Massimo Ambrosini believes that Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina will be won in midfield, and suggests that Youssouf Fofana could be the ‘surprise’ player to settle the crunch match between Milan and Inter. 

Ambrosini spent 18 years with Milan, turning out a total of 489 times across all competitions for the Rossoneri. He was also involved in his fair share of derbies, 29 different matches against Inter to be precise, with a record of 11 wins, six draws and 12 defeats. 

The 35-time Italy international was among the former players to give his thoughts ahead of Sunday’s derby in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

• Read more: Kaka picks one Inter player he would steal for Milan and predicts derby MVP
• Read more: Vieri previews Inter and Milan derby and Scudetto chances: ‘I think we’re there, aren’t we?’

Ambrosini previews Milan vs. Inter and makes ‘surprise’ Fofana prediction

During his talk with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ambrosini was asked which of those derbies was his favourite to take part in. 

“The two in the Champions League in 2003. But in general, every derby was an incredible experience. The two Curvas, the noise of the stadium, the adrenaline,” he said. 

Milan talisman Rafael Leao has recently described this derby as a matter of ‘life or death’ for the Rossoneri. “Sportingly speaking, it is,” Ambrosini agrees. “At least for Milan who are chasing. Winning would mean getting back to -7 from the top and putting some pressure back on Inter.” 

Still, closing down a seven point margin with 10 matches of the season left to play is one step too far for this current Milan side, Ambrosini concedes. 

“I say no, even if you always have to dream in football. My Milan side made up seven points against Lazio within seven matches in 1999. But, if they’d asked me back then how much I believed in a comeback, I probably would have said the same as I’m saying now.

“Max has given Milan its soul back, starting with defensive solidity, which was the priority. That’s why I don’t think he’ll move from the 3-5-2. The mission to return to the Champions League is getting closer.” 

Inter on the other hand, are on their way to winning their 21st league title in what is Cristian Chivu’s first full season in senior management. 

“Cristian’s changed his register recently,” Ambrosini noted. “He’s chosen a bit more of a8 protective line of communication compared to what he did at the start. His work has been exceptional and shouldn’t be taken for granted. The only drawback is the (Champions League) elimination against Bodo.” 

How does Ambrosini see this upcoming derby being settled? 

“In midfield,” he replied. “I don’t expect a very open game, but a big battle especially in the middle, maybe decided by a surprise player.” 

When asked who, he said: “Fofana. He’s been unlucky so far. I like his attitude and it shouldn’t be forgotten that he’s had to adapt as a midfielder.” 

Lastly, Ambrosini had his say on emerging Inter and Italy talent Pio Esposito. He said: “He’s a serious and strong guy. I think everyone appreciates him because he conveys that desire to improve. I like him.” 

Christian Vieri says that young players like Pio Esposito need protecting, but argues that the 20-year-old is still strong enough to be competing for a starting spot at Inter despite his age: “The fact that we still don’t know how to manage young players in Italy hasn’t changed.” 

Vieri praises and protects Esposito: ‘We still don’t know how to manage young players in Italy’

Esposito is in contention for a starting spot in the Derby della Madonnina between the league leading Nerazzurri and their city rivals, Milan on Sunday evening. 

The 20-year-old has impressed in his first full season in the Inter first team and will be going in search of his eighth goal of the season against Milan. He has also featured in 25 of Inter’s 27 matches of the Serie A season, as Cristian Chivu’s side look to go 13+ points clear in their hunt for a 21st league title. 

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Vieri spoke of the need to protect young talents like Esposito, but insists that he is already proving why he is good enough to compete with the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram. 

Lautaro is injured and unavailable for Sunday’s derby. Vieri described the Argentine as “the strongest centre-forward in Italy. He’s Inter’s engine. They miss everything he does in games, and he can unlock it at any time. Only Hojlund has been as strong as him this season.” 

Vieri believes that it is players like Esposito and summer signing Ange-Yoan Bonny that have made the difference this season, though. 

“This year, Inter have what they have been lacking in the past: Non-starting centre-forwards who are still up to scratch.” 

One of the standouts has been Esposito: “The fact that we still don’t know how to manage young players in Italy hasn’t changed,” Vieri argues. 

“One day he’s amazing and the next he’s disappointing: ‘Why didn’t you score that goal’, or whatever. Pio isn’t even 21 years old yet, and it’s not been long since his journey from Spezia to Inter. Not many have done that.”

Despite the need to ‘protect’ youngsters like Esposito, Vieri believes that he is more than old enough to compete with Inter’s most senior players: “Otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to hold his own on a physical level in Europe,” he says. 

“If you train against strong guys, you improve. And they tell me that he has a lot of desire to improve. Now when he gets the ball, he plays with it a lot more than he did before. He also has the touch that you need to send your teammate through on goal.”

Click here to read the full interview with Christian Vieri.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed that Evan Ferguson’s season is likely over, that Artem Dovbyk is unlikely to feature until May and has also denied rumours of any meetings with Giallorossi legend Francesco Totti. 

