Claudio Ranieri looks back a decade on from the iconic Leicester City Premier League victory, as the Foxes drop into the third tier. ‘I tweaked things, and from there a legend was born.’

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It is a decade on since Ranieri made football history by winning the Premier League title with minnows Leicester City, leaving behind clubs with far bigger budgets and glorious trophy cabinets.

As a sign of quite what a sporting miracle that was, Leicester City will play in League One next season, the English equivalent of Serie C, after back-to-back relegations.

To commemorate the anniversary, Ranieri sat down with singer-songwriter Sayf, who made headlines when saying his unexpected hit made him feel like Leicester City.

Ranieri remembers Leicester City success

“There was an incredible positive energy behind the team at that time, but I was only convinced that I would win the Premier League when I actually won the Premier League,” Ranieri told Sky Sport Italia.

“This was considered a yo-yo team, they’d go up and down the divisions, and have just now dropped into the English third tier. When the President hired me, he asked to get 40 points and secure safety from relegation as early as possible. From there, a legend was born.

“I arrived, the team was in a training retreat because they’d sacked the coach, I had two days to prepare watching games from previous seasons. I changed a few things, as they were accustomed to a different system, saw some players who I felt it was right to change, and then the team really started to push.”

When asked if there was a moment or game when he saw the situation change, Ranieri insisted there wasn’t a specific turning point in that remarkable season.

“I started tweaking things because we conceded too many goals. I changed the two wide defenders, and from there the team conceded fewer goals.

“Another potential moment was a series of three games against Manchester City away, Liverpool at home, and Arsenal away, before the break for international duty.

“Jamie Vardy said to me: ‘Mister, shall we get nine points?’ I replied that if they picked up nine points, I’d give them the whole week off for a vacation. We won 3-1 in Manchester, we beat Liverpool, were 1-0 up over Arsenal until going down to 10 men and losing at the 93^rd minute.

“Everyone was so sad in the dressing room, so I told them: ‘I always asked you for the maximum in every game. We lost today, but you gave your best, so in my mind you earned three points. So you can have the whole week off.’ That might’ve been another building block in the victory.”

Ranieri also famously did the ‘dilly-ding dilly-dong’ gesture in training, his version of ringing a bell as a wake-up call to his Leicester City players.

“In all my experiences, I tried to keep everyone involved with a smile,” said the coach.

The FIGC has confirmed that there will be a minute’s silence before every Serie A match in the 35th round of fixtures in tribute to the late Alex Zanardi, who has died at the age of 59. 

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Serie A will remember Zanardi before every Week 35 match

“It is with deep sorrow that the family communicates the death of Alessandro Zanardi, which occurred suddenly yesterday evening, May 1st,” read a statement from his family on Saturday morning. 

“Alex passed away peacefully, surrounded by the affection of his loved ones. The family sincerely thanks all those who are showing closeness in these hours and asks for respect for their pain and privacy in this moment of mourning”. 

Zanardi was an icon of Italian paralympic sport. A former motor sports driver who competed in Formula One between 1991 and 1994 and again in 1999, he had both legs amputated after a serious crash during a CART event in 2001. 

Zanardi miraculously recovered and continued racing in specially-adapted cars across various different race formats, before turning his focus to hand cycling. 

He would go on to win four gold medals and two silvers between the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games in London and Rio de Janeiro. 

He was sadly involved in another major accident in 2020 while competing in the Obiettivo tricolore, the Italian national road race for paralympic athletes. This accident left him hospitalised for 18 months and with life-altering injuries. 

Zanardi died on Friday, May 1, at the age of 59. 

Many Serie A clubs and coaches have paid their respects to the late Zanardi on social media and in their pre-match press conferences on Saturday.

Massimiliano Allegri insists that he is not concerned by Christian Pulisic’s lack of goals in 2026, has confirmed the players that are in line to replace the injured Luka Modric, but avoided commenting on the topic of a potential sale of Rafael Leao this summer. 

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The Rossoneri tactician sat down for his customary pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of his side’s upcoming test against Sassuolo on Saturday. 

Allegri previews Sassuolo vs. Milan

Allegri began his press conference with a word of remembrance for former Formula One driver-turned Paralympian Alex Zanardi, who has died at the age of 59: “It’s right to remember Zanardi, an example in life, an example of human and sporting values. He put professionalism and passion into sport. My condolences to his family. He has amazing values.”

The topic of discussion soon reverted to the task at hand in Serie A. One of the biggest conundrums facing Allegri is how to place Luka Modric, who will miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his cheekbone against Juventus last weekend. 

“We’re very sorry about this bad injury, which will keep him out until the end of the season, even if he has a big desire to come back,” Allegri commented. 

“He shows so much passion for the work he does and I hope this has been a lesson for the other players. We have great players to replace him, either Jashari or Ricci, who have grown a lot and in whom I have a lot of confidence.

“Jashari has grown a lot. Unfortunately he had a bad injury at the beginning of the season which kept him out for a long time. He has desire, he’s curious, he has his whole future ahead of him and I think Milan made an excellent signing.” 

Allegri confirmed that he has recently sat down with Milan’s senior management, but insisted: “It’s normal. Evaluations aren’t just made about the future, but also on how the season has gone so far, even if the final evaluation will be made at the end of the season. 

“We’ve created a base, but we need to get into the Champions League.” 

Allegri was also asked for his opinion on the continuing refereeing scandal in Serie A: “I haven’t made up my mind, these are delicate subjects. The relevant bodies will evaluate. After everything that’s happened, the last round was a positive for the referees. They did a good job and psychologically it wasn’t easy.” 

All season, Allegri has insisted that returning to the Champions League is Milan’s only focus. They are closing in on qualification, and with Inter set to win the Scudetto, potentially by the end of the weekend, is a second-place finish now the target for the Rossoneri? 

“We have to do our best,” said Allegri. “We have a difficult game tomorrow because Sassuolo have good technical ability and can score goals at any time. They have good players and a good coach. 

“Grosso is the revelation of this Serie A season because he’s grown a lot. Despite the difficulties of the early stages of his career, he’s made big steps forwards. Tomorrow is the first of the last four, we have to face it with calmness because we can’t let the goal slip away.” 

Allegri was also asked if there is any possibility that Rafael Leao leaves the club during the summer transfer window. 

He replied: “Talking about the market now makes no sense. One step at a time. We want to return to playing in the Champions League and the whole group has to be focused on that. Then, at the end of the season, we will all make evaluations to see if we can improve the work we’ve done this year.” 

Allegri also commented on summer signing Christopher Nkunku: “He has great technical qualities. He’s had difficulties, but he’s scored goals. Maybe from tomorrow the strikers will start scoring again. We don’t discuss the (financial) value of the player. There are different factors that can make him do well one year and not in another.” 

Santiago Gimenez has recently returned from injury but has found it difficult to break into the side since then. 

“He’s a player who arrived last year, then had the immediate ankle problem. He’s an important player. Unfortunately the injury has kept him out for four or five months this year, and returning at the end of the season isn’t easy, especially for the tempo. He’s committed, he’s a valuable player despite this bad year.” 

Christian Pulisic has not struggled for opportunities, but remains without a goal in 2026. 

“Pulisic is an important player for Milan and it’s difficult to find players as good as him,” Allegri insisted. “You don’t have to look at whether or not the players do well or don’t do well in a certain year, there are some values that don’t change.

“He’s been missing that goal in recent games, but he’s been active. Right now, you have to put personal goals to one side and work for the team because our final target is too important. Those who play, those who come on, have to have an excellent attitude because that’s how we get the result, as well as doing well in defence and attack.”

Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that it will be a choice of either Ardon Jashari or Samuele Ricci to replace the injured Luka Modric for the final four matches of the 2025-26 Serie A season: ‘I have a lot of confidence’. 

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Allegri comments on potential Modric replacements: ‘We have great players’

Milan will visit Sassuolo on Sunday afternoon in the 35th round of Serie A fixtures, but will have to do without former Ballon d’Or winner Modric against the Neroverdi. The 40-year-old is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign after suffering a fractured cheekbone while challenging for a header against Manuel Locatelli during the 0-0 draw between Milan and Juventus last weekend. 

It is a blow for the Rossoneri, who have been able to field the veteran midfielder in all but one of their Serie A matches so far this season. Modric has started in 32 of Milan’s 34 league matches so far this season. 

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Saturday, Allegri confirmed that it will be a choice between one of two players to replace Modric against Sassuolo on Sunday. 

“We’re very sorry about this bad injury, which will keep him out until the end of the season, even if he has a big desire to come back,” Allegri commented. 

“He shows so much passion for the work he does and I hope this has been a lesson for the other players. We have great players to replace him, either Jashari or Ricci, who have grown a lot and in whom I have a lot of confidence.” 

Jashari was one of the division’s most expensive signings during the summer transfer window, but has struggled to establish himself in San Siro, especially following the injury he suffered almost immediately after signing from Club Brugge. 

This is not a major concern for Allegri, though: “Jashari has grown a lot. Unfortunately he had a bad injury at the beginning of the season which kept him out for a long time. He has desire, he’s curious, he has his whole future ahead of him and I think Milan made an excellent signing.” 

Kosta Runjaic and Roberto D’Aversa have made two changes each to their starting line-ups as Udinese host Torino in the first Serie A match on Saturday’s schedule.

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Just three points separate the two sides ahead of kick-off on Saturday afternoon. Udinese sit in 11th place on 44 points while Torino find themselves two positions in 13th on 41 points heading into the final four games of the season. 

Hosts Udinese are looking to get back to winning ways after a 3-3 draw and a 1-0 defeat against Parma over their last two matches. 

Torino are four matches unbeaten heading into Saturday’s clash against Udinese, most recently holding Champions-elect Inter to a 2-2 draw last weekend. Only the Nerazzurri and Juventus have been in better form than Toro over the last four league matches. 

Kosta Runjaic has made just two changes to his Udinese line-up after last week’s draw with Lazio: Lennon Miller and Adam Buksa are called into the starting XI in place of Jakub Piotrowski and Idrissa Gueye.

Torino have also made two personnel changes after their draw with Inter last time out: Napoli loanee Luca Marianucci replaces Ardian Ismajli at centre-back and Cesare Casadei returns to the starting XI with Che Adams missing out.

Kick-off is due at 14.00 BST.

Udinese vs. Torino: Confirmed line-ups 

Udinese (3-5-2): Okoye; Kristensen, Kabasele, Solet; Ehizibue, Atta, Miller, Ekkelenkamp, Kamara; Zaniolo, Buksa.

Subs: Nunziante, Sava, Padelli, Zarraga, Gueye, Bayo, Arizala, Mlacic, Piotrowski, Camara, Vinciati. 

Torino (3-5-2): Paleari; Coco, Marianucci, Ebosse; Lazaro, Casadei, Ilkhan, Gineitis, Obrador; Vlasic, Simeone.

Subs: Israel, Siviero, Prati, Ilic, Maripan, Kulenovic, Nkounkou, Biraghi, Tameze, Savvam Nije.

02-05-2026 14:00

MatchDay 35

Friuli Stadium (Dacia Arena)

Udinese

Torino

Live

1 - 0

Player statistic

1st half

Kingsley Ehizibue

45+1'

2nd half

Christian Kabasele

46'

Udinese

Torino

Starting lineups

40

Maduka Okoye

Goalkeeper

27

Christian Kabasele

Defender

11

Hassane Kamara

Defender

19

Kingsley Ehizibue

Defender

28

Oumar Solet

Defender

31

Thomas Kristensen

Defender

14

Arthur Atta

Midfielder

32

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp

Midfielder

38

Lennon Miller

Midfielder

10

Nicolò Zaniolo

Midfielder

18

Adam Buksa

Attacker

1

Alberto Paleari

Goalkeeper

77

Enzo Ebosse

Defender

35

Luca Marianucci

Defender

33

Rafa Obrador

Defender

23

Saúl Coco

Defender

20

Valentino Lazaro

Defender

22

Cesare Casadei

Midfielder

6

Emirhan Ilkhan

Midfielder

66

Gvidas Gineitis

Midfielder

10

Nikola Vlasic

Midfielder

18

Giovanni Simeone

Attacker

Substitutes

93

Daniele Padelli

Goalkeeper

24

Jakub Piotrowski

Midfielder

90

Răzvan Sava

Goalkeeper

1

Alessandro Nunziante

Goalkeeper

6

Oier Zarraga

Midfielder

15

Vakoun Bayo

Attacker

29

Abdoulaye Camara

Midfielder

45

Giulio Vinciati

Attacker

7

Idrissa Gueye

Attacker

20

Juan Arizala

Defender

22

Branimir Mlacic

Defender

34

Cristiano Biraghi

Defender

81

Franco Israel

Goalkeeper

61

Adrien Tameze

Midfielder

8

Ivan Ilić

Midfielder

17

Sandro Kulenovic

Attacker

13

Guillermo Maripán

Defender

4

Matteo Prati

Midfielder

25

Niels Nkounkou

Defender

79

Zanos Savva

Attacker

92

Alieu Njie

Attacker

99

Lapo Siviero

Goalkeeper

Reports in Italy claim that Juventus are hopeful of landing a deal for Germany international Angelo Stiller and that the Bianconeri hope to take advantage of a complicated release clause in the midfielder’s contract with VfB Stuttgart. 

