan side.

Reports suggest that the club might consider offers from the Premier League, but only if the proposal significantly exceeds €100 million.

Arsenal and Chelsea are among the clubs believed to be monitoring Álvarez’s situation closely.

Julian Álvarez has reached a new level at Atlético

Since joining Atlético Madrid, Julián Álvarez has become a central figure in Diego Simeone’s attacking setup.

The 26-year-old Argentina international is admired for his relentless work rate, pressing ability, and versatility in the final third.

Álvarez can operate both as a central striker and as part of a more fluid attacking system, making him particularly valuable in Simeone’s tactical approach.

His ability to combine intelligent movement with clinical finishing has seen him become one of the club’s most consistent attacking threats.

The forward also carries significant pedigree on the international stage. Álvarez played a key role in Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where his performances alongside Lionel Messi elevated his reputation across world football.

More Stories / Latest News

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Mar 14 2026, 19:14

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Mar 14 2026, 18:38

Barcelona face competition from Arsenal and Chelsea

While Barcelona face significant resistance, interest from England continues to grow. Both Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly assessing the possibility of making a major move for the striker.

Barcelona have reportedly been admirers of Álvarez for some time as they look to strengthen their attacking line in the coming years but competition from Premier League clubs is set to make their life difficult.

The Catalan giants are looking for a long term replacement of Robert Lewandowski and Álvarez is high on their radar for the summer transfer window this year.

Arsenal preparing ‘formal offer’ for 48-goal star, Andrea Berta personally involved 

The post Arsenal and Chelsea given hope of making €100m signing ahead of Barcelona appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Barcelona have reportedly added Chelsea winger Pedro Neto to their list of potential summer transfer targets as the club prepares for another important rebuilding phase.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants are keeping a close eye on the Portuguese international’s situation at Stamford Bridge in case they decide to reinforce their wide attacking options during the upcoming transfer window.

Barcelona’s recruitment strategy is expected to focus on strengthening three key areas of the squad: a striker, a centre-back, and a winger.

While the club already possesses quality options on the flanks, the technical department is exploring alternatives should the opportunity arise in the market.

Pedro Neto has emerged as an option for Barcelona

Neto, now 26 years old, has long been regarded as one of the Premier League’s most technically gifted wide players.

His pace, dribbling ability, and creativity in one-on-one situations has built a reputation as a player capable of unlocking defenses with direct attacking play.

After making his name at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Neto moved to Chelsea in a deal that attracted significant attention across Europe.

Neto’s contract includes a release clause or exit mechanism that could facilitate a transfer should Barcelona decide to move forward with negotiations.

For now, however, the Spanish club are simply observing his situation rather than actively pursuing a deal.

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Barcelona have depth in their current attacking options

Barcelona’s attacking lineup already includes several prominent wide players.

Young superstar Lamine Yamal and Brazilian international Raphinha are currently considered automatic starters in the wide roles, both delivering consistent performances this season.

In addition, the club is still evaluating the future of Marcus Rashford, who joined on loan from Manchester United.

Barcelona have the option to make that deal permanent depending on how the remainder of the season unfolds.

Because of these existing options, Neto is not currently a priority signing. Instead, he represents a contingency option should circumstances change during the summer.

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Hansi Flick revealed that Gavi could make his return from injury in Barcelona’s LaLiga clash against Sevilla on Sunday, but said the midfielder’s minutes will be managed. Gavi played just two matches for Barca at the start of the season before suffering a knee injury, which required surgery back in September. The 21-year-old’s return comes […]

The post Flick to manage Gavi´s minutes upon injury return appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Flick to manage Gavi´s minutes upon injury return appeared first on Soccer News.

Match Overview

With the season entering a decisive stretch, the pressure is mounting at both ends of the La Liga standings as Elche CF and Real Madrid prepare for a crucial showdown. Elche come into the matchup with 26 points, sitting only one point above the relegation line, meaning every result from here on out could determine their survival.

On the other side, Real Madrid remain firmly in the title hunt but trail league leaders FC Barcelona by four points, leaving Kylian Mbappe and his teammates with virtually no margin for error if they want to keep the championship dream alive. With so much at stake for both clubs, this clash promises intensity from start to finish—so make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action.

With two wins and one loss in their first three matches of the 2026 Major League Soccer season, Inter Miami are gradually finding their best form. This Saturday they face another challenge against Charlotte FC, and as usual Lionel Messi is at the center of the spotlight.

This time, however, the Argentine forward is making headlines not for his performances on the field or potential records, but for his absence. Head coach Javier Mascherano decided that Messi would not be part of the starting lineup or the bench in order to preserve his fitness ahead of Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions Cup clash against Nashville SC next Wednesday.

It is a significant loss for Inter Miami, as is the absence of Rodrigo De Paul, and it will likely impact their chances of securing a victory in North Carolina. So far, the team has recorded one defeat and two wins in the 2026 MLS season, placing them third in the Eastern Conference standings with six points.

On the other side will be Charlotte FC, who opened the season with a draw against St. Louis City SC, followed by a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles Galaxy and a victory last week against Austin FC. That places them sixth in the Eastern Conference standings with four points.

Confirmed lineup for Charlotte FC

Unlike most Inter Miami matches, in which opponents focus their efforts on neutralizing Lionel Messi, this time Charlotte FC’s task will be to take advantage of his absence and impose their own style of play.

With that in mind, the confirmed lineup for Charlotte FC against the Herons is: Kristijan Kahlina; Nathan Byrne, Morrison Agyemang, Tim Ream, Harry Toffolo; Brandt Bronico, Ashley Westwood, Pep Biel; Liel Abada, Idan Toklomati, Wilfried Zaha.

Confirmed lineup for Inter Miami

Saturday’s matchup against Charlotte FC comes at an awkward moment in the schedule for the Herons. They played just three days ago against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 — a 0-0 draw at Geodis Park — and will decide the series next Wednesday at Chase Stadium.

For that reason, head coach Javier Mascherano will be without key players in his starting lineup. In addition to the absences of Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, who are being rested, Maximiliano Falcon is out due to physical issues.

Inter Miami’s confirmed XI is: Rocco Rios Novo; Ian Fray, Gonzalo Lujan, Noah Allen, Sergio Reguilon; Mateo Silvetti, David Ayala, David Ruiz, Santiago Morales; Daniel Pinter, Luis Suarez.

Match Overview

The race for the Saudi Pro League title is heating up as the season approaches its final stretch. Al Nassr lead the standings with 64 points, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing a key role as the team tries to stay ahead of three challengers separated by only a few points.

Meanwhile, Al Khaleej FC sit well outside the title race after an inconsistent season, but a victory over the league leaders would be a major statement and could shake up the standings. With plenty at stake, fans won’t want to miss this matchup.