The Roma head coach sat down for his pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of tomorrow’s Serie A match against Genoa, who are under the guidance of former Giallorossi captain and manager Daniele De Rossi. 

News broke on Saturday morning that Brighton loanee Ferguson is expected to undergo surgery on an ankle issue that has kept him out of action for the last few weeks, and that the procedure is likely to spell the end of his season. 

The 21-year-old is unlikely to feature for Roma again, as the Giallorossi are extremely unlikely to activate the €40m option to buy clause in their deal with Brighton. 

“If we include Dovbyk and Ferguson, we’re in a really difficult situation,” Gasperini told the press on Saturday.

“Dovbyk’s been out for many months. The surgery’s been done, if all goes well, he could return at the end of April, maybe the beginning of May. We continue to consider him among the absentees. 

“The same goes for Ferguson at this point, because this is probably where his season ends to have surgery on his ankle, so he won’t have time to recover, even at the end of the season. So they’re now crossed off the list. 

“But then there is Malen, there is Vaz, there is Venturino, there are others. We’ve got El Shaarawy and Pellegrini back, we have the numbers to continue playing.” 

It was suggested to Gasperini that some of Roma’s medical diagnoses have not been particularly accurate this season. 

He replied: “No, but it would be presumptuous of me to talk about medicine. It’s not a topic on which we can discuss on the level with the doctors and professionals. It’s true that they’ve had to deal with lots of cases though, isn’t it. 

“Starting with Ferguson, who arrived a year after an operation with great initial difficulties in getting back to his best with the few games he played last year. Then he had an excellent period around December, then there was this relapse, but this was a different case. 

“Then there’s been the Angelino matter, there was Bailey, there was Dovbyk, and now Dybala. Undoubtedly this is quite rare in football because they aren’t even muscular injuries, they’re all quite specific, each one different from the other. 

“It’s definitely had an effect having to give up these players for such a long time. However, despite that, we’ve come this far, we have to continue and move forwards with our best intentions.” 

Gasperini denies Totti rumours: ‘Never met with him’ 

Gasperini has denied any knowledge of any meetings or talks with Roma legend Totti, who has been rumoured to be eyeing a return to the club in some sort of backroom role. 

“I’m not in a position to talk about these situations,” said Gasperini. “I’ve been in Rome for eight or nine months. I’ve never met with Totti, it’s not a topic that I’ve brought up. It came out a month ago, not from me.” 

There have been reports that Roma have discussed potential roles and further details with Totti, but Gasperini denies any knowledge of this. 

Gasperini on Genoa vs Roma 

Gasperini went on to give his thoughts about the upcoming clash with Genoa in Serie A and his team’s successes so far this season. 

“I continue to look ahead, I continue to look to the match against Genoa. We’ll have Genoa, then Bologna, Como, Bologna again, and then before the break we have Lecce. It’s two good weeks, but not decisive. The decisive things will happen in May. The goal for now is to stay in the mix.

“Tomorrow we play in Genoa. I know well what the stadium is like when it’s full. A team that is strong at home, dragged and pushed on by its supporters. We have to think about the team and our performances.”

Luciano Spalletti has confirmed his squad of 22 Juventus players to take on Pisa in Serie A this evening, but centre-forward Dusan Vlahovic is not included on this occasion. 

The Bianconeri are preparing to take on Pisa in Serie A on Saturday afternoon. Spalletti’s side will be aiming for three points, which they hope will push them further towards the Serie A top four after slipping behind Como and Roma in recent weeks. 

The Bianconeri are without a win across their last four matches, but did record an encouraging 3-3 comeback draw away against Roma last time out in the league. Saturday’s opponents, Pisa, have only won one of their 37 Serie A matches all season and have lost three on the bounce heading into the Juve clash. 

Vlahovic has recently returned to training after suffering a high-grade adductor injury earlier this season, which has required three months of rehabilitation. 

There had been some hopes at the beginning of the week that Vlahovic would be included in the matchday squad to face Pisa, but this has come one too soon. Spalletti confirmed on Friday that Vlahovic is in contention to face Udinese next week instead. 

Instead, Jonathan David looks set to lead the line for Juventus against Pisa, with support likely to come from Francisco Conceicao, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz. 

Confirmed Juventus squad for Pisa

Goalkeepers: Di Gregorio, Perin, Pinsoglio. 

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

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

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

I convocati da mister Spalletti per la gara di questa sera all'Allianz Stadium #JuvePisa

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— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) March 7, 2026

Former Inter and Italy striker Christian Vieri argues that Alessandro Bastoni has ‘apologised, knows that he was wrong and that should be enough’, as the Nerazzurri defender continues to earn boos around grounds in Italy following his involvement in the sending off of Juventus’s Pierre Kalulu in the Derby d’Italia last month. 

Bastoni continues to cut a divisive figure in Italy after Inter’s 3-2 victory over rivals Juventus in Serie A in February. 

The Nerazzurri centre-back was involved in a controversial incident that saw Juventus defender Kalulu wrongly sent off for a second bookable offence. 