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Could Juventus move for Stuttgart’s Stiller this summer?

Juventus are expected to strengthen Luciano Spalletti’s squad over the summer transfer window with the aim of competing for the Serie A title next season, and their midfield department, which is currently short in depth, is an area that will be addressed. 

According to Tuttosport, Stuttgart’s Stiller has been identified as a ‘favourite’ among the Bianconeri management, and Saturday’s report claims that a meeting with the player’s agent has been lined up. 

The 25-year-old Stiller, a product of the Bayern Munich youth academy, has a release clause in his Stuttgart contract reported to stand at €36.5m, a figure that is not out of Juventus’s reach. 

However, according to Saturday’s report, Stuttgart are able to revoke that release clause by paying Stiller a €2m bonus, which Tuttosport claims is a likely scenario.  

This would complicate proceedings for Juventus, but it would not put them off entirely according to Saturday’s report. It has been suggested that Stuttgart could seek a fee in the region of €50m for Stiller if the release clause is no longer in play, and Juve could be prepared to negotiate. 

Real Madrid and Manchester United have also expressed an interest in picking up the seven-time Germany international.

Reports in Italy suggest that Milan could circle back for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta during the summer transfer window after his agent was spotted in San Siro for the recent 0-0 Serie A draw between the Rossoneri and Juventus. 

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Milan had attempted to bring Mateta to Italy towards the end of January and had agreed a fee in the region of €30m with Crystal Palace, but the deal fell through in the final hours of the winter transfer window due to issues uncovered during the player’s medical. 

It was reported at the time that there was an underlying issue with Mateta’s knee, and it was later confirmed that several different experts had weighed in with their opinions before the deal fell through. 

Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner later admitted that “it was not a big big surprise” to see Mateta fail his medical, and that the Frenchman had been playing on with a swollen knee for several months before the January transfer window. 

Mateta ultimately decided against having surgery on his knee; Glasner revealing that this was his best option if he is to be fit and available for selection for the 2026 World Cup this summer. 

After missing around six weeks of action while rehabbing his knee, Mateta has since returned and provided three goals and an assist from his nine most-recent appearances across all competitions. 

Could Milan return for Mateta this summer?

Now, according to reports from Calciomercato.com, Milan could potentially circle back for Mateta this summer. 

This suggestion has been fuelled by the sighting of Mateta’s agent, Paul Latouche, in San Siro for last weekend’s 0-0 draw between Milan and Juventus in Serie A. 

Saturday’s report suggests that Milan could potentially negotiate a discounted fee with Crystal Palace this summer as well, given that Mateta is currently due to be entering the final year of his Eagles contract when the window opens. 

The 2025-26 Serie A season is beginning to draw to a close and teams are already beginning to plan their next steps ahead of opening of the transfer window, but it could be another complicated summer for Juventus and Aston Villa loanee Douglas Luiz according to the latest reports. 

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Juventus may struggle to find a Douglas Luiz solution this summer

Douglas Luiz joined Juventus in a €50m deal from Aston Villa at the beginning of the 2024-25 season, but went on to have a disappointing start to life in Serie A with just starts in the league during his first campaign in Italy. 

Having failed to convince during his first season in Turin, Douglas Luiz was allowed to leave to join Nottingham Forest on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal that could have earned Juventus €31.5m if all bonuses were met. 

In the end, Forest did not trigger the obligation to buy clause in the Brazilian’s contract, and instead agreed to terminate his deal ahead of schedule, which facilitated a return to his former club, Aston Villa, during the January transfer window. 

The Aston Villa loan deal included an option to buy for a fee of €25m with bonuses of up to €3.5m, however, according to the latest reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Villa have already decided that they are unwilling to trigger their option to buy. 

Though he made six consecutive starts in the Premier League after rejoining Aston Villa in January, Douglas Luiz has not been included in the starting XI for the last five league fixtures, nor has he started in any of the club’s last three outings in the Europa League. Since mid-March, the 27-year-old has only played for a total of 80 minutes. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus need to raise around €30m from Douglas Luiz if they are to avoid making a capital loss. But given that he has now endured underwhelming stints with three different clubs over the last 18 months, the Pink Paper writes that Douglas Luiz will become ‘a big problem’ for the Bianconeri this summer: “Finding a club willing to relaunch him will not be easy at all.”

Though they are not due to play until Sunday evening, Hellas Verona’s relegation from Serie A has been mathematically confirmed following Lecce’s 2-1 victory away against Pisa on Friday night. 

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Confirmed: Pisa and Verona relegated to Serie B

Two sides were officially relegated on Friday evening: 20th-placed Pisa were defeated at home by the 17th-placed Lecce, which means that they are now 14 points deep into the relegation zone with just three games of the season left to play and are no longer able to reach safety. 

Verona, who will play against Juventus on Sunday, are only one point better off than Pisa on 19 points after 34 matches. They are 13 points deep into the relegation zone with four matches left to play, which confirms that they will also finish the 2025-26 season in the bottom three. 

It has been a disappointing season for Verona, who have only picked up three wins in the league all season; their first coming at home against Atalanta on December 6. This led to the dismissal of Paolo Zanetti as head coach on February 2, who was replaced by interim Paolo Sammarco the following day. 

Verona will now return to the second tier of Italian football for the first time since the 2018-19 season, when they finished the Serie B campaign in fifth place, gaining promotion through the play-offs. 

Raffaele Palladino and Atalanta are looking to get back to winning ways with a visit from Daniele De Rossi and Genoa, who will be aiming to confirm mathematical safety in Serie A on Saturday evening.

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Atalanta have been on a disappointing run of form in February and are without a victory across their last four matches in all competitions. They find themselves in seventh place in the Serie A table, and could end up needing a favour from Inter in the Coppa Italia final in order to qualify for next season’s Conference League. 

Genoa come into Saturday evening’s fixture in 14th place, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with four league matches of the 2025-26 season left to play. A victory against Atalanta will guarantee their Serie A status for another season, but they will also ensure safety as long as Cremonese do not beat Lazio on Monday evening. 

Despite the 3-2 defeat against Cagliari on Monday night, Palladino is unlikely to make any changes to his attacking unit of Giacomo Raspadori, Charles De Ketelaere and Gianluca Scamacca. 

There could be changes in defence and midfield, though, as Sky Sport Italia suggest that Isak Hien, Honest Ahanor and Marten De Roon could come in for Berat Djimsiti, Sead Kolasinac and Mario Pasalic. 

Genoa were beaten 2-0 by Como last weekend and could also be in line for a tactical reshuffle. Pre-match reports suggest that it could be a switch from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 this weekend, and that Lorenzo Colombo could come back into the starting line-up to partner Jeff Ekhator in attack.  

Sky Sport Italia claims that there could be a full senior debut for 21-year-old Genoa defender Nils Zatterstrom. 

Kick-off is due at 19.45 BST.

Atalanta vs. Genoa: Probable line-ups

Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Hien, Ahanor; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Raspadori; Scamacca. 

Genoa (3-5-2): Bijlow; Marcandalli, Ostigard, Zatterstrom; Sabelli, Frendrup, Amorim, Masini, Ellertsson; Ekhator, Colombo. 

Where to watch Atalanta vs. Genoa

Today’s game will be available to watch live in the UK exclusively on DAZN. Supporters in the USA are able to tune in via Paramount+. 

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

Cesc Fabregas reunites with his former boss Antonio Conte as second-placed Napoli host the Champions League-chasing Como in a game that could have huge implications on the race for the Serie A top four on Saturday evening. 

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Como come into tonight’s fixture on 61 points after 34 matches, three shy of Juventus in the coveted fourth place heading into the final four games of the 2025-26 season. They host Napoli, second on 69 points, who are closing in on Champions League qualification, but could see title rivals Inter go on to win the Scudetto by the end of this weekend. 

Pre-match reports indicate that Fabregas is unlikely to make any changes to his side that beat Genoa 2-0 away from home last weekend. 

Nico Paz is expected to start despite being taken off after a nasty clash of heads last time out. He is likely to be joined by Assane Diao, Martin Baturina and Tasos Douvikas in the Como attack. 

Napoli got back to winning ways with a 4-0 win over relegation-threatened Cremonese last weekend, which means that Conte is unlikely to make too many personnel changes either. 

Sam Beukema could come back into the defence along with Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno, but Napoli’s midfield and attack of Stanislav Lobotka, Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne, Alisson Santos and Rasmus Hojlund is likely to remain unchanged. 

Kick off at the Stadio Sinigaglia is due at 17.00 BST. 

Como vs. Napoli: Probable line-ups 

Como (4-2-3-1): Butez; Smolcic, Ramon, D.Carlos, Valle; Da Cunha, Perrone; Diao, Paz, Baturina; Douvikas.

Napoli (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Rrahmani, Buongiorno; Politano, McTominay, Lobotka, Gutierrez; De Bruyne, Alisson; Hojlund. 

Where to watch Como vs. Napoli 

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

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

Lecce secured a vital 2-1 win away to Pisa, a result that confirms the hosts’ relegation from Serie A while boosting the visitors’ survival hopes.

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Pisa’s fate is now sealed after just two wins and 18 points from 35 matches, while Lecce move four points clear of 18th-placed Cremonese, who still have to face Lazio on Monday.

The home side started brightly and created the better openings early on, with Filip Stojilkovic and Simone Canestrelli both denied by sharp goalkeeping from Wladimiro Falcone. Lecce, however, grew into the contest, with Lameck Banda a constant threat down the flank.

It was Banda who broke the deadlock shortly after the restart. Lecce struck on the counter, and the Zambian winger showed composure to control before firing past Adrian Semper from mid-range to make it 1-0.

Pisa responded well and found an equaliser on 56 minutes through Mehdi Leris, who reacted quickest inside the box to fire a first-time finish into the bottom corner.

With the game finely balanced, Lecce regained the lead just after the hour mark. Santiago Pierotti slipped in Walid Cheddira, who showed determination to reach the ball ahead of the defence and calmly slot home what proved to be the winner.

Pisa pushed late on, going close through Gabriele Piccinini, but Lecce held firm despite late pressure and an offside goal ruling out a third.

The final whistle confirmed a painful outcome for Pisa, whose relegation is now mathematically certain, while Lecce take a significant step towards Serie A safety.