When Kylian Mbappe is absent from the lineup of Real Madrid, it inevitably becomes one of the most talked-about stories in European soccer. As Los Blancos prepare to face Elche in an important La Liga fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu, fans quickly noticed the French superstar missing from the squad list. The club confirmed that Mbappe will not take part in the match, a decision that immediately raised questions across the soccer world.

For a team still chasing the league leaders and balancing the pressures of European competition, every lineup choice matters. Yet Mbappe’s absence carries particular weight, not only because of his status as the team’s attacking focal point but also because of the broader context surrounding Real Madrid’s demanding schedule.

The clash with Elche arrives at a delicate point in the season for Real Madrid. The club sits near the top of the La Liga table and remains firmly in the title race, trailing Barcelona by a small margin as the season enters its decisive phase.

A victory over Elche would allow Los Blancos to move closer to their rival and maintain pressure in the race for the championship. However, the match also arrives between two crucial legs of a UEFA Champions League tie against Manchester City, forcing manager Alvaro Arbeloa to carefully manage his squad. But before traveling to Manchester, Madrid must navigate the league encounter with Elche, a team fighting to avoid relegation and desperate for points.

The real reason Mbappe is missing

The mystery surrounding Mbappe’s absence has a clear explanation. The French forward is still recovering from a knee injury, and the club has decided not to risk him in the La Liga match against Elche as he continues his rehabilitation.

The injury dates back to December, when Mbappe began experiencing discomfort in his left knee. Although he initially attempted to continue playing, the medical staff eventually halted his activity to prevent the issue from worsening.

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed the situation during his pre-match press conference. “[Mbappe] is getting better every day,” Arbeloa explained. “His development is progressing as it should. We made a plan… He won’t be available tomorrow, but I expect he’ll travel to Manchester.” The club’s strategy is clear: prioritize Mbappe’s full recovery so that he can return for the decisive Champions League second leg.

Careful recovery plan and return date set

Despite missing several recent matches, there is growing optimism inside the Real Madrid camp regarding Mbappe’s condition. The French forward has resumed individual training sessions at the club’s Valdebebas training facility, where he has been working on ball control, shooting drills, and resistance exercises designed to strengthen his knee.

According to Arbeloa, the recovery process is progressing according to plan. “The situation is not complicated. He’s getting better every day,” the coach said. “We’ll see how he feels tomorrow and especially on Sunday, when we will make a final decision.”

The objective is to have Mbappe available for the trip to Manchester, where Real Madrid will attempt to protect its three-goal advantage and secure a place in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Inter were furious after protesting two refereeing decisions in the final minutes of their 1-1 draw with Atalanta, as Nikola Krstovic cancelled out a Francesco Pio Esposito opener.

It had been a rough week for both sides, as the hosts lost the Derby della Madonnina and saw their lead at the top reduced to seven points. La Dea scraped one point from two Serie A rounds, then were humiliated 6-1 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Alessandro Bastoni joined Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu on the treatment table, though Marcus Thuram returned and Denzel Dumfries got his first start since November 2025. Giacomo Raspadori, Charles De Ketelaere and Ederson were still carrying muscular issues.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Federico Dimarco shinned a volley from a similar position to one he scored against Genoa, while Yann Sommer only parried a Gianluca Scamacca low drive on the counter-attack, managing to smother before Scalvini could pounce on the rebound.

Inter opened the scoring when Dumfries intercepted the ball for Sead Kolasinac and Niccolò Barella sent it down the left for Pio Esposito’s precise angled drive, surprising Marco Carnesecchi at the near post.

Dimarco flashed another attempt across the face of goal, while Piotr Zielinski’s counter-attack was deflected just wide.

Twice Dumfries tried and failed to steer a header on target at the back post from Dimarco crosses, while Thuram blasted just wide of the near top corner following a Mario Pasalic error.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan surged forward to set up Thuram, forcing a desperate Carnesecchi save one-on-one, then Dumfries couldn’t keep his finish down under pressure on a roll across from the right.

Lorenzo Bernasconi got it all wrong with a badly scuffed finish on the Nikola Krstovic lay-off, allowing Carlos Augusto to charge it down.

Thuram turned a back-heel flick wide of the near post from Ange-Yoan Bonny’s pull-back.

De Ketelaere made his comeback for Atalanta, but Manuel Akanji limped off for Inter in the final minutes.

Atalanta equalised in controversial circumstances, as Kamaldeen Sulemana robbed Dumfries just outside the area, tested Sommer, and Krstovic was free to turn in the rebound. Referee Manganiello had the whistle in his mouth after that contact, but never blew it, and VAR also gave the all-clear, a decision that saw Cristian Chivu sent off for his furious protests. Dumfries claimed he had been fouled, but any contact seemed minimal.

Inter were also enraged moments later when Giorgio Scalvini caught Davide Frattesi on the boot as they both went for a bouncing ball, but the referee and VAR ignored penalty appeals.

Both sides pushed to the end, but these are more dropped points for the Nerazzurri.

Inter 1-1 Atalanta

Esposito 26 (I), Krstovic 82 (A)

14-03-2026 14:00

MatchDay 29

San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)

Inter

Atalanta

1 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Petar Sucic		21'
		21'		Sead Kolasinac
Pio Esposito (Assist: Nicolò Barella)		26'

2nd half

Carlos Augusto		59'
		82'		Nikola Krstovic
		90+5'		Charles De Ketelaere

Match statistic

58

Possession %

42

16

Total shots

8

3

Shots on target

3

10

Shots off target

5

3

Blocked shots

0

2

Corners

3

3

Offsides

2

11

Fouls

5

Inter

Atalanta

Starting lineups

1

Yann Sommer

Goalkeeper

32

Federico Dimarco

Defender

65'

25

Manuel Akanji

Defender

80'

8

Petar Sucic

Defender

46'

31

Yann Bisseck

Defender

30

Carlos Augusto

Midfielder

2

Denzel Dumfries

Midfielder

23

Nicolò Barella

Midfielder

76'

7

Piotr Zielinski

Midfielder

94

Pio Esposito

Attacker

65'

9

Marcus Thuram

Attacker

29

Marco Carnesecchi

Goalkeeper

19

Berat Djimsiti

Defender

77

Davide Zappacosta

Defender

42

Giorgio Scalvini

Defender

47

Lorenzo Bernasconi

Defender

23

Sead Kolasinac

Defender

65'

10

Lazar Samardžić

Midfielder

52'

8

Mario Pasalic

Midfielder

15

Marten de Roon

Midfielder

76'

59

Nicola Zalewski

Midfielder

65'

9

Gianluca Scamacca

Attacker

51'

Substitutes

15

Francesco Acerbi

Defender

36

Matteo Darmian

Defender

95

Alessandro Bastoni

Defender

13

Josep Martínez

Goalkeeper

17

Andy Diouf

Attacker

12

Raffaele Di Gennaro

Goalkeeper

53

Matteo Lavelli

Attacker

57

Iwo Kaczmarski

Midfielder

22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Midfielder

46'

14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

Defender

65'

11

Luis Henrique

Attacker

65'

16

Davide Frattesi

Midfielder

76'

6

Stefan de Vrij

Defender

80'

16

Raoul Bellanova

Defender

31

Francesco Rossi

Goalkeeper

57

Marco Sportiello

Goalkeeper

5

Mitchel Bakker

Defender

3

Odilon Kossounou

Defender

6

Yunus Musah

Midfielder

69

Honest Ahanor

Defender

90

Nikola Krstovic

Attacker

51'

13

Éderson

Midfielder

52'

7

Kamaldeen Sulemana

Midfielder

65'

4

Isak Hien

Defender

65'

17

Charles De Ketelaere

Attacker

76'

Inter fans showed their support for Alessandro Bastoni, but a suggested award for ‘confessing’ his simulation against Juventus to get Pierre Kalulu sent off has reignited the controversy.