With the scores level at 1-1 in the first half, Bastoni took an obvious tumble to the floor under the soft challenge of Kalulu, which resulted in referee Federico La Penna sending the Juventus man off for his second yellow card. Bastoni was then seen passionately celebrating as the red card was shown to Kalulu. Inter went on to win 3-2 against the 10-man Bianconeri. 

Bastoni apologised for the way that he celebrated the decision to send Kalulu off a few days after the incident, but condemned the abuse that he and his family had suffered in the aftermath. 

The ordeal has upset not just upset Juventus supporters, as the Italy international has since been treated to boos at various grounds across Serie A.

There had even been calls from certain supporters for the Nerazzurri defender to be dropped from Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad ahead of the crucial World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of March. 

Former Italy players defend Bastoni

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the upcoming Derby della Madonnina between Inter and Milan, former Italy striker Vieri has come out in defence of Bastoni. 

“What he did, everyone does. Come on,” Vieri said. “The cameras are unforgiving and social media is terrible. They take out all the context. 

“We’ve seen videos of those who celebrate, even those who pretend to be hurt on the pitch, those who get up as soon as their opponent is booked. Bastoni went into the press room, apologised, he knows it was wrong and that should be enough. The Milan fans will all boo, but not just him.” 

• Click here to read the full interview with Christian Vieri

Former Juventus winger Massimo Mauro has also come out in defence of Bastoni ahead of the World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on March 26. 

“The fact that Bastoni gets booed everywhere is a bit ridiculous. At this point, you’d have to boo 60-70% of footballers,” he said in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“The issue got blown out of proportion because Kalulu was sent off. Then Bastoni celebrated, and you shouldn’t do that, of course, but you can’t pay for it for the rest of your life either. That’s ridiculous.”

Thiago Motta is reportedly among the potential candidates to replace Igor Tudor as head coach of Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, less than a year after the Italian was replaced by the Croatian at Juventus. 

Could Tottenham replace Tudor with another former Juventus head coach?

It has been just shy of a year since Motta was dismissed from his position as head coach of Juventus. The former Bologna tactician did not last the full year with the Old Lady after a summer of heavy spending and a long series of unconvincing results thereafter. 

Motta was let go from his position on March 23 last year, and Tudor was announced as his replacement later on the same day. 

Tudor was initially appointed Juventus head coach on a short-term contract until the end of the 2024-25 season, but was later handed a contract extension until the summer of 2028 after impressing with his short run of fixtures towards the end of the campaign. 

Tudor did not last long, though, and was replaced by current incumbent Luciano Spalletti at the end of October. 

Tudor has since been appointed as the head coach of Premier League strugglers Tottenham, again on a short-term contract until the end of the season, but has gone on to lose his first three matches in charge, which leaves Spurs just one point above the relegation zone with nine league matches of the season left to play. 

Reports in the UK indicate that Juventus are considering sacking Tudor just three games into his tenure, and according to reports in Italy, Motta is among the potential candidates to replace him. 

As per Tuttosport and Calciomercato.com, Tottenham have two potential Italian head coaches in mind in Motta and former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi. There are other alternatives in Sean Dyche, Robbie Keane and Ryan Mason.

Massimilano Allegri has had the opportunity to comment on his future after a week of rumours linking him to the Real Madrid job, less than a year into his tenure with Milan: ‘We haven’t achieved anything yet’. 

Reports in Italy this week have claimed that Allegri has been the long-term subject of a courtship from Real Madrid President Florentino Perez, and that the LaLiga giants could be poised to make a move for the Milan head coach to replace Alvaro Arbeola. 

There have even been suggestions that Allegri would be keen to bring trusted Milan and former Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot with him to the Bernabeu, as well as Luka Modric in some sort of coaching capacity.

Updates claim that Milan are now keen to offer Allegri an extension to his contract, potentially until 2028, as a result of the Real Madrid interest. 

Allegri comments on Madrid rumours and Milan future

Allegri has since had a chance to address the recent rumours regarding his future during his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina against city rivals and league leaders, Inter. 

“I’m linked to Milan until 2027. My future is tomorrow. I’m fine at Milan and I’m very happy,” the Milan head coach told the press on Saturday. 

“We only started the journey in July. The club is working for the future. But until we reach our goal, we will have to stay focused on the present. We haven’t achieved anything yet.” 

Click here to read more from Allegri’s pre-Inter press conference

Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri says that ‘you never know’ in football, but insists that his side’s only goal this season is to finish in the Champions League positions, not a Scudetto fight with their city rivals, Inter. 

Milan, currently second in Serie A after 27 matches, will take on the table-topping Inter in San Siro in a highly-anticipated Derby della Madonnina on Sunday evening. 

If the Nerazzurri claim victory, they will move 13 points clear at the top of the Serie A table with 10 league matches of the season left to go. If Milan win, they will cut the deficit to seven points, a margin they have previously chased down, albeit against Lazio in the 1998-99 season. 

Allegri previews Milan derby: ‘It’s always special’

Allegri sat down for his pre-match press conference on Saturday ahead of tomorrow’s crunch match. The Rossoneri head coach discussed his side’s form, the reality of Milan’s situation in Serie A and the ‘special, special’ feeling heading into a derby. 