Pisa 1-2 Lecce

01-05-2026 19:45

MatchDay 35

Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani

Pisa

Lecce

1 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

Antonio Caracciolo

43'

2nd half

		52'		Lameck Banda (Assist: Walid Cheddira)
Mehdi Léris		56'
Michel Aebischer		61'
		65'		Walid Cheddira (Assist: Santiago Pierotti)
		66'		Walid Cheddira
Rafiu Durosinmi		82'
		88'		Santiago Pierotti
Henrik Meister		90'

Match statistic

58

Possession %

42

18

Total shots

7

7

Shots on target

4

5

Shots off target

2

6

Blocked shots

1

6

Corners

1

6

Offsides

2

15

Fouls

13

Pisa

Lecce

Starting lineups

1

Adrian Šemper

Goalkeeper

4

Antonio Caracciolo

Defender

2

Rosen Bozhinov

Defender

81'

3

Samuele Angori

Defender

64'

5

Simone Canestrelli

Defender

14

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro

Midfielder

81'

21

Isak Vural

Midfielder

70'

20

Michel Aebischer

Midfielder

81

Filip Stojilkovic

Attacker

70'

7

Mehdi Léris

Attacker

32

Stefano Moreo

Attacker

30

Wladimiro Falcone

Goalkeeper

25

Antonino Gallo

Defender

17

Danilo Veiga

Defender

5

Jamil Siebert

Defender

44

Tiago Gabriel

Defender

29

Lassana Coulibaly

Midfielder

79

Oumar Ngom

Midfielder

20

Ylber Ramadani

Midfielder

19

Lameck Banda

Attacker

71'

50

Santiago Pierotti

Attacker

90'

99

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

71'

Substitutes

22

Simone Scuffet

Goalkeeper

33

Arturo Calabresi

Defender

12

Nicolas

Goalkeeper

39

Raúl Albiol

Defender

23

Calvin Stengs

Attacker

19

Samuel Iling-Junior

Attacker

26

Francesco Coppola

Defender

8

Malthe Höjholt

Midfielder

35

Felipe Loyola

Defender

99

Lorran

Midfielder

15

Idrissa Touré

Midfielder

64'

36

Gabriele Piccinini

Attacker

70'

9

Henrik Meister

Attacker

70'

11

Juan Cuadrado

Midfielder

81'

17

Rafiu Durosinmi

Attacker

81'

14

Thórir Jóhann Helgason

Midfielder

32

Jasper Samooja

Goalkeeper

1

Christian Früchtl

Goalkeeper

36

Filip Marchwinski

Midfielder

11

Konan N’Dri

Attacker

9

Nikola Stulic

Attacker

13

Matías Pérez

Defender

3

Corrie Ndaba

Defender

28

Olaf Gorter

Midfielder

80

Niko Kovač

Midfielder

6

Álex Sala

Midfielder

22

Francesco Camarda

Attacker

71'

18

Gaby Jean

Defender

71'

16

Omri Gandelman

Midfielder

90'

Gabriel Jesus has emerged as a potential option for Milan ahead of the summer transfer window, with the Arsenal striker already proposed to the Rossoneri following a recent change in representation.

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According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Brazilian switched agents in January and is now part of the same management group as Massimiliano Allegri. That shared connection has helped place him on Milan’s radar, with initial contacts dating back several months.

“It’s not really a surprise to see him linked with Milan,” Pedullà explained, with quotes via MilanNews. “I told you about the change of agent in January, and Gabriel Jesus joined the Branchini group. Branchini is Allegri’s agent and Gabriel Jesus had already been offered to Milan.”

He added: “So this is something we had already revealed as a concrete possibility. We have to include Gabriel Jesus on the list of strikers who could be linked with Milan.”

Pedulla: Gabriel Jesus would give Milan a leap in quality

The Brazilian has seen his role reduced at Arsenal, particularly following the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres, which has further limited his playing time and visibility.

“His contract isn’t very long, he’s playing less, and they’ve signed Gyokeres, so his situation has changed,” Pedullà continued. “It will depend a lot on Arsenal’s valuation, but he’s a strong striker, ready for a different experience.”

Pedullà believes a move could represent a step forward for Milan’s attack. “In my opinion, he would finally give Milan that leap in quality. They’ve been looking for a number nine for a long time. So keep an eye on this, things could develop in May.”

Romelu Lukaku could be heading for a return to the Premier League this summer, with Napoli open to selling the striker as they reshape their attack ahead of next season.

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The Belgian has struggled for rhythm during the current campaign, making just seven appearances and playing little over an hour of football in total due to recurring hamstring and muscular problems. His lack of availability has limited his impact and is understood to have influenced Napoli’s decision to move in a different direction.

That strategy shift has already taken shape with the club securing Rasmus Højlund on a permanent deal, signalling a clear long-term change in their forward line. With just over 12 months remaining on his contract, Lukaku is now among the players who could be sacrificed as part of that transition.

Milan & Inter like Lukaku as Premier League return touted

Initial checks have been made within Serie A, including tentative approaches to AC Milan and Inter Milan, but neither club is currently showing strong intent to pursue a deal. While Lukaku would prefer to remain in Italy, the lack of concrete interest has prompted his camp to explore alternative options.

According to TeamTalk, a return to England is now a realistic possibility.

Lukaku has extensive Premier League experience, having previously played for Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton and West Bromwich Albion, with his last spell coming in 2022.

Intermediaries are already making contact with several English clubs to gauge interest, as Lukaku weighs up his next move. Napoli are believed to be willing to accept a fee in the region of €20m, though any deal will depend on his fitness and the overall financial structure of the transfer.

Napoli have arrived in Como for tomorrow’s Serie A match and there was a surprise with the return of captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

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The Week 35 fixture is set to kick off at the Stadio Sinigaglia on Saturday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).

The epic injury crisis that affected so much of their campaign is finally beginning to ease off, as the only remaining absentees are David Neres, Antonio Vergara and Romelu Lukaku.

Di Lorenzo available again for Napoli

Antonio Conte has not formally released a squad list, but there were some clues when the team landed at the airport this evening.

Among those stepping off the plane was Di Lorenzo, who has not been on the bench since he suffered a serious knee injury during the 2-1 win over Fiorentina on January 31.

Following precisely three months on the treatment table, the 32-year-old is back in the squad and hoping to make an appearance tomorrow.

Di Lorenzo played in 32 competitive games for Napoli so far this season, contributing a goal and three assists.

The only major doubt expected for Conte in tomorrow’s starting XI is between Sam Beukema and Matias Olivera in defence.

Juan Jesus had been the first choice in the back three until recently, but has dropped down the pecking order.

Former Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has offered a characteristically outspoken take on Scott McTominay, questioning the Manchester United man’s all-round quality despite his eye for goal.

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Speaking to Sky Calcio Unplugged, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Nainggolan said: “I don’t like him. He scores a lot of goals, but in general play… he’ll always get 12, 13, 14 goals, but if he has to build play he doesn’t have the technique to operate between the lines. He’s an average player.”

Nainggolan: I was better than McTominay & Calhanoglu

The Belgian did not stop there, comparing himself to a range of midfielders past and present. “At my peak I was better than him and Hakan Çalhanoğlu, but I put Nicolò Barella above myself. He doesn’t always score many goals, but when he does they are important, and you can always feel the difference when he plays.”

He added: “I really like Kevin De Bruyne, he sees things others don’t. I’d put him above me. And if you mention Luka Modrić… he has always been one of the best in the world.”

Nainggolan also reflected on Serie A, insisting Inter’s title win came as no surprise.

“If you asked me at the start of the season, I would always have said Inter. They have the strongest squad and play the best football. Napoli and Milan got close, but they don’t have the same consistency.”

On Roma, he added: “It’s difficult to judge them, they are inconsistent. I don’t like the style of play, and with a player like Dybala you expect more games. Roma should never be outside the top four.”

Former Slovakia national team coach Francesco Calzona confirms he wants a return to club football and ‘Italy has the priority, but I don’t mind another experience abroad.’

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The 57-year-old had been an assistant manager to Maurizio Sarri, Eusebio Di Francesco and Luciano Spalletti before making the sudden and huge leap up to leading the Slovakia national team in 2022.

He kept the role until a few weeks ago, although there was a spell from February to June 2024 when he shared the job with that of interim Napoli coach.

Calzona eager for Serie A opportunity

“National team football gives you a great deal, but it takes away a lot too,” Calzona told Sky Sport Italia Unplugged.

“There are only games every three or four months, then when you do have the players together, there is very little time to get any work done or give an identity to the team.

“We had 22 out of 27 players spread out over various different leagues, so getting them together was really difficult, but a satisfying experience.

“Club football is a whole other thing, you are on the field every day and this is what someone in our profession really wants to be doing.”

Considering he is now a free agent after refusing a new contract with Slovakia, how does he see his next position?

“I would like to go back to club football, and Italy has the priority, although I don’t mind another experience abroad too. It was a fantastic experience in Slovakia.

“Serie A is difficult tactically, as the coaches are very well-prepared, there are so many talented bosses here.”

Italian football is at a crossroads, so where does Calzona feel Serie A should be making changes?

“I don’t agree that there are too many foreign players in Italy, nor that we lack homegrown talent. We need more courage to play youngsters, because if you look at the results, Italy’s youth teams are doing extremely well.

“We just need to have the patience and allow them the opportunity to make mistakes. It’s about courage, really.”

During his time at Napoli, including under Spalletti, Calzona got to work with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, now making a huge impression at Paris Saint-Germain.

“I think it is in his DNA to reach the levels he is reaching, a fantastic player with qualities that are beyond the norm. It was unfortunately not possible to keep him in Italy, but he’s a protagonist in the Champions League, and if Georgia had gone to the World Cup, you could’ve talked about him winning the Ballon d’Or.”

With news Inter’s club referee manager Giorgio Schenone was mentioned in Gianluca Rocchi’s wiretapped calls, Marco Gabriele explains what the role actually entails.

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The scandal that prompted Serie A and B refereeing designator Rocchi to suspend himself this week continues to grow, with more questions being answered.

It was alleged that Rocchi had colluded with someone to remove Daniele Doveri from big Inter games and replace him with someone ‘preferred’ by the club, such as Andrea Colombo, but not clear who had made the evaluations.

Today Repubblica newspaper claim Rocchi mentioned Schenone in a wiretapped telephone call on April 2, 2025.

Schenone is Inter’s official club referee manager, so it is to a certain degree his job to communicate with the referees, but not every Serie A club even has someone in this role.

What is a club refereeing manager?

The Gazzetta dello Sport therefore contacted former Lazio club referee manager Marco Gabriele, a retired referee, to give a little more insight.

“There are some internal duties within the club, others external that involve relations with the referee. During their careers, players often don’t know the rules of the game, especially when it comes to handball. So we try to inform the players of the rules and how to use the right language when communicating with the referee.

“There are some players who know more about the rules than others. Pepe Reina, for example, would write to me and ask about specific incidents in games he wasn’t even involved in.”

Among the duties of the club referee manager is also to study who is officiating the next match and prepare his players for the approach they might take.

“There can be some very clear differences,” continued Gabriele. “Massa for example is very detached, rigid in his communication, whereas Maresca and Guida prefer to dialogue with the players.

“I’ve also had to describe the characteristics of opposition players and statistics, for example that if you are up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and his opponents often get booked in the first half, a coach has to be prepared for that.”

The issue at stake here is how must he represent the club when speaking to referees and the designator.

“The day of the game, you welcome the referee if it is your home match, accompany the officials to the dressing room and see if they need a physio or anything. Then organise transport to a hotel or airport after the match.

“It is also your job to ensure no directors enter the referee’s dressing room. Only the President of the club, or a representative of the club, can enter for a formal hello and that’s it.”

Can the referee club manager call up the refereeing designator?

“No, you cannot do that. If you did, the designator would have to inform the Federal Prosecutor. It’s different if you happen to meet in a stadium or another role, that’s natural that there will be a conversation.

“If you have to ask for an explanation of a certain decision, you call the designated go-between, who in this case is Andrea De Marco. There generally aren’t arguments in these situations, you’d just try to get your idea across, but never in a discourteous way,” concluded Gabriele.

It is important to note that while Inter designator Schenone was mentioned by Rocchi in the wiretapped phone call, he was not involved in the call itself.

The details are therefore still not very clear as to why Rocchi believed Inter didn’t want Doveri officiating their big games.

Davide Bartesaghi is attracting growing interest from the Premier League, with Newcastle United among the clubs closely monitoring the AC Milan youngster ahead of a key summer.

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According to updates from Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel via Matteo Moretto, via MilanNews, Milan are planning to hold talks with Bartesaghi’s representatives at the end of the season to discuss his future and a potential contract adjustment. Nothing has been finalised yet, with both parties expected to sit down and assess the situation in detail.

The 20-year-old has made 28 Serie A appearances this season, scoring twice, including a brace at San Siro. His performances have been described as inconsistent at times, but with clear flashes of quality that underline his long-term potential.

Newcastle among clubs keen on Milan’s Bartesaghi

That development has not gone unnoticed. Scouts from several English clubs have tracked Bartesaghi throughout the campaign, both at San Siro and away from home. Newcastle, in particular, are understood to hold concrete interest as they continue to look for young talent with room to grow.

For Milan, the situation remains open. A renewal with improved terms is on the table, but discussions will be needed before any agreement is reached. The Rossoneri are keen to understand Bartesaghi’s trajectory and secure his future, though interest from abroad could complicate negotiations.

The upcoming meeting between the club and the player’s entourage is expected to be decisive in determining whether Bartesaghi continues his development in Milan or becomes the subject of serious transfer interest this summer.

Pisa host Lecce on Friday evening at the Arena Garibaldi, with both sides lurking at the foot of the table in what is a must-win match for the hosts and the visitors.

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The match kicks off at 20:45 local time (19:45 UK time), and Marco Guida will be the referee.

Pisa currently sit in last place, with two wins in 34 games and just 18 points to show for it on their return to Italy’s top flight.