The defender has been in the eye of the media storm since Inter beat 10-man Juventus, thanks largely to the second yellow card that had Kalulu sent off.

Bastoni simulated much worse contact than there was in reality, and VAR could not intervene to correct the clear and obvious error because protocol bars their involvement in yellow cards.

Ever since then, the Italy international has been loudly jeered by opposition fans in every stadium, with some even calling for him to be dropped from the Nazionale as punishment.

Bastoni could get award for ‘fair play’

It therefore raised eyebrows when Federico Romani, a regional councillor of Lombardy, suggested Bastoni should be awarded the Rosa Camuna, the maximum honour from the region.

“He was able to recognise his mistake publicly and take responsibility,” explained the political figure.

“Bastoni’s attitude is not to be taken for granted or considered common, it shows respect for the sport, for opponents, and for the fans.”

This obviously prompted a furious and incredulous reaction from other political figures in the Lombardy region, above all Franco Lucente, who is a Juventus fan.

“I am the first to condemn the jeers from the crowd and media targeting of Bastoni, but to give him an award seems a bit much.

“I doubt that eventually making a late apology represents a great sporting virtue. What then are we to give to Kalulu, who was sent off for a foul he didn’t commit, had to sit out a ban, and now sees Bastoni hailed as an example of fair play?”

The Inter supporters certainly made their voices heard during today’s Serie A match against Atalanta, even though Bastoni was on the bench due to a bruise.

‘Bastoni, our pride’ was a banner in his honour, along with chants that prompted him to stand and wave to the crowd.

Sandro Tonali’s agent Beppe Riso says that attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City has always been ‘the goal’ after moving to the Premier League, and says that the Newcastle midfielder is currently the most valuable Italian player in the world. 

Tonali has excelled on an individual level with Newcastle in 2025-26, despite his side currently sitting in 12th place in the Premier League table. 

Life has not always been straightforward for Tonali since his move to Newcastle from Milan in 2023, though. 

Shortly after he joined Newcastle, Tonali was hit with a 10-match suspension from the FIGC for his involvement in prohibited gambling activity. 

Riso, speaking in an interview with Calcio e Finanza, insists that he never had any knowledge of Tonali’s struggles, otherwise he would have done his best to help earlier. 

“Absolutely not, otherwise I would have intervened,” he replied when asked if he knew beforehand that there was a possibility Tonali would be suspended. 

“I have to say that I think the transfer (away from Milan) proved to be a winning choice in that respect. Newcastle fans were incredible with Sandro, they always supported him. He received different treatment in Italy, but not by the Milan fans, who have always protected him.

“The mentality is different in England, and there was always a standing ovation from the crowd whenever Sandro came into the stadium, despite his disqualification. We’re talking about a young guy who made a mistake. The fans realised that and he was forgiven. Now, Sandro has changed completely.” 

Tonali agent comments on Arsenal and Manchester City rumours

Now, Tonali is excelling in the Premier League and Champions League with Newcastle and is beginning to attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world. 

“This was the goal from the moment he went to England, to try and make him a star footballer,” said Riso. “I think he’s the most valuable Italian footballer in the world right now.” 

Riso was asked why there doesn’t seem to be too many Italian players who excel in leagues outside of Serie A, aside from a handful of exceptions. 

“Not many Italians have a market abroad today. But that blame also falls on us,” he said. 

“It’s always fine in Italy, but elsewhere, difficulties with settling in can crop up. I think Sandro is the only one who has done that well in the Premier League, many have failed. And in Italy, we’re left looking at high prices, especially when it comes to a strong Italian player.” 

Riso also believes that this is part of the reason why Serie A sides seem to field increasingly fewer young Italian players, instead focussing on foreign imports. 

“Yes, but also because a lot of owners often make profits from trading players, and from here they’ve understood that a young, foreign player has more of a market abroad when looking at a future resale. It’s their ability to speak foreign languages, the mentality, the ability to adapt quicker. 

“Often today, when it’s a choice between an 18-year-old Italian and an 18-year-old from abroad, we’ll go with the foreigner, which is why it’s difficult to develop big players in Italy. 

“You have to sell to make money in football, and you have to take on these foreign profiles, which have a wider range on the market, in order to do so. So, it’s very complicated. Italian kids are often punished as a result.”

Manchester United are reportedly ready to trigger Nico Williams‘ release clause this summer, while the Spanish winger also feels it’s the right time for him to leave Athletic Bilbao.

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The 23-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting young attacking players in Europe in recent times, though he’s gone slightly off the boil this term.

That hasn’t put Man Utd off from targeting him, however, with Fichajes reporting that the Red Devils are preparing a move to pay his clause and get him out of Athletic Bilbao.

Williams could undoubtedly be a useful option for United’s squad, though on current form there’s no guarantee he’d get into their starting XI on a regular basis.

Nico Williams might not be worth it for Manchester United

Williams has only four goals and two assists in 19 La Liga games, which is not the kind of player you pay close to €100m for.

Fichajes’ report is not that clear on how much the Spain international’s clause is, but they state that it’s close to that fee, and it’s the kind of figure that would’ve made sense a year ago.

Williams has long been linked with big clubs, but there are perhaps signs that he’s going backwards, so given that MUFC already have pretty good attacking options, there doesn’t seem to be much need for them to pay this much for Williams.

Nico Williams Transfer Fit rating

You can read more here about CaughtOffside’s Transfer Fit rating as we score this potential deal at the lower end of medium.

If Williams can get back to his best, then there’s no doubt this could be a good deal, while it might also be worth pursuing if they can get him for a lot less than €100m.

For now, though, he’s far too expensive and out of form, so there must be better options out there for United.

The post Bid prepared: Man United ready to trigger star’s release clause, player wants transfer this summer appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Arne Slot insisted the “future looks bright for Liverpool”, despite the Reds enduring a disappointing defence of their Premier League title. Liverpool surged to Premier League glory last season, sealing their record-equalling 20th top-flight crown with four games remaining. However, despite spending over £400m on boosting his squad, the Reds have failed to match those […]

The post ´The future is bright for Liverpool´ – Slot optimistic despite recent struggles appeared first on Soccer News.