“The derby is always a special, special game. It’s beautiful to play and experience. It will definitely be a great evening of sport. But, the three points in the derby are worth the same as the three points next Sunday,” Allegri said (via TMW).

“It’s important to pick up points tomorrow, it won’t be easy against a strong team. We know the importance of the game but we will try to get a result.

“The only thing we have left to do is play it, then we’ll see how it ends. After the game we’ll see if we’re left at -10, at -7 or at -13. Regardless of tomorrow’s result, we know that 57 points isn’t enough to achieve our goal, which is to return to playing in the Champions League. Our schedule is tough and we’re still a few victories away.” 

Allegri went on to provide a medical update ahead of Sunday’s derby: “Everyone is fine apart from Gabbia, Loftus-Cheek and Gimenez, who will soon be with the team,” he said. “Bartesaghi trained yesterday, I’ll decide if he or Estupinan, who’s doing very well, will play tomorrow.” 

Looking at tomorrow’s opposition, Allegri said: “Inter score goals in lots of different ways. They’re good shooters from outside the box, they have great strength inside it. It depends on who plays tomorrow, if Dumfries will play. They have a lot of different solutions in front of goal. We also have great qualities to be able to play a good game and score against Inter.” 

There have been reports this week linking Allegri with a big move to Real Madrid. For now, he insists that he is focused on the task at hand with the Rossoneri. 

“I’m linked to Milan until 2027. My future is tomorrow. I’m fine at Milan and I’m very happy. We only started the journey in July. The club is working for the future. But until we reach our goal, we will have to stay focused on the present. We haven’t achieved anything yet.” 

Allegri was also asked what he makes of the recent booing that Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni has been subjected to following his involvement in the sending off of Pierre Kalulu during last month’s Derby d’Italia. 

“I don’t want to make any appeals. All I can say is that the Milan fans will have to help us and support us as they have done from day one. The thing they will have to do first and foremost is support Milan.” 

Allegri was asked if he thinks Milan will be able to catch Inter if they win on Sunday. He said: “You never know what happens in football. In the meantime, we’ll just play tomorrow. I don’t know if we’ll re-open the race for the Scudetto, but we’re five wins away from the Champions League, so if we win tomorrow, we’ll be missing one less.” 

Milan have had a full week to prepare for Sunday’s derby, while Inter have only had a matter of days given their midweek involvement in the Coppa Italia. 

Allegri was asked if he feels he has had too much time to prepare compared to Cristian Chivu and his team. 

“Let’s see how it goes. Puulisic is growing in terms of his condition, Leao as well, Estupinan also on a mental level. The guys are all fine. Fullkrug is also doing better. He played for a month suffering with his toe, now he’s better too. Rabiot was stopped through suspension, Jashari’s growing in condition. We’ll play and hope to get a result tomorrow.” 

Michael Kayode is having an impressive 2025-26 campaign in the Premier League with Brentford, is in contention for a potential Italy national team call-up and has now caught the eye of Juventus according to the latest reports in Italy. 

The 21-year-old right-back has played a key role for under Keith Andrews in 2025-26, starting at right-back in 28 of a possible 29 Premier League matches this season after joining Brentford from Fiorentina on loan with an option to buy in January last year. 

Kayode and his Brentford teammates currently find themselves in seventh place in the Premier League table, fighting for a spot in Europe despite being tipped for relegation by many at the beginning of the season. 

There have also been suggestions that Kayode could be in line for a call up to the Italy national team squad in the near future. The former Fiorentina man has represented the Azzurri at U18, U19 and U21 levels and has eight caps for the latter. 

Kayode was also among the players that Italy’s delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon singled out for praise in a recent interview ahead of the World Cup play-off campaign at the end of the month. 

“A big surprise has been Palestra; he’s shown something extraordinary. Another one who’s doing well is Kayode. Vergara, too, definitely catches your attention,” said Buffon. 

Reports Juventus interested in Italy prospect Kayode 

Now, according to reports from Tuttosport, Kayode is also of interest to Juventus ahead of the summer transfer window. 

The Turin-based outlet lauds Kayode as a player who could star at right-back for the Old Lady ‘for the next 10 years’. Saturday’s report claims that Juve will continue to monitor the 21-year-old’s progress with great interest for the rest of the season. 

Kayode is also capable of playing at right-back in a back four and as a wing-back in a three or five-man defence, which would make him a decent fit for Bianconeri head coach Luciano Spalletti, who does like to occasionally tinker with his system. 

Tuttosport claims that Juventus would have to pay around €30m to snatch the Italy talent away from Brentford, who paid a fee in the region of €18m to activate the option to buy in Kayode’s original loan contract. 

Kayode also spent four years in Juventus’s youth academy as a youngster. 

Christian Vieri believes that four Milan players would get into Inter’s best starting XI ahead of the Derby della Madonnina between the two sides in Serie A on Sunday evening. 

The former Italy striker, who scored 103 Serie A goals for Inter and also had a brief spell with Milan immediately after, spoke in-depth with La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Sunday’s derby. 