Whilst not mathematically relegated just yet, tonight’s game could seal their fault. However, the 11-point gap, which could close to 8 tonight, would require Lecce and Cremonese to lose all of their remaining games.

For Lecce, who sit in 17th, tonight’s game is a genuine opportunity to extend their safety net above the drop zone to four points, with Cremonese set to host Lazio on Monday.

The hosts are without Daniel Denoon, Marius Marin and Matteo Tramoni, whilst Lecce have Kialonda Gaspar, Medon Berisha, Sadik Fofana and Riccardo Sottill on their injury list.

Pisa vs Lecce – Official Lineups

Pisa: Semper; Bozhinov, Caracciolo, Canestrelli; Leris, Akinsanmiro, Aebischer, Vural, Angori; Moreo, Stojilkovic

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

01-05-2026 19:45

MatchDay 35

Arena Garibaldi – Stadio Romeo Anconetani

Pisa

Lecce

1 - 2

Player statistic

1st half

Antonio Caracciolo

43'

2nd half

		52'		Lameck Banda (Assist: Walid Cheddira)
Mehdi Léris		56'
Michel Aebischer		61'
		65'		Walid Cheddira (Assist: Santiago Pierotti)
		66'		Walid Cheddira
Rafiu Durosinmi		82'
		88'		Santiago Pierotti
Henrik Meister		90'

Match statistic

58

Possession %

42

18

Total shots

7

7

Shots on target

4

5

Shots off target

2

6

Blocked shots

1

6

Corners

1

6

Offsides

2

15

Fouls

13

Pisa

Lecce

Starting lineups

1

Adrian Šemper

Goalkeeper

4

Antonio Caracciolo

Defender

2

Rosen Bozhinov

Defender

81'

3

Samuele Angori

Defender

64'

5

Simone Canestrelli

Defender

14

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro

Midfielder

81'

21

Isak Vural

Midfielder

70'

20

Michel Aebischer

Midfielder

81

Filip Stojilkovic

Attacker

70'

7

Mehdi Léris

Attacker

32

Stefano Moreo

Attacker

30

Wladimiro Falcone

Goalkeeper

25

Antonino Gallo

Defender

17

Danilo Veiga

Defender

5

Jamil Siebert

Defender

44

Tiago Gabriel

Defender

29

Lassana Coulibaly

Midfielder

79

Oumar Ngom

Midfielder

20

Ylber Ramadani

Midfielder

19

Lameck Banda

Attacker

71'

50

Santiago Pierotti

Attacker

90'

99

Walid Cheddira

Attacker

71'

Substitutes

22

Simone Scuffet

Goalkeeper

33

Arturo Calabresi

Defender

12

Nicolas

Goalkeeper

39

Raúl Albiol

Defender

23

Calvin Stengs

Attacker

19

Samuel Iling-Junior

Attacker

26

Francesco Coppola

Defender

8

Malthe Höjholt

Midfielder

35

Felipe Loyola

Defender

99

Lorran

Midfielder

15

Idrissa Touré

Midfielder

64'

36

Gabriele Piccinini

Attacker

70'

9

Henrik Meister

Attacker

70'

11

Juan Cuadrado

Midfielder

81'

17

Rafiu Durosinmi

Attacker

81'

14

Thórir Jóhann Helgason

Midfielder

32

Jasper Samooja

Goalkeeper

1

Christian Früchtl

Goalkeeper

36

Filip Marchwinski

Midfielder

11

Konan N’Dri

Attacker

9

Nikola Stulic

Attacker

13

Matías Pérez

Defender

3

Corrie Ndaba

Defender

28

Olaf Gorter

Midfielder

80

Niko Kovač

Midfielder

6

Álex Sala

Midfielder

22

Francesco Camarda

Attacker

71'

18

Gaby Jean

Defender

71'

16

Omri Gandelman

Midfielder

90'

Alessandro Bastoni remains Barcelona’s top target to strengthen their defence, but growing interest in Cristian Romero is creating uncertainty for Inter ahead of a crucial week in negotiations.

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The Italian club had been preparing to open formal talks with Barcelona, with both parties initially aligned on progressing a deal.

However, according to Spanish outlet Sport, the emergence of the Tottenham centre-back as a viable and potentially cheaper alternative has introduced tension into the situation. Inter are actively working under the assumption that Bastoni could be sold and have already begun shaping their transfer strategy accordingly.

Barcelona open to Romero as alternative to Inter’s Bastoni

At the heart of the issue is valuation. Inter are holding firm at around €60m for Bastoni, while Barcelona are reluctant to go beyond €50m unless player exchanges are included. That gap has raised concerns in Milan that pushing too hard could drive Barcelona towards Romero, whose overall cost is expected to be lower.

Bastoni himself is understood to be open to the move and keen on the opportunity to join Barcelona. Personal terms are not expected to be an obstacle, with the Spanish side capable of matching and improving his current salary. The defender is unlikely to force the situation publicly, but internally he is ready to signal his desire for a transfer if needed.

For now, Barcelona continue to prioritise Bastoni, but Romero remains firmly on their shortlist and is also open to the switch. With Inter needing to sell and alternatives available, the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether Bastoni’s move materialises or collapses.

Max Allegri is trying to revitalise his Milan side against Sassuolo by testing Christopher Nkunku and Rafael Leao upfront, dropping misfiring Christian Pulisic.

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The Serie A Week 35 fixture is set to kick off at the Mapei Stadium on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (15.00 CEST).

The Rossoneri were able to hang on to third place following the 0-0 draw with Juventus, but the lack of firepower is becoming an increasing concern.

Pulisic is yet to score a single goal in 2026 and has now equalled the longest negative streak of his career, set previously at Chelsea, of 16 games.

Milan pair Nkunku with Leao

With this in mind, Sky Sport Italia report that Allegri dropped the USMNT forward and tested out a new front pairing of Leao and Nkunku.

This would allow him to maintain the 3-5-2 formation, with using strikers who have different characteristics and might work better together.

Some changes are forced, as Luka Modric is out for the rest of the club season after surgery on a fractured cheekbone, so Ardon Jashari steps into the midfield gap.

Pervis Estupinan and Davide Bartesaghi are once again the big doubt for the left flank, as the Italian is not 100 per cent fit.

Dutch reports confirm Donyell Malen is enthusiastic about the move to Roma, as the club will exercise its €25m option to buy from Aston Villa.

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The centre-forward was a January signing on loan from Aston Villa at a cost of €2m for the six-month spell, with an option to make it permanent for a further €25m.

Even the most wildly optimistic supporter could not have imagined the impact that he would have at the Stadio Olimpico.

Amazing Malen impact at Roma

In just 16 appearances for the Giallorossi between Serie A and the Europa League, Malen has scored 12 goals plus two assists.

Incredibly, he is their top scorer both in Serie A and in all competition this season, despite not joining the squad until mid-January.

Of those 12 goals, 11 came in just 14 Serie A games, netting on his debut against Torino on January 18, just two days after completing the transfer.

Somewhat inevitably, Voetbal International write that Malen is very happy with his situation at Roma, so player and club are eager to lock this rapport down for a while longer.

It also gives the 27-year-old the opportunity to focus on bringing this kind of confidence and form to the Dutch team at the 2026 World Cup this summer.

The arrival of Bernardo Silva would significantly reshape Juventus’ attacking structure, particularly if Luciano Spalletti sticks with his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

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The Portuguese playmaker would slot straight into the No.10 role, becoming the creative hub of the team and reducing the need for a more attack-minded mezzala.

In this setup, Juventus would rely on a balanced double pivot behind him, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Manuel Locatelli looks the natural fit as the deeper midfielder, while Khéphren Thuram would need to adapt his game to offer more positional discipline. Out wide, one flank would remain built around Kenan Yıldız, while the opposite side may prioritise work rate, potentially favouring Weston McKennie over Francisco Conceição.

Juventus could part ways with Koopmeiners to facilitate Bernardo Silva

The clearest player to make way would be Teun Koopmeiners, whose hybrid midfield role becomes less relevant with a fixed playmaker in place.

Further forward, Jonathan David could see his importance reduced, while players like Fabio Miretti and Vasilije Adžić would likely be pushed towards exits to find regular playing time.

Overall, Bernardo Silva’s arrival would not just add quality but redefine roles across the squad, forcing Juventus into a more structured and technically driven system.

Milan director of sport Igli Tare insists ‘it is our duty to have the Scudetto as an objective,’ while it is ‘easier’ to convince players like Luka Modric to join the Rossoneri rather than Lazio.

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The former striker had gone into management at Lazio straight after retirement, but following a sabbatical year, he took the Rossoneri job last summer.

Some of the quotes from the interview were released yesterday, but the full show aired today.

Tare taking step up with Milan

“It is a pretty substantial change,” confessed Tare to DAZN Italia.

“With the name Milan, it’s easier to convince players to join compared to when I was at Lazio, both for the history of the club, and the financial capability.”

Among the players who were drawn to the history of the San Siro giants was Modric, who never disguised growing up supporting the Serie A side.

“I knew that Modric was a Milan fan when he was a kid, so when we met and talked about the project, I saw he really knew a lot about the club. He had other offers, but wanted to make his dream come true of playing for Milan.”

The Croatian is out for the rest of the season after surgery on a fractured cheekbone, but with a contract that expires on June 30, his future is up in the air.

“I think he will choose with his heart and remain at Milan.”

They are on track for a third place finish and Champions League qualification in the first season under coach Max Allegri.

“I have a very good rapport with him,” continued Tare.

“We met at the start of the season, then didn’t have a lot of time to get to know each other better, but after the transfer window shut we managed to have some dinners together. He is a very intelligent person who knows how to handle certain dressing room situations.

“Milan chose Allegri for his history and the bond he already had with this club, his experience, and above all the ability to handle and important club like this.”

The Rossoneri had also been in the running for the Scudetto, but ultimately crumbled as Inter took control of the campaign, despite losing both editions of the Derby della Madonnina.

“We have good players, but unfortunately there are seasons with difficulties, and many of our strikers had injuries which didn’t allow them to train consistently,” added Tare.

“It is not just me that has the title in mind, but the club that always wants to always be competitive. Having the Scudetto in our minds as an objective is our duty.”

Having already tried to sign Curtis Jones in January, it is now reported in Italy that Inter will try again for the Liverpool midfielder, who remains eager.

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The Nerazzurri had identified Jones as the ideal replacement in the January transfer window when Italy international Davide Frattesi appeared to be on his way to Nottingham Forest.

It was going to be a loan with option to buy for circa €40m at the end of the season, but without an agreement to extend his contract at Anfield first, the deal could not go through.

Jones now prepared to join Inter

The 25-year-old’s current contract runs to June 2027, and the situation has still not been resolved, but it means now Inter could make a proposal to buy him outright at a much lower fee.

Sportitalia claim that Jones has given the all-clear to a San Siro transfer, so now it is up to the clubs to agree on terms.

Frattesi again seems to be on his way out after struggling to get regular playing time under Cristian Chivu, a continuation of the problems he had with previous coach Simone Inzaghi.

Jones is a product of the Liverpool youth academy who spent his entire career with the Reds, this season contributing two goals and three assists in 45 competitive appearances.

Italian coach Roberto De Zerbi sent out a warning to Tottenham Hotspur players and fans as they battle relegation from the Premier League. ‘Losers cry and think negative.’

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The former Benevento, Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, Brighton and Olympique Marseille tactician took over from Igor Tudor as the third coach of a seemingly cursed campaign at Spurs on March 31.

He has overseen a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland, 2-2 draw against his old club Brighton, and 1-0 victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They are still in the relegation zone, but De Zerbi used today’s press conference to send out a strong message.

De Zerbi refusing to let Tottenham give up

“I heard, ‘It is impossible’. We are crying, everyone, ‘We are relegated.’ Not yet,” noted the Italian.

“We have to die on the pitch and to die on the pitch we have to lose the game. Before losing the game, we have to play and we have to fight.

“We have two points less than West Ham and they have to play a difficult game as well. It is not the best moment for us. It is a tough and difficult moment.

“But the losers cry, the losers think negative. I don’t want people close to me to be crying or think in a different way from me.”

"The losers cry, the losers think negative."

Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi says his players have to "die on the pitch" and stay emotionally positive in their battle against relegation. pic.twitter.com/S3d8fi4dEI

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 1, 2026

It has been said for decades that Tottenham have a sense of negativity about them, which can see the club under various different managers and players manage to fumble successful situations.

De Zerbi decided to attack the ‘Spursy’ reputation head-on, just as Antonio Conte had done before him.