The post ´The future is bright for Liverpool´ – Slot optimistic despite recent struggles appeared first on Soccer News.

With all eyes falling on Anfield on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool will welcome Tottenham to the red half of Merseyside. Suffering Champions League frustration over in Istanbul on Tuesday, the reigning English champions will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil this weekend as they look to get their top-four charge back on […]

The post Liverpool vs Tottenham Bet Builder Tips – 6/1 Premier League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Liverpool vs Tottenham Bet Builder Tips – 6/1 Premier League Special, Analysis & Predictions appeared first on Soccer News.

The Saudi Pro League clash between Al‑Khaleej and Al‑Nassr has drawn significant attention, not only because of the title implications but also because of the absence of one of soccer’s most iconic figures, Cristiano Ronaldo. As the league leader prepares to travel to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium for Matchday 26, supporters quickly noticed that the Portuguese captain would not feature in the matchday plans.

The encounter represents an important moment in the Saudi Pro League campaign. Al-Nassr enters the match sitting at the top of the league table with 64 points, maintaining a narrow lead over rivals Al‑Ahli and Al‑Hilal in a fiercely competitive title race.

The capital club arrives in outstanding form. Under manager Jorge Jesus, Al-Nassr has assembled one of the most dominant runs in the league this season. The team has won 13 consecutive matches across all competitions while conceding only once in their last 11 games, demonstrating a blend of attacking power and defensive discipline.

Its most recent league match ended with a dramatic 1-0 victory against NEOM, secured thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Mohamed Simakan. Results like that have reinforced Al-Nassr’s status as the team to beat this season.

Meanwhile, Al-Khaleej approaches the match from a very different position. The club currently sits mid-table with around 30 points, recording eight wins, six draws, and eleven defeats. Although it recently secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Al‑Hazem, consistency has been difficult to maintain.

The real reason Ronaldo is missing

Cristiano Ronaldo is not playing against Al-Khaleej because he is recovering from a hamstring injury that proved more serious than initially expected. Medical examinations conducted after a recent league match confirmed that the Portuguese forward had suffered a muscle injury that required rest, rehabilitation, and specialized treatment. As a result, the club decided not to risk its captain in the upcoming fixture.

According to Al-Nassr coach Jorge Jesus, the striker has temporarily left Saudi Arabia to receive medical care in Spain. “In the last game, Cristiano left with a muscle injury,” Jesus explained. “After the tests he underwent, it became clear that it is a more serious injury than we were expecting. He will need rest and recovery.”

The manager also confirmed that the Portuguese star traveled to Madrid for treatment. “Cristiano will travel to Spain for treatment from his personal physiotherapist. We hope he will return soon to help the team.”

Return already in sight

Early reports suggest that the recovery period could last between two and four weeks, depending on how quickly the muscle responds to rehabilitation exercises. Because of this timeline, the veteran striker will miss several matches in March, including the league encounter against Al-Khaleej.

Despite concerns among fans, the outlook for Ronaldo’s recovery remains positive. The current medical plan suggests that the 41-year-old superstar could return to action toward the end of March or early April, potentially in time for Al-Nassr’s league match against Al‑Najma.

Gennaro Gattuso is less than a week away from announcing his Italy national team squad for the World Cup play-off campaign at the end of the month, and though several Azzurri hopefuls will be involved in Udinese vs. Juventus in Serie A on Saturday evening, only three or four are expected to be under genuine consideration for a call-up. 

Italy are preparing to take on Northern Ireland in a World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26, and the winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home on March 31 in a one-off decider for a spot at the final tournament. 

This weekend’s round of Serie A fixtures is the last set of league matches before Gattuso announces his squad, and the penultimate set of league games before players head off for the international break. 

• Read more: Which Italy players will Gattuso be keeping an eye on in Inter vs. Atalanta?

Which Juventus players could feature in the next Italy squad?

On the Serie A schedule this Saturday evening is Juventus’s visit to Udinese. The Old Lady have a former CT in Luciano Spalletti in charge, and are expected to field a number of Italy hopefuls in Udine this evening. 

Juventus have two Italian goalkeepers on their books in Michele Di Gregorio and Mattia Perin, but the former has disappointed with his performances in 2025-26 and has recently lost his no.1 status to the latter. Neither are expected to be in the Italy squad this month. 

Federico Gatti started in Juventus’s 4-0 win over Pisa last weekend, but he is not guaranteed to keep his place in the Bianconeri line-up, nor is he a nailed-on member of Gattuso’s Italy squad. That said, his inclusion can’t be definitively ruled out either. The chances of him starting over the likes of Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori, Alessandro Buongiorno or Gianluca Mancini are slim, though. 

The other three Juventus players that are in contention to feature in Italy’s World Cup play-off squad are Andrea Cambiaso, Manuel Locatelli and Fabio Miretti. 

Cambiaso has been a mainstay of the Italy set-up under its last three head coaches, but despite his ability to play on either flank, he will face plenty of competition from the likes of Federico Dimarco, Marco Palestra and potentially even Michael Kayode on both sides of the pitch. 

Locatelli, meanwhile, is expected to start for Italy at the base of its midfield, which is also likely to feature Inter’s Nicolo Barella and Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali. 

Miretti is also one of the midfielders in contention to be called up to the Italy squad, albeit as more of a squad player given the aforementioned options in the starting XI. 

The most high-profile Italy player on Udinese’s books is Nicolo Zaniolo, who, however, is not expected to be called up to the national team squad this month according to recent reports from various outlets in Italy.

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Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi insists the club and fans are ‘proud’ to have played Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16, and today have another tough test with Inter.

It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT (15.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Napoli-Lecce and Udinese-Juventus on the Liveblog.

La Dea have hit serious problems over the last few weeks, as they were held 2-2 by Lazio in the Coppa Italia semi-final, picked up just one point from two Serie A rounds, then were hammered 6-1 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16.

Atalanta won’t forget their roots

Despite that result, even the Germans were impressed with the way the Atalanta supporters continued to cheer on their players and applaud them in Bergamo.

“Atalanta deserved on the field to achieve a fantastic objective, which is reaching the Champions League Round of 16,” Percassi told DAZN Italia.

“When facing one of the best teams in the whole world, we were unable to give our best for a set of different reasons. Despite that, the response of the fans shows how much getting here was something the crowd appreciated, and we are very proud of that.”

Atalanta were after all the only Italian side to make it to the Champions League last 16, despite having a significantly smaller budget than most of the other contenders.

Now they are in the Coppa Italia semi-final and still hoping to finish in the top four to get back into the Champions League.

“We would be happy every year to achieve targets like this. We know what our DNA is, we are working to keep doing well,” noted the chief.

Giorgio Scalvini is back in defence after injury, while Ederson and Charles De Ketelaere return to the bench for the first time in March, but Giacomo Raspadori is still out of action.