• Read more: Vieri previews Inter and Milan derby and Scudetto chances: ‘I think we’re there, aren’t we?’

Ahead of kick-off, the Nerazzurri have a 10-point advantage at the top of the Serie A table, and should they win on Sunday, they will go 13 points clear of their city rivals with 10 league games of the season left to play. 

Vieri believes that Inter are well on their way to claiming their 21st Serie A title, regardless of the result in tomorrow’s derby. 

“No Inter player wants to say anything because they don’t want to bring any bad luck, but with 10 games to go, there would be no team capable of catching up with this side, which practically always wins against the smaller sides by the way.” Vieri told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

If Milan were to win on Sunday, they would move within seven points of Inter with 10 games left to go. 

Vieri believes that Cristian Chivu’s side have already created a large enough buffer to see off the Rossoneri threat, though: “I don’t do ifs, buts and maybes. The seven point margin would still count for a lot.” he said. 

“Inter would have to lose three and Milan would always have to win. Also, Inter have to play against Atalanta, Roma and Como. Milan against Napoli, Juventus and Atalanta, even Sassuolo. I think we’re there aren’t we?” 

Which Milan players would start for Inter?

When Vieri spoke to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the derby this time last year, he said that Inter would probably be keen to sign Rafael Leao from Milan and that Milan would probably like to sign eight or nine players from Inter. 

“Today, I’d say Leao, Modric, Rabiot and Maignan. And it would be seven or eight Inter guys. Lautaro’s injury takes him out of it.”

Vieri was also asked how ‘amazed’ he has been by the form of the 40-year-old Luka Modric following his move to Milan from Real Madrid over the summer. 

“Only in Italy is there as much talk about a player’s age,” he said. “He was at Real and was playing last year, it’s not as if it was 10 years ago. If I were Milan, I would renew his contract. I’d give him a five-year deal.” 

Click here to read the full interview with Vieri.

The upcoming Derby della Madonnina between Milan and Inter in Serie A on Sunday evening is expected to set a new league record for matchday takings according to the latest reports in Italy. 

Sunday’s Serie A headliner will be the battle of second-placed Milan and the league leading Inter, who have a 10-point advantage healing over their city rivals ahead of kick-off. Should Cristian Chivu’s side claim victory, they will move 13 points clear at the top of the table with 10 league games left to go. 

There has been much anticipation for Sunday’s derby, which, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, will set a new record for the highest ever takings on a Serie A matchday. 

• Read more: Vieri previews Inter and Milan derby and Scudetto chances: ‘I think we’re there’
• Read more: Kaka picks one Inter player he would steal for Milan

How much will Sunday’s derby between Milan and Inter bring in?

According to Saturday’s report, the upcoming derby is set to bring in more than €8.7m in revenues, which will surpass the previous record of €8.65m that was set during the first leg of this fixture earlier this season. 

A sold-out capacity crowd in excess of 75,500 will be in attendance in San Siro tomorrow. 

As calculated by Calcio e Finanza, here are the five most financially profitable Serie A matches ever: 

1. AC Milan v Inter, 8 March 2026, San Siro – €8,700,000 (75,500 expected spectators)
2. Inter v AC Milan, 23 November 2025, San Siro – €8,649,494 (75,562 spectators)
3. Inter vs. Juventus, 14 February 2026, San Siro – €8,587,129 (75,515 spectators)
4. Inter v AC Milan, 22 September 2024, San Siro – €7,626,430 (75,366 spectators)
5. Inter vs. Juventus, 27 October 2024, San Siro – €7,614,585 (75,056 spectators)

Former Rossoneri star Kaka has named the one Inter player he would like to ‘steal’ for Milan and has no doubts as to who will have the biggest impact in the upcoming Derby della Madonnina: ‘Modric will make the difference’. 

Ahead of the Derby della Madonnina between Milan and Inter in San Siro this coming Sunday, Kaka sat down for an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, discussing all things Rossoneri, Brazil and the upcoming World Cup.

Ahead of Sunday’s highly-anticipated derby, Inter sit at the top of the Serie A table with a 10-point advantage over their next closest rivals, Milan. 

Kaka insists that with 11 league matches of the 2025-26 season left to play, Milan still have everything left to play for. 

“We’re 10 points off them, but I will say that it can be done, and in terms of the Scudetto as well. Of course it looks like a very difficult task looking at the standings, but I’ve seen a lot in football and I will repeat, I believe in it.” 

Which Inter player would Kaka steal for Milan?

Kaka was asked which Inter player he would pick to steal and have play for the Rossoneri instead. 

He said: “Lautaro, but since he’s injured I’ll go with Thuram.” 

And when asked which Milan player he thinks will have the biggest influence in this upcoming derby, Kaka said: “Modric, without a doubt. He’ll make the difference with his experience but also his class. I also like Pulisic a lot and there’s always Leao.”

Evan Ferguson’s career at Roma is likely over, as the Republic of Ireland international is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season through injury according to reports in Italy. 

It has been a miserable few seasons for the 21-year-old Brighton loanee, who had been tipped for very top during his teenage years in the Premier League. 