“The most important challenge now is to silence the voice inside of us. Inside of the players, the staff and the fans,” continued the Italian.

“This voice produces negative thoughts and it says we are unlucky, we have too many injuries, we lost Xavi Simons, he was in the last two games one of our best and most important players.

“Our medical staff not good enough, the pitch of the stadium and the training ground is not good, it is impossible winning two or three games in a row because we have not won too many games in 2026.

“I think these are all negative things and it’s rubbish because I want to keep my focus on ourselves and the quality of my players.”

Venezia are back in Serie A after securing promotion with one round to go, having been relegated to Serie B in 2025, while Frosinone break away from Monza for that second spot.

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All the Serie B Week 37 games were played this afternoon, meaning there is just one more round left in the regular season.

The top two are automatically promoted to Serie A, along with a third team that will have to be decided through the play-offs.

Venezia back in Serie A

Venezia fumbled a 2-0 lead and drew 2-2 away to troubled Spezia, but that was enough to guarantee their ascension to the top flight, just one year on from their relegation.

Since their most recent bankruptcy in 2015, the Lagunari have played in Serie A for the 2021-22 and 2024-25 season, both times going straight back down.

It is the fourth time coach Giovanni Stroppa has secured promotion.

Frosinone and Monza had been neck and neck for the second automatic promotion spot, but today the former won 1-0 away to Juve Stabia, while the latter were defeated 3-2 at Mantova in another thriller.

This opened up a three-point gap going into the final round of the regular season, to see who goes up directly, and who enters the promotion play-offs.

It means Frosinone need only a point next week to be sure of promotion.

At the foot of the table, Reggiana are mathematically relegated to Lega Pro, with Spezia and Pescara locked together on 34 points, three adrift of Bari.

Pescara are in deep trouble after Flavio Rossi’s penalty was saved in their last-gasp 1-0 defeat away to Padova, but it’s not clear why Lorenzo Insigne didn’t step up instead.

Bari and Virtus Entella are currently in the relegation play-out places, but Empoli and Sudtirol are within reach too.

Serie B Table

Inter are planning their Scudetto celebration parade through the streets of Milan and hoping for a Double party, while the players and staff will get a total €6m in bonuses.

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The Nerazzurri could even already be guaranteed the Serie A title before setting foot on the pitch against Parma on Sunday, if Napoli lose to Como and Milan fail to beat Sassuolo first.

In any case, victory over Parma would be enough to secure the crown with three rounds to spare.

Inter ready for Scudetto celebration

This would be the club’s 21^st title in 108 years and an open-top bus parade through the city is planned for next week.

It would be after the penultimate match of the season, when hosting Hellas Verona at San Siro on May 17.

The date is not a coincidence, as Inter hope that they will by then be able to put on a party for the Double, as they face Lazio in the Coppa Italia Final on May 13.

It’d allow them to show off both trophies from the top of an open-top bus, having ended last season empty-handed.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, there are also several contract clauses promising bonuses for the players, coach Cristian Chivu, and his staff.

The total figures would come close to €6m shared out between all of them.

There is reassuring news for Juventus ahead of their match with Verona, as both Kenan Yildiz and Dusan Vlahovic returned to full training.

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The Week 35 Serie A fixture is due to kick off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin on Sunday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST).

Coach Luciano Spalletti is hoping to consolidate fourth place and lock down that Champions League qualification against a team that is practically already relegated.

Juventus team news for Verona

Yildiz has been struggling with a recurring tendon issue and largely been making appearances off the bench in recent weeks.

He took part in today’s full training session with the rest of his teammates and is expected to start on Sunday.

Vlahovic also worked with the rest of the squad and ought to be given more playing time, but Spalletti needs to be more careful with the Serbian.

The striker was out for many months with a serious thigh strain and then suffered a calf twinge during the warm-up for a substitute appearance last month.

Jonathan David is expected to again start upfront, with support from Yildiz and Francisco Conceicao, with only Juan Cabal and Arkadiusz Milik injured.

There are concerns that tonight’s Serie A game between Pisa and Lecce could be affected or even postponed by a huge wildfire in the vicinity.

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It is due to kick off at the Cetilar Arena Garibaldi in Pisa at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

That is by no means guaranteed right now, because Tuscany is still dealing with a massive wildfire that is tearing its way through the Monte Faeta forest.

This is situated between Lucca and Pisa, with over 800 hectares already gone up in smoke, and the village of Asciano completely evacuated.

Pisa vs. Lecce threatened by wildfire

The concern is that plumes of dark smoke are wafting over the whole region, potentially affecting visibility and breathable air in the vicinity of the stadium.

It is reported the situation is being constantly monitored, and at the moment the Serie A match is going ahead as planned.

Something as simple as the direction of the wind changing could radically alter the situation, sending the smoke and flames directly towards the stadium.

The closure of roads could also affect fans who are hoping to make their way to the arena.

It is a particularly important game, as Pisa could be mathematically relegated today, while Lecce are battling for survival.

Luciano Spalletti has been crowned as the Serie A coach of the month for April after an unbeaten run over the last few weeks, and the Juventus tactician has now equalled the record for the most wins since the award was introduced in 2021-22. 

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Juventus’s Spalletti named Serie A coach of the month for April

Spalletti has won the coach of the month award after leading Juventus to three victories and one draw across their four matches in the month of April. The Bianconeri picked up a 2-0 victory over Genoa at the start of the month, defeated Atalanta 1-0 away from home the following week, beat Bologna 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium and most recently held Milan to a 0-0 draw in San Siro. 

These results put Juventus in fourth place with four matches of the 2025-26 season left to play, three points behind the third-placed Milan and importantly, three points clear of Como and Roma in fifth and sixth place respectively. 

Spalletti will receive his award ahead of the Serie A match between Juventus and Hellas Verona at the Allianz Stadium this Sunday, May 3.

Spalletti is the first Juventus representative to win the coach of the month award since the aforementioned Allegri back in November 2023. This is his first coach of the year award away from Napoli. 

Spalletti has now won the Serie A coach of the month award a record five times, a feat that has only previously been achieved by former Inter and Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, who won all of his awards with the Nerazzurri. 

Allegri, Gian Piero Gasperini and Thiago Motta are the next-most successful with four coach of the month wins each, then come Vincenzo Italiano and Cesc Fabregas on three apiece. 

Serie A coach of the month winners so far in 2025-26 

August: Davide Nicola (Cremonese)

September: Massimiliano Allegri (Milan)

October: Gian Piero Gasperini (Roma) 

November: Massimiliano Allegri (Milan) 

December: Cristian Chivu (Inter) 

January: Cristian Chivu (Inter) 

February: Raffaele Palladino (Atalanta) 

March: Cesc Fabregas (Como) 

April: Luciano Spalletti (Juventus)

Italian reports claim that Manchester City defender Nathan Aké has been offered to Inter, where he would reunite with Manuel Akanji.

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The Nerazzurri are trying to revamp their defence for next season, as Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian and Stefan de Vrij are expected to move on, with Alessandro Bastoni and Carlos Augusto also said to be considering their future.

With that in mind, FCInterNews suggest that Aké was proposed to Inter by some transfer intermediaries, who are working with the centre-back’s agents.

Ake new name on Inter radar

His contract with Manchester City only runs to June 2027, so it would make sense for the Premier League club to make a sale this summer and avoid losing him on a free transfer.

The Netherlands international is already 31 years of age, and has been linked with Bayer Leverkusen and Besiktas in recent months, but would bring valuable experience to the Inter defence.

Manchester City paid €45m to sign Aké from Bournemouth in 2020 and his previous clubs include Chelsea, Watford, Reading and the Feyenoord youth academy.

There had been similar concerns over Akanji leaving Manchester City for Inter last summer, but on the verge of his 31^st birthday, the Switzerland international has been a strong performer.

He arrived on loan with an option to buy for €15m that will become mandatory if Inter win the Scudetto, which they could do this weekend.

Reports suggest Inter club referee manager Giorgio Schenone is the man who designator Gianluca Rocchi mentioned when assigning officials more favoured by the team in April 2025.

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Serie A and B refereeing designator Rocchi was one of five individuals from the AIA (Italian Association of Referees) under investigation with the most serious accusation being sporting fraud.

The investigators claimed that Rocchi had in April 2025 colluded with someone to remove Daniele Doveri from Inter’s big games in the closing stages of the season, because the club did not favour his presence, and instead picked Andrea Colombo.

Why Inter club referee manager is important

It was until now not clear who he was meant to have colluded with or why he believed Inter did not want Doveri, seeing as nobody from the club was under investigation.

According to Repubblica newspaper, the figure has now been identified as Inter’s club referee manager Schenone, who was an assistant referee from 2009 to 2020, then after retirement began working with the Nerazzurri.

He was mentioned during Rocchi’s telephone call which was wiretapped during the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final between Inter and Milan at San Siro on April 2, 2025.

It was during this call that Rocchi reportedly mentioned who Inter would prefer not be assigned to their games.

Although mentioned in this phone call by Rocchi, the call itself was apparently not directly with Schenone, and he is not as of now under formal investigation.

The job of the club referee manager is to co-ordinate with the referees for each home game, accompany them to the locker rooms, ensure all their needs are met.

They also speak to the players before matches, outlining the style of officiating they are likely to get, explaining the changes to the interpretation of certain rules.

It is not unusual for these figures to also discuss previous refereeing performances and decisions with the AIA.

Moise Kean is expected to miss the upcoming Serie A match between Roma and Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend, and while the Italy international has missed the last three outings through injury, reports confirm that he has been given permission to sit this one out on personal grounds. 

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Why Kean is expected to miss Roma vs. Fiorentina

Kean and his partner are expecting the birth of their second child in the coming days, and the Fiorentina striker has been given permission to spend the next few days at home according to updates from Violanews.com. Kean is expected to be away from the squad from May 1 until May 4. 

During his absence, the Viola striker will also continue working with his rehabilitation work to overcome the physical issues that have kept him out of his side’s last three Serie A matches. 

Fiorentina have beaten Lazio 1-0, drawn 1-1 with Lecce and drawn 0-0 with Sassuolo in Kean’s absence. Paolo Vanoli’s side are now seven matches unbeaten in the league after a disastrous first half of the 2025-26 season. 

Roberto Piccoli was Fiorentina’s go-to replacement for the first two matches of Kean’s recent absence, but as the Italian was also ruled out of the most recent 0-0 draw with Sassuolo, the starting centre-forward role was handed over to Albert Gudmundsson.

Controversial Olympique de Marseille forward Mason Greenwood is beginning to be linked with a move to Juventus again, as current Bianconeri star Francisco Conceicao is attracting interest from Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United according to the latest reports. 

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Could Greenwood replace Conceicao at Juventus?

Greenwood had been linked with a move to join Juventus on several occasions over the last two seasons and his name is beginning to reappear in Bianconeri circles approaching the summer transfer window. 

The 24-year-old forward has netted 36 goals from 62 appearances in Ligue 1 over the last two seasons, including 15 from 28 league outings in 2025-26. 

He and his Marseille teammates currently find themselves in sixth place in the Ligue 1 table heading into the final three matches of the 2025-26 season and are unlikely to qualify for next season’s Champions League. This means that Greenwood could potentially be allowed to leave to raise funds and to fulfil the player’s desire of competing in UEFA’s flagship competitions next season. 

Meanwhile, current Juventus forward Conceicao is beginning to attract interest from some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League, including Liverpool and Manchester United according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

The Portugal international has come up with four goals and four assists from 38 appearances across all competitions this season, but it is his relentlessness and dribbling ability that has caught the eye of scouts in the Premier League. 

Juventus paid a fee of €7m plus up to €3m in bonuses to sign Conceicao on loan for the 2024-25 season, and then invested a further €30.4m with bonuses of up to €1.6m to sign the winger on a permanent transfer at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign. That means that Juventus have agreed to invest a minimum of €37.4m on his signing and a maximum of €43m if all bonuses were to be met. 

Friday’s reports indicate that it would take an offer in the region of €50m to convince Juventus into selling Conceicao this summer, which is coincidentally roughly the same fee that has been mentioned if Juventus were to attempt to sign Greenwood this summer.

Reports in Italy claim that Marco Palestra is among Inter’s top targets heading into the summer transfer window, but signing the exciting young full-back likely depends on a couple of outgoings first. 

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Report: Inter could sell two players to accommodate Palestra signing

According to reports from Corriere dello Sport and Calciomercato.com, Palestra and Como’s Nico Paz are Inter’s two great ‘obsessions’ ahead of the summer transfer window. Palestra has enjoyed an excellent breakthrough season on an individual level with Cagliari, where he has spent the 2025-26 season on loan from Atalanta. 