“Bayern Munich represented a slip-up that we must reflect on, today we are facing the Serie A leaders in a huge stadium, and it will be another very difficult match. We’ve seen in recent years how hard it is to pick up points in this stadium.

“It will require the best Atalanta, so whatever happens we want to leave here without regrets, aware that Inter are a very strong side.”

Inter are something of a taboo for La Dea, unbeaten on home turf against their Lombardy rivals since 2014.

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who has recently been linked with potential moves to Juventus and Milan, has revealed that Genoa are the only Serie A side that has ever been close to striking a deal with him, and insists that he has not yet decided on his next steps after the 2025-26 season. 

Lewandowski is out of contract at the end of the season and according to recent reports in Italy, he is of interest to both Milan and Juventus following the success that veteran Luka Modric has brought to San Siro after his free transfer from Real Madrid last summer. 

The former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund star sat down for an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Sportweek, published on Saturday, during which he discussed his previous links with Serie A and his current views on the Italian championship. 

Lewandowski on Genoa interest and next career steps: ‘The goal is …’

Lewandowski insists that he has not made any decisions either way regarding his future after the 2025-26 season, despite the recent links to Milan and Juventus. 

“Honestly, today, there’s nothing to say. And I’m being honest,” he said. 

“The goal is to get to the end of the season with as many wins, goals and titles as possible, then we’ll see. I’m not thinking about it and I haven’t decided. It’s not a priority at the moment.” 

Lewandowski revealed that he has only once been close to joining a Serie A side, and that was all the way back in 2010 before he ended up joining Borussia Dortmund. 

“In 2010, I was still in Poland and I was about to move to Borussia Dortmund. Genoa wanted to sign me, so they invited me to watch a match against Sampdoria. 

“I was curious to see what the club was like, the stadium, the atmosphere, and also to be fair to those who had shown an interest in me. I came to watch the derby at Marassi. It was the only time I’ve dealt with an Italian team.” 

Lewandowski was also asked about his views on the state of Italian football in 2026. 

“I think the Italian league is very competitive,” he said. “It’s usually a fight and the same team doesn’t always win. Teams like Juventus and Inter have reached Champions League finals (in recent years), it doesn’t seem to be in a crisis if you’re asking me.”

Cristian Chivu insists Inter must ‘learn from our mistakes and go forward with confidence’ against Atalanta, because ‘one defeat isn’t going to change’ anything.

It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT (15.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Napoli-Lecce and Udinese-Juventus on the Liveblog.

The Nerazzurri saw their lead at the top of the Serie A table cut to seven points by defeat to second-placed Milan, so the pressure is back on them to keep that advantage intact.

Chivu has faith in Inter progress

“We must get back to doing what we did throughout the season, with tempo and intensity. There are exceptions, but we must learn from our mistakes and go forward with confidence,” Chivu told DAZN Italia.

Atalanta are a high press team too, and also use a three-man defence, but Marcus Thuram returns to the Inter attack after missing the Milan clash.

“Thuram trained well, he recovered from the problem he had with a fever before the derby. He is back to 100 per cent and an important player for us.”

Alessandro Bastoni is only fit for the bench, Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu are out of action, but the big news is the return of Denzel Dumfries to the starting XI for the first time since his ankle surgery in November 2025.

Versatile Carlos Augusto therefore steps into the back three to replace Bastoni.

“I am not worried by a defeat, my worry has always been about building this team, taking the right direction and achieving our targets. We’ve always said we want to be competitive to the end and one defeat isn’t going to change that.

“We need to keep going with even more determination and confidence,” concluded Chivu.

Denzel Dumfries and Marcus Thuram return to the Inter starting XI, while Atalanta hope Gianluca Scamacca and Nicola Zalewski can revive their fortunes.

It kicks off at San Siro at 14.00 GMT (15.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Napoli-Lecce and Udinese-Juventus on the Liveblog.

This has been a rough week for both teams, as Inter saw their Serie A lead cut to seven points by defeat to rivals Milan, while La Dea stumbled domestically and then lost 6-1 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

The hosts saw Alessandro Bastoni limp off during the Derby della Madonnina with a bruised shin and he is still not fully fit, with Hakan Calhanoglu and Lautaro Martinez already on the treatment table.

There is some good news for coach Cristian Chivu, as Thuram returns to the side with Francesco Pio Esposito.

The big change is that Dumfries has his first start since that ankle surgery in November 2025.

Atalanta had been on stunning form, but stumbled over the last few weeks, losing to Sassuolo and then held 2-2 by Udinese in Serie A, followed by Tuesday’s humiliating 6-1 home defeat in the Champions League to Bayern Munich.

Giacomo Raspadori, Charles De Ketelaere and Ederson have been big losses recently and continue to carry those injury problems, though the Brazilian and Belgian are both back on the bench for the first time this month.

Giorgio Scalvini has shaken off a knee issue to start in defence, while Zalewski and Lazar Samardzic support Scamacca upfront.

Inter vs. Atalanta line-ups

Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Carlos Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Zielinski, Sucic, Dimarco; Thuram, Pio Esposito

Atalanta: Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Zappacosta, De Roon, Pasalic, Bernasconi; Samardzic, Zalewski; Scamacca

14-03-2026 14:00

MatchDay 29

San Siro Stadium (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza)

Inter

Atalanta

1 - 1

Player statistic

1st half

Petar Sucic		21'
		21'		Sead Kolasinac
Pio Esposito (Assist: Nicolò Barella)		26'

2nd half

Carlos Augusto		59'
		82'		Nikola Krstovic
		90+5'		Charles De Ketelaere

Match statistic

58

Possession %

42

16

Total shots

8

3

Shots on target

3

10

Shots off target

5

3

Blocked shots

0

2

Corners

3

3

Offsides

2

11

Fouls

5

Inter

Atalanta

Starting lineups

1

Yann Sommer

Goalkeeper

32

Federico Dimarco

Defender

65'

25

Manuel Akanji

Defender

80'

8

Petar Sucic

Defender

46'

31

Yann Bisseck

Defender

30

Carlos Augusto

Midfielder

2

Denzel Dumfries

Midfielder

23

Nicolò Barella

Midfielder

76'

7

Piotr Zielinski

Midfielder

94

Pio Esposito

Attacker

65'

9

Marcus Thuram

Attacker

29

Marco Carnesecchi

Goalkeeper

19

Berat Djimsiti

Defender

77

Davide Zappacosta

Defender

42

Giorgio Scalvini

Defender

47

Lorenzo Bernasconi

Defender

23

Sead Kolasinac

Defender

65'

10

Lazar Samardžić

Midfielder

52'

8

Mario Pasalic

Midfielder

15

Marten de Roon

Midfielder

76'

59

Nicola Zalewski

Midfielder

65'

9

Gianluca Scamacca

Attacker

51'