His 2023-24 campaign was curtailed with a cruciate ligament tear, which also affected his start to the 2024-25 season. He also suffered an ankle injury later that season, before being sent on a fairly underwhelming loan spell to West Ham. 

He had hoped to relaunch his career in Serie A with Roma, who brought him on loan with a €40m option to buy from Brighton during the summer transfer window. 

However, despite the occasional glimpse of promise during his time with the Rossoneri, scoring five goals and providing two assists from 22 appearances across Serie A and the Europa League, Ferguson has struggled to win over Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and has also continued to do battle with ankle injuries. 

Ferguson surgery brings end of Roma career

Despite scoring twice and providing an assist in a run of three consecutive Serie A starts over the new-year period, Ferguson has missed most of 2026 with a new ankle injury, which has kept him out of the last seven Serie A matches. 

According to recent reports, Ferguson has recently returned to the UK for a consultation with a specialist, and now, according to updates from Corriere dello Sport, the decision has been made for the 21-year-old to have surgery. 

According to Saturday’s report, Ferguson will have the operation in the UK at some stage next week and this is expected to bring the end of his 2025-26 season. 

This is also likely to spell the end of Ferguson’s Roma days, as the Giallorossi are extremely unlikely to activate the buy option in their loan agreement with Brighton. 

With Artem Dovbyk and Paulo Dybala also unavailable through injury and with Matias Soule still struggling, Gasperini now finds himself increasingly reliant on Serie A’s player of the month for February, Donyell Malen, plus youngsters Robinio Vaz and Antonio Arena in attack.

Dusan Vlahovic is close to being back in contention for Juventus selection, but Jonathan David is expected to lead the line when Pisa visit the Allianz Stadium in Serie A on Saturday evening. 

The Bianconeri are without a win over their last four Serie A matches, but were able to fight back to claim a 3-3 draw away against Roma last weekend in a huge match in the race for the Champions League positions. 

The Bianconeri find themselves in sixth place ahead of kick-off against Pisa, one point off the fifth-placed Como and four behind Roma in the top four. 

Luciano Spalletti’s biggest toss-up in terms of his personnel is in goal: Either Michele Di Gregorio or Mattia Perin could start, but pre-match reports indicate that it will be the former Monza stopper starting against Pisa, coming back in after spending the last two matches on the bench. 

Juventus are not expected to make any changes in defence: Pierre Kalulu, Gleison Bremer, Lloyd Kelly and Andrea Cambiaso are the preferred options. Captain Manuel Locatelli is back from suspension and is intended to start in midfield alongside Khpehren Thuram with Teun Koopmeiners likely to drop to the bench. 

Vlahovic is back in training with the Juventus squad after having surgery on his adductor, which has required more than three months of rehabilitation, but Spalletti has confirmed that the Serbian is instead targeting a return against Udinese next weekend. 

David is expected to lead the line, with support likely to come from Francisco Conceicao, Weston McKennie and Kenan Yildiz. 

Pisa have still only won once across their 27 Serie A matches this season and have lost their last three in a row approaching Saturday’s match against Juventus. Bologna beat them 1-0 at the Garibaldi on Monday night. 

Filip Stojilkovic could return to the attack for Oscar Hiljemark’s side, as could Felipe Loyola in midfield. Arturo Calabresi is still unavailable in defence through injury.

Kick-off is due at 19.45 GMT. 

Juventus vs. Pisa: Probable line-ups 

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

Pisa (3-5-2): Nicolas; Coppola, Caracciolo, Bozhinov; Leris, Loyola, Aebischer, Marin, Angori; Moreo, Stojilkovic. 

Where to watch Juventus vs. Pisa

Tonight’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. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

Remaking the Devil

Pulisic the bomber for the derby 

Already has three goals, Milan win if he scores. The last time in the first leg … Record takings in Serie A tomorrow 

Vieri: ‘Inter, what strength Pio has, give him crosses’ 

The interview 

Spalletti stays at Juve

The signing of the renewal after the game against Pisa 

Napoli get going now, here’s De Bruyne again. Toro score at the end 

Elmas and Alisson on target (2-1) 

Conte +8 above fifth place

Corriere dello Sport 

A derby for Pio 

Inter do the maths | Beat Milan to go +13 ahead: Chivu reserves the 21st title 

Esposito: Time for the Scudetto

In tandem with Thuram tomorrow, looking for his eighth goal of the season. Cristian flying: 43 points from 15 games. Rabiot spurs on Pulisic and Leao 

EmozioNapoli

Won 2-1 against Torino: -1 behind Allegri 

Second consecutive victory for Conte, who close in on Milan and recover two of their Fab 4: Anguissa and De Bruyne. Alisson Santos score: Elmas doubles. Casadei’s goal from a header useless at the end

Spalletti and Juve, renewal getting closer 

Taking on Pisa today (19.45)

Lucio: ‘I’ve already spoken with the club. I’m going to live in the same apartment building as Comolli and Chiellini’. Vlahovic out, Yildiz will be there