Palestra will return to Bergamo this summer, and according to Friday’s reports, Atalanta’s ideal plan would be for Palestra to stay on board for another season in Serie A before looking for a sale, potentially for an even higher fee. 

However, with plans to strengthen Cristian Chivu’s squad after what is expected to be the club’s 21st Scudetto in 2025-26, Inter are keen to bring Palestra to San Siro this summer, and are said to be prepared to invest a fee in the region of €40m for the 21-year-old right-back. 

According to the latest updates, Inter will likely have to move players on first before welcoming Palestra, though. 

There is talk that current first-choice right wing-back Denzel Dumfries could leave the club given that he has a €25m release clause in his contract, which will be valid this summer.

There has also been a suggestion that Luis Henrique could be sold if an offer were to come in this summer. The Brazilian has struggled to impress in his first season in Serie A, and as per Calciomercato, there was interest from AFC Bournemouth during the January transfer window. Inter would reportedly be even more keen to sell Luis Henrique this summer if interest were to reemerge.

Reports in Italy indicate that Luka Modric is set to trigger the one-year extension clause in his contract with Milan rather than end his illustrious career through injury after fracturing his cheekbone in a recent 0-0 draw with Juventus. 

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Modric and Milan expecetd to activate 12-month extension clause

The signing of the 40-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner has been an overwhelming success in San Siro. Modric has started in 32 of Milan’s 34 matches in Serie A so far this season, and has racked up a total of 2,788 minutes in the league, which is more than he managed in any of his last five seasons with Real Madrid. 

Modric is, however, expected to miss the final four matches of the 2025-26 season after suffering a fractured cheekbone while challenging for a header with Manuel Locatelli during last weekend’s 0–0 draw between Milan and Juventus in Serie A. 

This could have potentially been a career-ending injury, given that Modric signed a one-year contract with Milan at the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign, but reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport indicate that he will activate the 12-month extension clause in his deal in order to prolong his stay in San Siro. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is technically a club option to extend, but Milan will not activate the extension clause in Modric’s contract without his blessing first. 

Friday’s report claims that Modric just needs to give the thumbs up, which he is expected to do, in order for Milan to extend his stay until the end of the 2026-27 season. A formal announcement is unlikely to arrive before the end of the 2026 World Cup this summer, though. 

Modric is said to be attracted to the idea of playing Champions League football under Massimiliano Allegri next season, as well as the idea of announcing his retirement and bidding farewell to professional football at a major club like Milan and at an iconic venue like San Siro.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Only Milan 

Modric has decided 

Doesn’t want to finish on an injury, another year in Rossonero to play in the Champions League with Allegri, or it’s goodbye to football 

The Scudetto of goals 

Inter: ThuLa for the league and cup 

Lautaro top scorer, Thuram vice: An historic partnership. Napoli in Como tomorrow

Malagò shot 

Towards the elections 

Players and coaches are convinced, FIGC Presidency getting closer

‘Favoured’ referees don’t appear in any testimony 

Gervasoni in front of the prosecutor’s office 

Corriere dello Sport 

Forza Calcio! 

From the refereeing scandal to the super weekend 

Three Champions League finals | Tomorrow, Como-Napoli will decide the top clubs’ European fates and Inter’s Scudetto 

Conte will be at the home of Fabregas after the tensions in the first leg and the league title they won together at Chelsea. McTominay needs five points from four games to secure the gold from UEFA 

Gervasoni to the prosecutor’s office: ‘No alterations’ 

Referee investigation: In Rocchi’s logic, there are no distinctions between favoured and unfavoured refs

The Yildiz policy 

Juventus-Verona on Sunday 

A 55% win rate and 1.8 goals per game with Kenan. Four wins in 21 games without the trequartista 

Malen, what an average 

Roma-Fiorentina on Monday 

Donyell for 4th place: 0.87 goals per 90 minutes. Only Mbappe and Kane better than him 

Palestra for Inter 

Parma arrive on Sunday 

Lautaro returns to secure the 21st Scudetto. Not only Paz: Ausilio is also pushing for the full-back

Frosinone dream, Bari at risk 

Penultimate round in Serie B 

Alvini is chasing direct promotion against Monza and Venezia, Longo can’t afford any slip-ups to avoid relegation 

Tuttosport 

‘Yildiz like Kvara and Olise with Spalletti’ 

Interview with Causio 

The ex-Bianconeri ace: ‘Lucio knows perfectly how to manage talent and Kenan has the skills of a super, top player. Juve is ideal for Conceicao. How great was PSG-Bayern!’. Stiller: Meeting has been scheduled. Di Gregorio could stay as a second-choice keeper, Perin heading for an exit 

Jannik, give us five! 

Madrid, Semi-final against Fils at 15.00: Sinner chasing his fifth straight Masters 1000 

Malagò gets his hands on the FIGC 

Towards the election 

The former CONI no.1 has won the support of the players and coaches as well as that of the Serie A: Now he’s close to a majority 

Gervasoni defends himself as the investigation continues

Four hours at the prosecutor’s office.

The former VAR supervisor interviewed regarding Salernitana-Modena and Inter-Roma: ‘I rule out the audio being tampered with’

D’Aversa, an obstacle course to fend off Gattuso

The Toro coach facing injuries and competition

He will be without Zapata, Ismajli, Adams and Pederson in Udine tomorrow. The former CT and Juric also cast shadows over the coach: ‘The objective is the top half of the table. We have to be ambitious: Everyone. The club’s history deserves more than just staying up’. 

Milan are reportedly going to pursue Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus for next season, having already tried several times to sign him in the past.

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It is no secret that the Rossoneri are in dire need of a new centre-forward, as Santiago Gimenez and Niclas Fullkrug are often left on the bench while Rafael Leao is pushed into a role that doesn’t suit him.

Max Allegri had a three-hour meeting with Milan directors this evening to discuss their transfer strategy for next season and that includes finding a hitman.

Gabriel Jesus back on Milan radar

According to Sky Sport Italia transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio, the latest name for their list is Gabriel Jesus.

It is hardly the first time that the Brazilian has been linked with the Rossoneri, as he had also been targeted last summer and again in January.

The 29-year-old is only under contract with Arsenal until June 2027, so considering he was purchased for €52m from Manchester City in 2022, it is their last chance to sell.

Gabriel Jesus made only 25 competitive appearances this season, scoring five goals with two assists.

Curiously, two of those goals were in the Champions League against Milan’s bitter rivals Inter.

He had a lengthy lay-off after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in January 2025, which kept him out for the best part of a whole year.

Torino have confirmed new injuries for Che Adams, Duvan Zapata and Ardian Ismajli ahead of their Serie A match against Udinese.

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It kicks off at the Bluenergy Stadium in Udine on Saturday at 14.00 UK time (15.00 CEST).

The Granata were already expected to be without Zakaria Aboukhlal and Tino Anjorin, who were carrying knocks from the 2-2 draw with Inter.

However, coach Roberto D’Aversa announced more setbacks in today’s press conference that will leave him with precious few alternatives.

They were then confirmed by a statement on the club website with more precise medical diagnoses.

Torino list fresh injury concerns

Scotland international striker Adams has suffered a hamstring strain in his right leg.

Duvan Zapata sustained a muscular issue with the adductor in the left thigh.

As for defender Ismajli, his problem is with the femoral bicep in the right leg.

Marcus Pedersen was out of the side that drew with Inter and remains in doubt for this weekend too.

Lega Serie A President Ezio Simonelli warns politicians can ‘continue turning the other way, or turn this deep crisis into an opportunity to revitalise’ football in Italy.

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The Nazionale failed to qualify for three consecutive editions of the World Cup, and have no clubs in the semi-finals of the UEFA tournaments this season.

With the search on for a new FIGC President and reforms proposed, Lega Serie A President Simonelli presented the case to the Commission for Culture.

Serie A pushing for new stadiums

“If we are here today, it is not just because we missed two penalties in the shoot-out with Bosnia, and we must work hard to bring Italian football back to the glories of the past,” said Simonelli.

“The analysis of the state of our football cannot help but start from the fact that, for the top five European leagues, TV rights money has stagnated, but the revenue from stadiums has climbed significantly.

“Our Serie A stadiums are the oldest in Europe, and comparing the revenue of the new Bernabeu with the current San Siro, which is today the best performing Italian stadium when it comes to income, it’s a gap of 350 per cent. Real Madrid’s new stadium brings in €250m compared to San Siro’s €70m.”

It is no secret where the problems lie there, as clubs have battled for decades to get new stadiums built, only for Inter, Milan, Roma, Lazio, Napoli, Fiorentina, Cagliari and Venezia to run into endless red tape.

Of those who did manage to get stadiums revamped, such as Juventus, Atalanta and Udinese, it was by reconstructing existing arenas.

With EURO 2032 coming up and Italy co-hosting with Turkiye, it’s going to be a race against time to get five stadiums ready for the competition.

“Politics can continue to turn the other way, trying to impose even more restrictive and penalising rules, even thinking of putting the Federation under receivership,” continued Simonelli.

“Or it could turn this deep crisis into an opportunity to revitalise football in Italy. I believe we can emerge from this crisis only if politics and Serie A are able to sit on the same side of the table and work together, without political differences or reciprocal prejudice preventing us from doing what is best for Italian football.

“I have too much respect for Italian politicians to believe they are not interested in giving their contribution to Italy’s favourite sport.”

Como coach Cesc Fabregas will reunite with Antonio Conte when facing Napoli this weekend and reveals ‘nobody made me suffer more’ in training than the then-Chelsea manager.

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The pair will be reunited at the Stadio Sinigaglia on Saturday at 17.00 UK time (18.00 CEST) in the Serie A Week 35 fixture.

Speaking in a press conference this afternoon, Fabregas took the opportunity to remember what it was like being a player under Conte at Stamford Bridge.

Fabregas remembers Conte methods

“I learned a great deal from Antonio,” said Fabregas.

“He made me suffer so much on a purely physical level, he was always demanding pace, intensity, go at full speed, nobody made me suffer more. I want that too from my team, perhaps in a slightly different way, some with or without the ball.

“It is true that after four or five months of adapting to his methods, by December I was flying. I felt physically incredible. Once I got used to his way of doing things, his mentality, I really believed in what he was doing.”

Fabregas made 86 competitive appearances under Conte at Chelsea from 2016 to 2018, scoring 10 goals and providing 22 assists.

Now on the verge of his 39^th birthday, the Spanish former midfielder is proving himself as a coach at Como in Serie A and challenging for a top four finish.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists Iran ‘will be participating’ in the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, ruling out the possibility of an Italy recall.

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There have been some significant doubts on whether Iran would or even could take part in the competition this summer, considering they are currently embroiled in a war with the USA and Israel.

Making things even more complicated is that Iran were drawn in a group where their matches will be in the United States of America.

Iran were the only country not represented at today’s FIFA congress in Vancouver, but Infantino took the opportunity to make a statement.

Infantino does not see Italy recall

“Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together.”

If Iran had withdrawn or been excluded from the tournament, then FIFA would need to find a replacement, and Italy were well placed as the highest ranking nation to fail the qualifying process.

This was largely pushed by Donald Trump’s special envoy, Italian-American Paolo Zampolli, who claimed only this week that Italy had ‘more than a 50 per cent chance’ of being recalled for the World Cup.

Most of those representing Italian football have insisted they would not want to be added to the tournament this way.

The World Cup kicks off on June 11, with Iran set to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, then Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Former President Massimo Moratti insists the current investigation into referees for sporting fraud are ‘ridiculous compared to Calciopoli,’ and that ‘Inter have never been helped’ by officials.

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Refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi was placed under formal investigation for sporting fraud, a considerably harsher allegation than ones ever made in the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.

Among the accusations is that Rocchi colluded with unknown figures at San Siro in April 2025 to avoid assigning Daniele Doveri to Inter games, instead going for officials who the club considered preferable.

Another four members of the refereeing world are also under investigation, but Moratti was President of Inter in 2006 and insists the club is clean.

Moratti trusts Inter never helped by officials

“I didn’t follow the matter too closely, but it seems more like a small battle between referees than anything to do with clubs. I don’t see comparisons with Calciopoli,” Moratti told Napoli Network.

“I had fear and respect of the referees then, because they could decide the fate of my team, especially considering we had Juventus on the other side. I still imagined this was a difficult profession, and consequently I didn’t speak to them.