Substitutes

15

Francesco Acerbi

Defender

36

Matteo Darmian

Defender

95

Alessandro Bastoni

Defender

13

Josep Martínez

Goalkeeper

17

Andy Diouf

Attacker

12

Raffaele Di Gennaro

Goalkeeper

53

Matteo Lavelli

Attacker

57

Iwo Kaczmarski

Midfielder

22

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Midfielder

46'

14

Ange-Yoan Bonny

Defender

65'

11

Luis Henrique

Attacker

65'

16

Davide Frattesi

Midfielder

76'

6

Stefan de Vrij

Defender

80'

16

Raoul Bellanova

Defender

31

Francesco Rossi

Goalkeeper

57

Marco Sportiello

Goalkeeper

5

Mitchel Bakker

Defender

3

Odilon Kossounou

Defender

6

Yunus Musah

Midfielder

69

Honest Ahanor

Defender

90

Nikola Krstovic

Attacker

51'

13

Éderson

Midfielder

52'

7

Kamaldeen Sulemana

Midfielder

65'

4

Isak Hien

Defender

65'

17

Charles De Ketelaere

Attacker

76'

Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that Santiago Gimenez is the only player Milan will be without for Sunday’s Serie A match away against Lazio, has provided comments on Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao and has hinted at which player could replace the suspended Adrien Rabiot. 

Milan are in high spirits after their 1-0 victory over city rivals and league leaders Inter last weekend, which cut the deficit between the two teams to seven points at the top of the Serie A table with 10 games to go. 

Up next for the Rossoneri is a trip to the capital to face Maurizio Sarri and Lazio, where Allegri’s side will be hoping to make it three Serie A wins on the spin. 

Allegri provides Milan injury update: ‘Physically doing much better’

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Allegri confirmed that Gimenez is the only Milan player set to miss out against Lazio. 

“Gimenez will not be there tomorrow, but he’s doing well from a psychological point of view,” said Allegri (via TMW).  

Allegri also confirmed that Christian Pulisic “physically is doing much better. He had a good game in the derby. He’s constantly growing. Both he, Leao, Fullkrug and even Nkunku are doing well.”

Allegri’s trusted midfield general Rabiot, who has played the full 90 minutes in every Serie A match he has been available for this season, will be suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Inter last weekend. 

A decision is still yet to be made over his replacement, but it is down to one of two options, Allegri confirmed. 

“I don’t know who out of Jashari or Ricci will play, but the important thing is that the team puts in a good collective performance, with organisation and awareness. Lazio score a lot of goals towards the end of games.” 

Click here to read Allegri’s pre-match press conference in full.

Liverpool are reportedly ready to do a swap deal with Real Madrid in order to finally clinch the transfer of long-term target Eduardo Camavinga.

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The France international has been someone the Reds have wanted for some time now, and it seems he’s finally going to be available.

That’s what’s been reported by Radio Marca in the last few days, and now a further report from Spanish outlet Fichajes claims he’s on Liverpool’s radar and could swap places with Alexis Mac Allister.

The report claims Madrid want Mac Allister to add a different kind of profile to their midfield, while the Argentina international also brings more experience than the younger Camavinga.

LFC might view this as an upgrade for them, however, as Mac Allister hasn’t been quite as good this season, and bringing in a younger player might be good for the present and future.

What Eduardo Camavinga could bring to Liverpool

Another interesting thing to consider with Camavinga is that he can play as a left-back, which is another position Liverpool might do well to strengthen in.

The Merseyside giants are set to lose Andrew Robertson as a free agent this summer, while last year’s left-back signing Milos Kerkez has been disappointing so far.

Camavinga himself might favour playing in midfield, where he can also give Arne Slot’s side something different, but the club could benefit from having an alternative to Kerkez as well.

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This will certainly be an interesting saga to watch, and it’s also worth noting that reports suggest Liverpool could be in for another left-back as well as a midfielder this summer.

Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has also been linked with the Reds by Fichajes, so there look like there will be intriguing opportunities there for the club if they want to make a change again.

The post Swap deal: Liverpool ready to finally sign long-term target in smart exchange appeared first on CaughtOffside.

As the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, uncertainty surrounds one of Brazil’s greatest stars. Neymar once again finds himself at the center of debate after missing a key match for Santos, a moment that has reportedly frustrated Carlo Ancelotti and the staff of the Brazil national soccer team.

The incident has sparked fresh tension between Neymar’s camp and the Brazilian federation, raising new doubts about whether the 34-year-old forward will be part of the Selecao’s plans for the upcoming international friendlies, and potentially the World Cup itself. What was supposed to be a crucial opportunity for the legendary attacker to prove his readiness instead turned into a complicated episode that has left his international future hanging in the balance.

The situation unfolded during a Brazilian Serie A match between Santos and Mirassol, a game that had drawn special attention from the Brazilian national team coaching staff. As per UOL, Carlo Ancelotti had traveled from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo specifically to observe Neymar’s condition and assess whether he was ready to return to the national team setup.

The Italian coach is preparing to finalize his squad for the upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia, matches scheduled as the final international window before the World Cup. However, when the lineups were announced, Neymar’s name was missing.

The Santos star was not included in the squad for the match, leaving Ancelotti without the opportunity to evaluate him on the pitch. The report goes on to suggest that the decision surprised officials from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), who had expected the forward to feature in what was seen internally as an important audition.

The real reason behind Neymar’s absence

The mystery surrounding Neymar’s absence soon became clearer. The Brazilian club decided to rest the forward due to lingering muscle fatigue and workload management, a precautionary measure designed to avoid further physical issues as he continues his comeback from injury.

According to Globo Esporte, the 34-year-old had spent more than 12 days preparing for the match but mainly focused on physical work, taking a limited part in tactical training sessions. Given his recent injury history, the club opted to protect him rather than risk aggravating a problem during the midweek fixture.

The move may have been logical from the club’s perspective, but its timing proved awkward. With Ancelotti in attendance to evaluate him, the decision effectively eliminated what might have been Neymar’s best opportunity to convince the national team staff of his readiness.

Tensions with the Brazilian Federation just keep growing

The absence from the Mirassol match reportedly represents a second point of tension between Neymar’s camp and the national federation. Earlier in the year, controversy emerged when the Brazil FA did not publicly acknowledge the player’s birthday on its official channels. The omission reportedly angered the player, who unfollowed the federation’s social media accounts shortly afterward.

Now, with the federation having expected him to appear in the Mirassol fixture after advance notice that the match would be closely monitored, his absence has added another layer of frustration within the national team setup.

Massimiliano Allegri has once again insisted that Inter and Cristian Chivu are the nailed-on favourites to win the Serie A title, that Milan are only focused on Champions League qualification and has predicted how many more points the Rossoneri need to achieve that goal. 

The spirits are high in the Rossoneri camp after defeating city rivals and Serie A leaders Inter 1-0 in the Derby della Madonnina last weekend, their second consecutive win against the Nerazzurri this season. 

Milan have not lost in any of their last seven matches against Inter, who still have a seven-point lead at the top of the Serie A standings heading into the final 10 league matches of the season. 