Dybala out for a month and a half 

Operation on his knee 

The Roma star has a partial tear of the meniscus. Malen voted player of the month for February 

Tuttosport 

‘In Spalletti, I see Lippi again’

Interview with Ravanelli

One of the Champions League heroes from ‘96 won over by the Bianconeri coach: ‘He could start a new cycle at Juve, like Marcello did. He’s the right man: Some things need to be fixed, but he offers great football. Me, the lawyer and Gorbachev’. In Pisa this evening: Yildiz starts. Lucio’s joke about the renewal: ‘Now I live in the same apartment building as Comolli’

Napoli, Santos in paradise, D’Aversa doesn’t pull off miracles 

The Brazilian opens, Elmas doubles. Casadei goal but only at the end: Toro beaten 

The Granata pay the price for their limitations and fragility: Paleari mistake for 1-0, defence collapsed on the second goal. The reaction was too late, but Adams wasted the chance for 2-0.  Conte celebrates going +8 clear of fifth palace and the returns of Anguissa and De Bruyne. Even the Maradona chants: ‘Urbano Cairo you need to sell’

From Retegui to Guler, the Derby that could have been 

Milan-Inter tomorrow

Tudor, what a flop. Tottenham thinking about Motta! 

Three games, three defeats 

Como, Europe to keep Paz. Villa looking at Caprile 

Taking on Cagliari today 

Como ambassador Raphael Varane says that his former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has been the most influential person across his career, and has revealed what Zizou told him to do during training sessions as a youngster. 

Varane spoke in-depth in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport on Thursday, 18 months after he retired at Como. 

• Read more: Varane breaks silence 18 months after shock Como retirement: ‘Difficult journey’

The four-time Champions League winner had joined Cesc Fabregas’s side on a free transfer following the end of his Manchester United tenure in the summer of 2024, but picked up a serious injury to his knee just 23 minutes into his first competitive appearance with the club in the first round of the Coppa Italia that same summer. 

Varane was then left off Como’s Serie A squad list for the 2024-25 campaign and ultimately announced his retirement, less than two months after he had originally joined the club. 

Despite retiring at the age of 31, Varane decided to stay on with Como and is currently serving as an ambassador, sits on the club’s development board and has a hands-on role overseeing the management of the youth sector. 

What Zidane told Varane at Real Madrid

During his own teenage years, Varane left his boyhood club Lens in order to join Real Madrid, where he would go on to play under the likes of Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Zidane.  

“When I moved to Real Madrid from Lens, everything was bigger, newer, different. More than anything, the perception of time is different. You don’t play for a month and it feels like a year,” Varane told La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“You have to stay focused, stay on track, be resilient and train in the same way that you play.” 

Varane also revealed which individual had the biggest impact on his career: “Zidane,” he said. 

“He advised me to focus on one specific thing during each session. A long ball, a different touch, a new move. A small thing, not lots of things, not everything. Add things and improve day by day.”

Click here to read the full interview with Varane

Douglas Luiz has finally returned to playing regular top-flight football during his loan spell with Aston Villa, but how much will it cost the Premier League outfit to sign the Brazilian on a permanent transfer from Juventus? 

How much will Aston Villa have to pay Juventus to sign Douglas Luiz permanently?

It has been a strange few years for Douglas Luiz, who earned rave reviews towards the end of his first stint with Villa, which began in 2019 and ended in 2024. His performances, particularly during the 2023-24 season, earned him a big-money move away from Villa, joining Juventus in a deal worth €50m. 

Despite his promising Premier League performances, Douglas Luiz failed to hit the ground running in Serie A, and soon became somewhat of an outcast in the Bianconeri first-team. In the end, he made just 19 Serie A appearances during his first season in Italy, and only three of those came as a starter. 

The Old Lady decided to cut their losses during the most recent summer transfer window, sending Douglas Luiz on a season-long loan deal to Nottingham Forest with a conditional obligation to buy. 

Still, largely due to injuries, Douglas Luiz struggled to make an impact at the City Ground and was limited to just eight league appearances during the first half of the 2025-26 season. 

His loan deal was terminated in January, which facilitated a return to Aston Villa, this time on loan with an option to buy. 

Since then, Douglas Luiz has gone on to make six consecutive starts and is looking increasingly settled back in his familiar environment at Villa Park. He added his first league goal of the season with his second-minute strike in an eventual 4-1 loss against Chelsea in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 

If Aston Villa were to activate their option to buy clause this season, Juventus would receive a €25m fee, which is payable over three financial years. The Bianconeri could also claim bonuses of up to €3.5m, the club confirmed in January.

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes has deleted a story from his Instagram profile criticising Red Devils head coach Michael Carrick but praising Italy international Sandro Tonali. 

The Class of 92 graduate took to Instagram to share his thoughts after Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat by Tonali’s Newcastle in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, criticising his former teammate Carrick, who has been placed in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season. 

Despite an upturn in United’s results since Carrick took over, Scholes said that they “have been crap last four games,” and also gave a shout-out to Newcastle midfielder Tonali. The Instagram story was posted on Wednesday evening and had been removed from Scholes’s profile by midday on Thursday. 