“I read interviews with De Santis and Luciano Moggi, who were found guilty in Calciopoli, and it’s incredible that people are asking for their opinion on the matter.

“What is happening now is ridiculous compared to that.”

Several clubs were caught up in the Calciopoli scandal for communication and pressure on the refereeing designators to assign certain officials or avoid others, but at no point was sporting fraud one of the charges.

A large part of it was intercepted phone calls with the refereeing chiefs, but some with then-Inter director Giacinto Facchetti were only discovered several years later, after the statute of limitations had passed.

Moratti, who saw Inter handed the 2005-06 Scudetto because all the clubs ahead of them in the table had been docked points in the scandal, maintains their absolute innocence both then and now.

“Seeing the games, I don’t see anything unbalanced. Inter never had help, not when they won and not when they lost. Refereeing errors can happen, and often they are serious errors, but these things have always happened.”

Mario Gila’s agent has denied agreeing terms with Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid, Napoli or any other club. ‘If someone wants him, they have to talk to Lazio.’

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The central defender has been very impressive over the last few seasons, and seeing as his contract at the Stadio Olimpico only runs to June 2027, a sale would have to be made this summer to avoid losing him as a free agent.

He turns 26 in August and the most persistent reports paired him with Milan, but there is also interest from Real Madrid, Juventus, Napoli and Inter.

Gila focus is only on Lazio for now

With the suggestions this week he had already agreed personal terms with the Rossoneri, Pianeta Milan contacted agent Alejandro Camano.

“Mario still has a year left on his contract with Lazio,” was his reply.

“I can say that, with all due respect for everyone’s work, none of what I’ve read is true. Milan are a very important club and I am really pleased that one of my players is linked with one of the most important clubs in the world.

“It makes me proud, but I must respect Lazio in this fundamental moment of the season. Lazio are going into a Coppa Italia Final against Inter, that is a trophy up for grabs.

“So I am not talking to Milan, with Juve, or with any other club. If someone wants Gila, then they have to talk to Lazio, who own his contract. I am only the player’s agent.”

It has been suggested that Gila would particularly favour Milan if it means getting to work with coach Max Allegri.

“Allegri is one of the best coaches in the world, we all know how good he is, but the most important figure right now is Maurizio Sarri, because he is his coach at Lazio,” added Camano.

“We consider Sarri one of the best in the world, because he is at Lazio.”

It is not just Milan and Juve who have been keeping a close eye on Gila, but also Real Madrid, Napoli and Inter, with a suggested price-tag of €25m.

“I repeat, I respect everyone here, but Gila is a Lazio player. Mario has a contract to 2027, the Coppa Italia Final is coming up, he is proud to play for Lazio and right now that is all we want to talk about.”

Paulo Dybala’s mother-in-law reveals a special promise that the striker made which could take him to Boca Juniors this summer, even if ‘Roma would be his first choice.’

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La Joya will be a free agent on July 1 unless Roma offer him a new contract, and at the moment it seems increasingly unlikely they will be able to reach an agreement.

If not, then many in Argentina are confident his next destination will be Boca Juniors.

Now his mother-in-law Catherine Fulop gives extra insight into why this has to be the logical step in his career.

Dybala’s father had Boca Juniors dream

“He loves Roma, he loves the team, and I also think Roma love him very much too. That would be his first choice, staying there,” she told Urbana Play via TyC Sports.

“Paulo made a promise to his father that one day he would wear the Boca Juniors jersey, that would be a dream instilled in him by his Dad, and he wants to fulfil that dream.”

Dybala and his wife Oriana became parents recently to daughter Gia, so moving back to Argentina to be closer to family would be another strong motive.

“I’m happy if they are coming to Buenos Aires, of course.”

However, there is one big problem with her son-in-law wearing the Boca Juniors jersey, namely that her husband and Oriana’s father is a fan of their bitter rivals River Plate.

“Yes, that’s bad. Ova doesn’t miss a single River match…”

Now 32, La Joya left Argentina very young for Palermo in 2012, then moved to Juventus in 2015 and Roma as a free agent in 2022.

The only club he ever represented in his homeland was Instituto Atletico Central Cordoba.

Although he received backing from the Lega Serie A, Players’ Association and Coaches’ Association, Giovanni Malagò will ‘decide next week’ whether to run for FIGC President.

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Following the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Gabriele Gravina tended his resignation as President of the Italian Football Federation, setting up an election on June 22 to find his replacement.

It seems to be a two-horse race between Malagò and Giancarlo Abete, with the former receiving the public backing of the Lega Serie A, then today the Players’ Association (AIC) and Coaches’ Association (AIAC).

However, the former CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) chief has not yet even confirmed he will stand for the election.

Malagò still undecided on FIGC role

“I am very pleased to see the positions of the players and coaches,” Malagò told news agency ANSA.

“I thank them for the faith show in me, which adds further responsibility in evaluating my candidacy, so I intend to make a final decision by the end of next week, with respect for the Serie B and C assemblies.”

Not all the votes are equal in this election, because the Lega Serie A has 18 per cent of the vote, Serie B 6 per cent, Lega Pro 12 per cent, the amateur league LND 34 per cent, Players Association 20 per cent and Coaches Association 10 per cent.

Malagò therefore now has 47 per cent of the vote locked down, but Abete is the current President of the LND and therefore has their 34 per cent already behind him.

Igli Tare says that signing on as Milan director of sport was ‘one of the best days of my life,’ and insists he has a bracingly honest rapport with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

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The Albanian former striker spent most of his Serie A career at Lazio, first as a player and then a director, before taking the Milan job this season.

He sat down with DAZN Italia for an interview with Giorgia Rossi that will air from Friday, but the channel released a few snippets to the media in advance.

Tare committed to Milan project

“The time when I sealed the agreement with Milan was one of the best days of my life,” said Tare.

He also discussed the reportedly fractious rapport with club special advisor Ibrahimovic.

“We are both from the Balkans, we say things to people’s faces.”

It looks as if Max Allegri’s side is on track to qualify for the Champions League, a significant improvement from last season’s failure to get into any European competition.

“In order to be worthy of Milan, we must get back to winning. You have to leave your mark here,” warned Tare.

The director also has faith that Rafael Leao will eventually manage to prove himself after years of inconsistency.

“He has incredible potential. As Luka Modric says, even he doesn’t realise just how much he can give.”

Fiorentina announced that Moise Kean will not be available for the match against Roma on Monday, as he is dealing with a family matter, leaving them with no strikers.

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The game kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico on Monday May 4 at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

The Viola have not yet mathematically guaranteed their Serie A safety, but go into this big match with an injury crisis.

Fiorentina still missing Kean

Kean probably would not have been able to play anyway, as he is still struggling with that recurring fibula issue that has been plaguing him for months.

Nonetheless, his absence was confirmed by a statement from the club noting that Kean will be given time away from May 1 to May 4 so he can deal with a family matter.

He will return to Florence and the Viola Park training ground to continue treatment on the morning of May 5.

It’s a particular problem, as Roberto Piccoli sustained an adductor strain during the game with Sassuolo, and remains a major doubt.

Robin Gosens and Fabiano Parisi are only partially taking part in training, while Niccolò Fortini and long-term absentee Tariq Lamptey should miss out.

Fiorentina could therefore end up using Albert Gudmundsson as a False 9.

Giovanni Malagò moved a step closer to becoming the new FIGC President after both the Coaches’ Association and Players’ Association backed his candidacy.

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Following Gabriele Gravina’s resignation, there will be an election on June 22 to decide who takes over as the new chief of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).

After the Lega Serie A backed Malagò, today both the Italian Players’ Association (AIC) and Italian Association of Coaches (AIAC) gave their support to the same candidate.

Malagò closer to FIGC role

“The players and coaches have expressed a shared vision, identifying Giovanni Malagò as the person capable of responding to the many challenges of the present and above all the future,” read a statement to news agency ANSA.

“During meetings over the last few weeks, important convergences emerged on the principle programme points like Club Italia, sustainability and reforms, women’s football, a vision of sport that building on the initial impulse presented by the Lega Serie A offers guarantees in this delicate and important season on the path we should take.”

It seems to be a head-to-head now between Malagò and Giancarlo Abete, but the former is now at around 47 per cent of the voting bloc.

The FIGC elections are split so Serie A has 18 per cent of the vote, Serie B 6 per cent, Lega Pro 12 per cent, the amateur league LND 34 per cent, Players Association 20 per cent and Coaches Association 10 per cent.

Malagò is the former President of the CONI (Italian Olympic Committee) and most recently ran the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

Former Inter and Italy midfielder Stefano Sensi admits he could have played for Barcelona or Manchester City if it wasn’t for his frequent injuries and explains how Novak Djokovic’s book ‘Serve to Win’ helped him recover his best shape.

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Former Inter midfielder Sensi, now an Anorthosis player in the Cyprus League, gave an interview to Gazzetta dello Sport about his unfortunate career, marred by numerous injuries.

The 30-year-old joined the Cypriot side as a free agent last summer after the end of his contract with Monza.

“I’m doing well, and I’m having fun. I really needed it. I play 90 minutes per game, and I’m in top physical condition, and I’ve made friends with many Cypriots,” he said.

Sensi: Inter move ‘made me proud’

“The fans are incredibly passionate, and the coach is [Mauro] Camoranesi. He arrived here midway through the season. I didn’t know him, and I’ve discovered a beautiful person and a great coach. After months of speaking only English, thanks to him, I’ve been able to dust off my Italian.”

The Italian midfielder admitted that he does not miss living in Italy.

“Right now, no. I’m having the experience I wanted. I live in Larnaca, the quietest city on the island,” he said.

“I’m a quiet person; I don’t need to go partying. Obviously, getting here after living in Milan felt a bit strange.”

Sensi was regarded as one of the best Italian midfielders in 2019, when he joined Inter from Sassuolo in a €25m deal.

“It’s such a great memory; a milestone that made me proud. I still think about the day they signed me,” he said.

“I was on holiday in Formentera, and my agent surprisingly called me, saying that Ausilio wanted to talk to me. My legs were shaking. I knew everyone would be proud of me back home.”

Sensi had a tremendous impact at San Siro, scoring three goals and providing four assists in his opening six games with the Nerazzurri under Antonio Conte.

The Italian was among the best players on the pitch in Inter’s 2-1 loss away at Barcelona in the Champions League group stage in October 2019, so both the Catalans and Manchester City began following him.

“Yes, surely. Certain clubs follow you because they see something important,” he said.

“Then we know what happened, and it’s okay; there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Just four days after that performance in Barcelona, Sensi sustained the first of his many injuries at Inter. Which clubs could he have played for without all his fitness problems?

“It’s hard to say; many things have happened—perhaps Barcelona or Manchester City, or maybe still at Inter,” he replied.

Sensi played only 57 matches with Inter before joining Sampdoria and Monza on loan.

“My wife convinced me to continue and not give up. If I could go back in time, I’d immediately hire a mental coach,” he said.

“I found one three years ago, and I can’t do without him now. You need the right balance; mental coaches are important, but footballers must trust them.”

Sensi also took inspiration from a book.

“I was talking to my friends about my situation when I heard about ‘Serve to Win’, the book in which Djokovic explained how much he suffered and how he managed to solve his physical problems,” he revealed.

“I bought it and read it. I saw a lot of myself in his story and started following his example. I ate only gluten-free, lactose-free foods and avoided sugar. Before long, I began to feel fit again and, in fact, my injuries became far less frequent.”

The 30-year-old was supposed to be in the Italy squad for the 2021 Euros, but a new injury forced Roberto Mancini to remove him from the team.

“I owe him [Mancini] so much. The national team is not for everyone, and Mancini called me up when I was still playing for Sassuolo,” Sensi concluded.

“He started me in place of Jorginho, and I immediately felt his trust. Unfortunately, I got injured in the final round of the season. The coach told me to go to Coverciano anyway, but I couldn’t recover in time, and I didn’t win the Euros.”

Refereeing supervisor Andrea Gervasoni spoke to investigators for four hours today and insists he is ‘100 per cent sure the VAR audio for Inter-Roma was not manipulated.’

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Italian football is dealing with yet another scandal after chief Serie A and B refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi was placed under formal investigation for sporting fraud.

So far there are also another four figures under investigation, all from the refereeing world, and the interrogations began today in Milan.

While Rocchi refused to attend, former referee and until recently VAR supervisor Gervasoni, who suspended himself following the investigation, did sit down for a four-hour meeting.

Gervasoni answers questions in referee investigation

“I put myself at the disposal of the magistrate and now I will wait. I gave all the answers that I needed to,” Gervasoni told reporters after leaving the police station.