Despite many claiming that Milan kept the title race alive with their victory over Inter last season, Allegri, like he has done all season, insists that his side are only focused on securing a spot in the top four and a place in next season’s Champions League. 

Allegri sat down to talk all things Milan during his pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s match away against Lazio. 

Allegri: ‘Milan are happy’, but ‘Inter have shown they’re the best’

Milan were visited by legendary former attacker Andriy Shevchenko at their training ground on Friday: “It was a pleasure for me, the staff and the whole team. We hope he brings us good luck ahead of tomorrow’s game,” said Allegri (via TMW). 

Allegri went on to give his thoughts now that the dust has settled following last weekend’s Derby della Madonnina victory over Inter. 

“We’re all happy after the last game and rightly so, but the team returned to a calm state on Tuesday,” he said. 

“Now we’ve got Lazio, though, which is always a complicated game because Sarri’s sides are difficult to face. For us it’s an important game because we want to take another step forwards.” 

During practically every press conference of his this season, Allegri has maintained his stance that Milan are not focusing on a title fight, but that their main goal is a return to Champions League action for 2026-27. 

“It’s not a question of trying to win the Scudetto,” he repeated on Saturday. “We have to try and win games because you don’t get anywhere with just 60 points. Inter have a seven-point advantage, they’ve shown us that they’re the best and the strongest. 

“There are also teams behind us chasing. We have to win more games to reach a certain quota. We have to win five more games to get into the top four.

“We have to achieve our own results regardless of the others, then we’ll make sure the others behind us can’t catch up.”

 Milan will be without the suspended Adrien Rabiot on Sunday, but a decision over his replacement is still yet to be made. 

“Numbers always end up getting cut down. I don’t know who out of Jashari or Ricci will play, but the important thing is that the team puts in a good collective performance, with organisation and awareness. Lazio score a lot of goals towards the end of games.

“Fortunately there will be a full stadium with 10,000 Milan fans tomorrow, which is very important for us.”

And on his injury list, Allegri said: “Gimenez will not be there tomorrow, but he’s doing well from a psychological point of view.” 

And on Christian Pulisic, he added: “Physically he’s doing much better. He had a good game in the derby. He’s constantly growing. Both he, Leao, Fullkrug and even Nkunku are doing well.”

And previewing Lazio, Allegri said: “It will be a difficult game. They don’t concede much. It will be a big game for them, because they will want to try and beat Milan, and it’s important for us because it would allow us to take a small step forwards.” 

Allegri also weighed in with his verdict on this season’s Champions League and the disappointing results by the Italian sides competing this season. 

“Football is great because it’s debatable, and because these situations change every year. Right now, looking at the final stages, even the English sides are in difficulty. 

“This format is fun on one hand, there are a lot of games, but you risk finding yourself on the ‘wrong’ side of the standings. Maybe next year will be different. The important thing is to play in it. Then we’ll see what everyone’s capable of doing. There are no rules.” 

Allegri also gave one final reminder of what he hopes to achieve before the end of the season: “The ambition is not the Scudetto, but to do our best, to commit ourselves every day. We’ll see who’s the ‘best’ later on because it’s such a long season and the best over the course of the year always wins it.” 

Chelsea are reportedly eyeing up a transfer raid on their fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg, with Valentin Barco a target for Liam Rosenior.

Rosenior knows Barco well from his time managing him in Ligue 1, and it could be that they’ll be reunited at Stamford Bridge this summer, according to Fichajes.

The report states that Chelsea rate Barco highly, with the 21-year-old impressing as a top young talent during his time in France.

The fact that he’s also played under Rosenior should help him adapt well at Chelsea, where he can add quality and depth in two positions.

What Valentin Barco could bring to Chelsea

Barco mainly plays as a central defensive midfielder, but he can also provide the Blues with an option at left-back if needed.

It remains to be seen how Chelsea would use him, with Rosenior already having Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo as his two main starters in midfield.

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Then again, it’s also hard to see CFC giving Barco a lot of chances to start at left-back, given that they already have Marc Cucurella and Jorrel Hato in that position.

Do Chelsea really need Barco? The Argentine may well be a big talent, but it’s perhaps hard to justify this move now, so we’ve given him this low-medium score with our Transfer Fit rating system…

As you can see, Barco scores well for his recent form and the fact that he’s a young player with his best years ahead of him, but he lacks experience, isn’t a priority position for Chelsea, and would probably not be worth the money even if they could have favourable terms with Strasbourg.

The post Report: Chelsea considering transfer move for 21-year-old who’s perfect for Liam Rosenior appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Liverpool are reportedly eyeing up a potential transfer move for Alejandro Balde as he’s made available by Barcelona for the right price.

According to Fichajes, the Catalan giants are prepared to accept around €60m to let Balde go, with sporting director Deco unsure about the player.

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It remains to be seen if anyone will come in for Balde, but Fichajes suggest that Liverpool could be suitors to watch.

The Reds could certainly do with making a change at left-back, with last summer’s signing Milos Kerkez proving unconvincing, while Andrew Robertson looks set to leave at the end of this season.

Alejandro Balde to solve Liverpool’s left-back issues

Balde has perhaps not been at his very best for Barcelona this season, but on his day the 22-year-old is an elite talent.

He’s also still young enough to turn his form around and develop into an even better player, so this could be a smart signing by LFC.

At the same time, €60m is a lot to pay for someone who’s not currently performing at their best, so we’ve used our Transfer Fit rating system to score him 16/25 – medium.

Liverpool could probably do better than Balde, but he is certainly also worth considering, with any kind of upgrade on Kerkez making sense as a priority.

The Hungary international shone during his time at Bournemouth but is yet to show that kind of form at Anfield.

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Meanwhile, Robertson is about to become a free agent, so is surely heading out of Liverpool after a great career at the club.

The veteran Scotland international looks past his best now, however, with Kerkez starting over him in Arne Slot’s side for most of this season.

The post From Spain: Liverpool eye €60m star to already replace struggling Slot signing appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has responded to a question about Michael Carrick’s future after his fine start as interim manager.

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The former Man Utd midfielder was recently placed in charge of the club after the sacking of Ruben Amorim, but it remains to be seen if he’ll stay at Old Trafford beyond this stint until the end of the season.

Carrick is not hugely experienced at the highest level of management, though he previously impressed as Middlesbrough boss and has done well to lift this United side after some dire form under Amorim.

Ratcliffe clearly seems happy with the job Carrick is doing, though he wouldn’t be drawn into answering if he’d give the 44-year-old the job permanently…

"Michael Carrick is doing an excellent job" ?

Sir Jim Ratcliffe speaks to Craig Slater on his hopes for both Mercedes and Manchester United, but refuses to comment on whether Michael Carrick could remain as head coach after this season ? pic.twitter.com/VncqaKC5jd

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 14, 2026

“He’s doing an excellent job, absolutely,’ Ratcliffe said, but when asked about the permanent job, he added: “Not going there!”

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Michael Carrick’s strong star as Manchester United’s interim manager

Carrick has had a terrific impact with United so far, tweaking the team’s tactics and massively improving both results and performances.

United were on a run of just one win from seven before Carrick took over, with MUFC now on a run of six wins, one draw, and one defeat in his eight games in charge…

Carrick is not as big a name as some of the other managers out there, with experienced figures like Roberto De Zerbi currently available, and others like Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola also set to be on the lookout for new clubs very soon.

Ratcliffe sounds happy with Carrick, but it remains to be seen if that will translate into giving him the job permanently, or if he just sees him as doing his duties as interim well before ultimately passing on the torch to someone else.

The post Sir Jim Ratcliffe responds to question on Michael Carrick’s chances of landing Man United job appeared first on CaughtOffside.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United expect to complete the sales of Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford this summer, with a total of €80million expected to boost their finances from the two deals. After two relatively unsuccessful seasons at Old Trafford, Hojlund joined Napoli at the start of this season on loan, with the Serie […]

The post Manchester United expect €80m total income from Hojlund and Rashford sales (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Manchester United expect €80m total income from Hojlund and Rashford sales (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United expect to complete the sales of Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford this summer, with a total of €80million expected to boost their finances from the two deals. After two relatively unsuccessful seasons at Old Trafford, Hojlund joined Napoli at the start of this season on loan, with the Serie […]

The post Manchester United expect €80m total income from Hojlund and Rashford sales (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

The post Manchester United expect €80m total income from Hojlund and Rashford sales (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.

Juventus have confirmed that Dusan Vlahovic will not feature against Udinese in Serie A on Saturday evening, but there is a surprise inclusion in Luciano Spalletti’s squad as Arkadiusz Milik makes a rare appearance. 

The Bianconeri are currently sitting in sixth place in the Serie A table on 50 points after 28 matches, one point but two positions shy of the top four with 10 league games of the season left to go. 

Spalletti’s side will take on Udinese away from home on Saturday evening, kicking off at 19.45 GMT, and will be keeping a particularly keen eye on Sunday’s match between the fourth-placed Como and the fifth-placed Roma at the Stadio Sinigaglia (17.00 GMT kick-off). 

Vlahovic has been involved in Juventus training this week after spending over three months recovering from surgery on his adductor, however, it was revealed on Friday that the Serbian would not be involved this weekend, which has since been confirmed in Juve’s official squad announcement. 

Despite the absence of Vlahovic, Spalletti has still been able to welcome another striker back into his squad, as Milik returns for just the third time this season. 

Milik has not played competitively for Juventus since the end of the 2023-24 season after a torrid few years with injuries and fitness issues. The 32-year-old was called up to the squad for two consecutive matches against Roma and Pisa in December, without featuring, but has missed the last 11 league matches with a calf injury. He is among the selections for Udinese, though. 

Confirmed Juventus squad vs. Udinese

Goalkeepers: Perin, Di Gregorio, Pinsoglio. 

Defenders: Bremer, Gatti, Kelly, Kalulu, Cambiaso, Cabal. 

Midfielders: Locatelli, Koopmeiners, Adzic, Kostic, Thuram, Miretti, McKennie. 

Forwards: Conceicao, Yildiz, Zhegrova, Boga, Milik, Openda, David.

I convocati da mister Spalletti per la gara in trasferta di questa sera #UdineseJuve

Powered by @WhiteBit pic.twitter.com/D8WC39hbJN

— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) March 14, 2026

There is now less than a week to go before Gennaro Gattuso announced his Italy national team squad for the World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of March, and recent reports claim that the CT will be in San Siro to keep an eye on some of his players during Saturday’s Serie A match between Inter and Atalanta. 

Here is a reminder of the players who will be of interest to Gattuso ahead of the crucial Northern Ireland clash on March 26. 

Gattuso drawing up final plans for Italy’s World Cup play-offs 

Italy are due to take on Northern Ireland in a one-legged World Cup play-off semi-final on March 26, and the winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the play-off final on March 31: A one-off decider for a spot at the final tournament. 

Should Italy fail to win both matches, it will mean three consecutive World Cup absences for the joint-second-most successful nation in the tournament’s history. The Azzurri have not featured at the World Cup group stages since 2014 and have not won a knock-out game at the tournament since lifting the trophy in 2006 

Gattuso is expected to announce his squad for the World Cup play-offs, which will be played during the March international break, on Friday. 

Before then, he will be in San Siro to keep an eye on some of his players during Saturday’s Serie A match between Inter and Atalanta according to reports from Il Giorno and various other outlets. 

Between the Inter and Atalanta squads, there are 14 senior players who have either represented Italy in the past, or are tipped to earn a call-up in the near future. 

Cristian Chivu’s side contains five players who are practically guaranteed a spot in the side. They are Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, Nicolo Barella, Davide Frattesi and Pio Esposito.

Bastoni is still nursing an impact injury he suffered against Milan last weekend, and might not start against Atalanta, but is still expected to be involved with the Italy national team squad. 

Senior Nerazzurri players in Matteo Darmian and Francesco Acerbi are highly unlikely to be involved in Gattuso’s next squad, though. 

Atalanta also have a decent crop of players hoping to be called up to the Italy squad next week. 

Marco Carnesecchi and Gianluca Scamacca are likely to be called up to the Italy squad next week. Giacomo Raspadori is normally a sure-fire pick as well, but there are still ongoing doubts surrounding his fitness. 

Evaluations could also be made over Giorgio Scalvini, who is expected to start against Inter on Saturday after serving his suspension in the Champions League midweek. 

Atalanta also have three Italian wing-backs on their books in Davide Zappacosta, Raoul Bellanova and Luca Bernasconi. Zappacosta has been performing well in recent weeks, but is not currently expected to be called up to the Italy squad.

Bellanova currently has plenty of position for a spot on Italy’s right flank given the recent form youngsters Marco Palestra, on loan from Atalanta to Cagliari, and Michael Kayode of Premier League side Brentford. Juventus’s Andrea Cambiaso is also expected to be called up and is capable of covering on the right, too.

Some reports, however, suggest that left-sided wing-back Bernasconi is among the players on Gattuso’s preliminary squad list.

Reports in Italy claim that Inter are set to show their faith in head coach Cristian Chivu by handing him an extension to his contract, which is currently set to expire at the end of the 2026-27 season. 

Inter want to lock down head coach Chivu

Chivu, in his first full season as a head coach in the senior game, has taken Inter from the depths of their disappointment following last season’s 5-0 humiliation against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, and within the space of 10 months, has developed a side that now sits seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table with 10 games to go. 

There have been some recent reports in Italy claiming that the pressure is on Inter following their 1-0 defeat against city rivals Milan in the league last weekend, which cut the Nerazzurro lead at the top of the table from 10 points to seven, but La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that this ‘pressure’ is more on the players than it is on the head coach.