He and his lawyer Michele Ducci confirmed that they were specifically asked about two matches.

“We talked about Salernitana-Modena, but we clarified that Gervasoni was in a different building. He was following Serie A, not Serie B games, so he did not interfere in any way.”

Another question was about the Inter-Roma match last season, when a penalty was not awarded to the Nerazzurri for Evan Ndicka’s shirt tug on Yann Bisseck.

“In this case too, we clarified that Gervasoni was not involved,” said his lawyer. “The footage also clarifies it. It all happens in 15 seconds, there wouldn’t even be time to intervene.

“They asked us a quick question about that and nothing more.”

The incident was shown on DAZN Italia television programme Open VAR, where the footage of the VAR is played with real time audio from the referee and those in the booth.

However, it’s reported the footage shown lasted only 37 seconds, missing 50-60 seconds from the original clip.

Gervasoni himself then spoke to the reporters about these allegations.

“I am 100 per cent sure the audio for Inter-Roma was not manipulated. But we didn’t see the clip today.”

When it came to the supposed meeting at San Siro on April 2 where Rocchi is accused of colluding with unknown figures to make sure Daniele Doveri was not assigned to big Inter matches, Gervasoni’s lawyer distanced himself.

“That was not in the accusations and we did not talk about it, so I don’t know who was there on that April 2 meeting. We know nothing about the presumed favouritism for referees, because those were not put to us. We are not Rocchi.”

Serie A refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi insists he is ‘transparent with everyone on everything’ after he was accused of sporting fraud.

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The refereeing world has been shaken in Italy by news that Rocchi is under formal investigation for sporting fraud, a move which prompted him to suspend himself as Serie A and B chief designator.

He was meant to speak to the investigators today, but along with his lawyer decided not to attend, claiming the terms of the accusation were too vague to mount a proper defence.

Rocchi denies wrongdoing

Instead, Rocchi did speak to television show Le Iene, who pressed him on the suggestions his interference with referees favoured some clubs over others.

“We work in only one way, so there are no big problems. I am transparent with everyone on everything,” he assured.

“I repeat, I always work exclusively in one way.”

Rocchi was asked if there ought to be more clarity on the way that the VAR system is run.

“I have always been clear, so it’s not like I have to promise something that I was already doing.”

Amongst other things, he is accused of assigning referees that Inter preferred rather than Daniele Doveri to their big games towards the end of last season, and of over-stepping the protocol by banging on the window of the VAR booth while decisions were being made.

The Associations of Italian footballers and coaches are expected to pick their candidate for the FIGC Presidential election today, with Giovanni Malagò reportedly favourite over Giancarlo Abete.

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Today will be a key day in the FIGC Presidential election, even if the new Italian FA Chief will only be voted on June 22, 2026.

As reported by Gazzetta, the Associations of Italian footballers and coaches are expected to pick their favourite candidate today, Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Italian players and coaches to choose FIGC Presidential candidate

Both Malagò and Abete, who have yet to confirm they’ll run for the presidency officially, have already met the components taking part in the election in less than two months.

Italian coach and player associations contribute 30% of the votes: coaches account for 20%, while players make up the remaining 10%.

According to the report, Malagò appears to be the favourite over Abete, who already served as the FIGC President between 2007 and 2014, when he resigned following Italy’s elimination from the World Cup played in Brazil.

Malagò’s successful tenure as President of CONI and the potential appointment of a former footballer to his staff are viewed as the key factors giving Malagò a slight advantage over Abete.

Serie A clubs, who account for 18% of votes in the FIGC Presidential election, have already picked Malagò as their main candidate; while LND, who have chosen their President Abete, hold 34% of the votes.

Victory is determined when a candidate reaches the ‘absolute majority’, so half plus one of the total votes.

Premier League giants Liverpool are reportedly interested in Napoli centre-back Sam Beukema, who is ‘highly regarded’ by the Reds’ boss Arne Slot.

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Liverpool have set their sights on Napoli defender Beukema ahead of the summer transfer window, reports TEAMTalk.

According to the report, the Dutch defender is highly regarded by his compatriot Slot, who is expected to remain in charge of Liverpool for 2026-27.

The report claims that Slot already tried to sign Beukema at Feyenoord when the Dutch centre-back was playing for Go Ahead Eagles.

Slot has reportedly confirmed his admiration for Beukema to the Liverpool recruitment team, including sporting director Richard Hughes.

Liverpool are expected to bolster their defence next summer, with Beukema among the names on their shortlist.

The Reds already secured defensive reinforcement from Serie A last summer by signing Giovanni Leoni from Parma.

The Italian defender has had an unfortunate debut season at Anfield, sustaining an ACL injury in his first game with the Reds.

Slot recently provided an update on the Italian centre-back, saying that the ex-Parma talent is “becoming a beast” as he continues his recovery from injury.

Beukema, 27, joined Napoli from Bologna in a €31m deal last summer, making 30 appearances across all competitions this season.

Italy and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero made Micah Richards burst out laughing before last night’s Champions League semi-final between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal: ‘Do you see my humble?’

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There was a funny little exchange last night between Del Piero and Richard ahead of the Champions League semi-final first leg between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal.

The ex-Juventus and Italy striker initially spoke about a shirt swap with Thierry Henry after a 1998 Champions League semi-final between the Bianconeri and Monaco.

“I still have the shirt. Tity was already a big name everywhere, so it was a pleasure for me,” he said.

At that point, Richards asked Del Piero if he ever realised how much of a legend he is, and the ex-striker’s reply made everyone laugh.

“Micah, do you see me humble?” Del Piero said, pointing at his outfit.

“Besides jokes, I always think you need to be humble, but that doesn’t mean you don’t understand who you are, where you are, and what you are doing and saying. We love to laugh, but also need to give people the right thought.”

Del Piero to Micah Richards: ‘Do you see me humble?’

“I still have the shirt of course.”@delpieroale and Thierry Henry reveal all about their 1998 #UCL semifinal shirt swap pic.twitter.com/ECxMWTN1YQ

— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 29, 2026

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Milan are preparing for a major overhaul in central midfield, chasing Valencia’s Javi Guerra and Sassuolo’s Ismael Koné, while four midfielders, including Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, are expected to leave.

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Milan have continued to monitor promising Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra during the 2025-26 campaign, reports Gazzetta dello Sport.

Latest Milan transfer news: Guerra, Koné and more

The Spaniard was a Milan transfer target last summer, before he signed a new contract until 2029, but the Serie A giants have continued to scout him in the current campaign.

According to the report, Milan are also interested in Sassuolo and Canada midfielder Koné, scorer of six Serie A goals this season.

Gazzetta claims that Sassuolo might be interested in discussing a player-plus-cash swap involving either Christian Comotto, now on loan at Spezia, or Francesco Camarda.

Milan are expected to make significant changes to their central midfield over the summer, given that Fofana and Loftus-Cheek are likely to leave San Siro.

Warren Bondo, Ismael Bennacer and Yunus Musah will return after their loan spells, and while the first two will be put on the market, Musah could end up staying at Milan, mostly due to his versatility.

The Rossoneri will also wait for Luka Modric’s decision on his future and hope the Croatian star will agree to remain at the club for one more season.

According to Corriere dello Sport, Inter remain interested in Como talent Nico Paz, who is set to return to Real Madrid in the summer, but will only remain at the Bernabéu with the approval of the Merengues’ new coach.

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Inter still want to sign Nico Paz in 2026

Serie A giants Inter still hope to sign Argentine talent Nico Paz, despite his practically guaranteed return to Real Madrid in the summer.

The Merengues have an €11m buy-back option, which they intend to activate at the end of the season to bring back a product of their academy to the club.

However, Nico Paz’s stay at the Bernabéu for 2026-27 will depend on the new coach Real Madrid appoint in the summer.

José Mourinho is seen as a possible candidate for the job, so if the ex-Nerazzurri boss returns to the Bernabéu, he will inevitably be involved in Inter’s transfer plans, as he’ll have to decide whether to keep Paz in the team.

According to the report, Inter are determined to offer a paid loan deal with an option to buy and a buy-back option, or even a permanent transfer, but still leaving Real Madrid the option to re-sign the player in the future.

The Nerazzurri are preparing a transfer package worth between €40m and €50m and hope to persuade the Argentine talent also thanks to his father Pablo Paz, a close friend and former Argentina teammate of Inter’s vice-president Javier Zanetti

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has personally called Bernardo Silva, hoping to persuade the Manchester City captain to move to Turin at the end of the season.

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Spalletti in direct contact with Bernardo Silva over a possible Juventus move

Juventus coach Spalletti has reportedly reached out to Bernardo Silva over a potential move to the Allianz Stadium in the summer.

Negotiations between the Old Lady and the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, have been ongoing for weeks as Bernardo Silva’s contract with Manchester City expires at the end of the season, making him available for a free transfer in June. 

According to the report, Spalletti has made a further step forward by personally contacting the Manchester City captain, who is also believed to be on the agenda of many other European clubs, including Benfica and Barcelona.

Gazzetta previously reported that Juventus had already offered Bernardo Silva a three-year contract worth €7m per season and that the Portugal international would only pick his next club at the end of the campaign, which sees his Manchester City side involved in the race for the Premier League title.

Serie A is gaining momentum across North America, especially in Canada, and interest in the Azzurri is rising just as quickly.

Jonathan David’s move to Juventus and Ismael Koné’s transfer to Sassuolo in the 2025 summer transfer window have only boosted the number of Serie A fans in Canada, a country that is also preparing to co-host the 2026 World Cup, the biggest football event ever staged.

The best way to watch Serie A football in Canada is through DAZN Canada or TLN TV, which shows three live Serie A fixtures every week.

Between the halves, many fans keep the excitement going by exploring the world-class slots and table games at https://charmius-canada.com, a premier destination for casino enthusiasts that also provides essential responsible gambling tools via its mobile app and browser.

The race for the Scudetto and the drama of historic rivalries in the Peninsula are attracting more and more viewers abroad, as Lega Serie A confirmed in 2025, reporting an unprecedented surge in popularity across the United States.

“Never before has Italian football been so widely accessible across the country. The upcoming CBS Main Network broadcast of Juventus-Genoa on March 29 is yet another key moment in our mission to bring Serie A to as many fans as possible,” Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli said back then.

“It’s incredible to see how much it’s grown, with broadcasts and events like this bringing fans even closer to the game,” added 2006 Italy World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo, a former Milan and Juventus superstar.

The strong community of Italian-Canadians, primarily concentrated in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, have also had a chance to see many Italian stars in action in the MLS in recent years.

Sebastian Giovinco played for Toronto FC from 2015 to 2019, followed, a few years later, by Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne, two Italy Euro 2020 winners.

Another Italian legend, Alessandro Nesta, played for Montreal Impact in 2012-13 after a successful Serie A career with Lazio and Milan, during which he had won three Serie A titles and two Champions League titles.

The former defender moved to the USA after hanging up his boots, becoming the coach of Miami FC from 2015 to 17. He then returned to Italy to take charge of Perugia, Frosinone, Reggiana and Monza.

Surely, there’s plenty of connection between Italian football and Canada, not just because over 1,500,000 Canadians (4.3% of the total population) have reported full or partial Italian ancestry, but also because of the many stars moving between the two countries to play the beautiful game.

Too bad that the two national teams’ proposed meeting in the 2026 World Cup Group B will never happen, as the Azzurri have failed to qualify for the competition for the third time in a row.

Italy legend Roberto Baggio has officially launched his TikTok account with a humorous juggling clip that ends with what appears to be an unfortunate glass-breaking mishap.

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Italy legend Baggio has officially joined TikTok, reaching over 200,000 followers in just a few hours.

Baggio’s first video on the platform shows him juggling the ball, but the ending is not the one most fans would expect.

After the ex-striker kicks the ball, the sound of breaking glass can be heard. At that moment, Baggio turns to the camera and says, “From today, I’m on TikTok too.”

As reported by Repubblica, Baggio’s first video has already reached two million views and over 500,000 likes.

Baggio’s first TikTok video

“Ciao ragazzi! Da oggi sono anche io su TikTok”.

Così l’ex calciatore Roberto Baggio saluta i fan e inaugura il suo nuovo profilo sulla nota piattaforma social. Nel breve video ironico pubblicato, si vede il ‘Divin codino’ palleggiare e poi calciare il pallone. Sul finale,… pic.twitter.com/fxxI6mLofe

— Radio Deejay (@radiodeejay) April 30, 2026