Scholes continues to praise Tonali

Tonali has previously cited Tonali as being the best midfielder in the Premier League. 

Speaking on The Overlap in October, Scholes said: “I love Tonali at Newcastle. Oh, he can run. (Bruno) Guimarães as well. I’d probably choose Tonali at this point.” 

When asked to clarify if he meant that Tonali is currently the best midfielder in the Premier League, he replied: “Yeah. Why? Are you going to say Declan Rice? 

“Yes. I think he’s better than Declan Rice. I really like Declan Rice, don’t get me wrong. I think he’s got everything, I just think too many times he takes too many touches of the ball. I think he tries to look a little bit more stylish than he needs to. 

“I think his physical attributes are brilliant, I think he can be a box-to-box, he can link, I think he can score goals, I just don’t think he does it enough. I prefer Tonali. Is that okay?”

• Read more: Tonali sends message to Pickford after wonder save: ‘One of the best shots of my life’

Dusan Vlahovic is closing in on a return to action after over three months on the treatment table, but what does his presence in the squad mean for Juventus’s summer signing Jonathan David? 

Vlahovic nears Juventus return: Where does David fit in?

Vlahovic has been out of action with an adductor injury he suffered during Juventus’s 2-1 win over Cagliari on November 29, an issue which required surgery to fix.

He had an operation in London, has been working on his rehabilitation since then and as of Wednesday, has returned to training with the first-team group at Continassa, albeit partially. 

Reports earlier this week suggest that the Serbian, who is into the final year of his contract with the Old Lady, could potentially be called up to the matchday squad to face Pisa in Serie A on Saturday. 

In Vlahovic’s absence, and with Arkadiusz Milik also out long term, Juventus have been left without a ‘traditional’ no.9 in their attacking ranks: Summer signings David and Lois Openda have both played there previously, but neither have particularly convinced when starting alone at centre-forward in Serie A. 

The Bianconeri has considered bringing in a new striker during the January transfer window given Vlahovic’s injury and his contract situation, but a move for Fenerbahce’s Youssef En-Nesyri fell through towards the end of the January transfer window, 

Vlahovic will soon be able to lend Juventus a hand on the pitch, and there have been reports that talks over a potential contract extension are progressing as well. 

Vlahovic’s return does not spell the end of David’s days in the Bianconeri attack, though, as reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport suggest that Luciano Spalletti is keen to play both attackers in the same line-up, with the Serbian leading the line and the Canadian playing off him a second striker or no.10 role. 

This would still allow Juve to field Kenan Yildiz and either Francisco Conceicao or Weston McKennie out wide as well. 

The Derby della Madonnina between Milan and Inter in Serie A is fast approaching, and the league have confirmed that Daniele Doveri will be the man with the whistle in San Siro on Sunday evening. 

Doveri confirmed as referee for Milan vs. Inter 

Milan will be the home side for Sunday’s derby in San Siro. The Rossoneri are currently in second place, 10 points behind the table-topping Nerazzurri after 27 matches of the 2025-26 campaign. 

Referee Doveri will take charge of Sunday’s derby. The 48-year-old has taken charge of 14 matches in Italy so far this season: 13 in Serie A and one in Serie B. 

Doveri has refereed Milan twice so far this season: Once for the 3-0 win over Udinese in September and once for the 1-1 draw with Atalanta in October. Matteo Gabbia, Luka Modric and Santiago Gimenez were shown yellow cards in the 1-1 draw with La Dea. 

Doveri has taken charge of three matches involving Inter so far this season: For their 2-1 win away against Hellas Verona in November, their 2-1 win away against Genoa in December and most recently, the 2-2 draw with Napoli in January. 

Doveri showed yellow cards to Yann Bisseck against Verona, and to Manuel Akanji, Bisseck again and Nicolo Barella against Genoa. 

This will not be Doveri’s first Derby della Madonnina either: He has taken charge of four in his career to date: The 2-0 win for Inter in 2019, the 3-0 Nerazzurri victory in 2021, the 1-1 draw later that same year and Milan’s 3-0 win over Inter in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final last season. 

Doveri has refereed Milan 34 times, resulting in 19 wins, nine draws and six defeats for the Rossoneri. He has taken charge of 39 Inter matches, resulting in 16 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses.

Marco Verratti is increasingly likely to be called up to the Italy national team squad for the upcoming World Cup play-off campaign at the end of March, but what role will the 33-year-old Al-Duhail midfielder have to play in Gennaro Gattuso’s side? 

According to various reports over the last few weeks, Gattuso has been considering calling Verratti back into the national team fold for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland on March 26.

Should the Azzurri win that fixture, they will then have to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in a one-legged decider for a spot at the final World Cup tournament. 

How does Verratti fit into Italy’s World Cup play-off plans?

According to updates on Thursday, Verratti is on Gattuso’s preliminary squad list and according to Tuttosport, he will be part of the squad at the end of the month. Federico Chiesa and Federico Gatti are among the other players who could return to the squad. 

For Verratti, if he is called up, it would be his first involvement with the Italy squad since the Nations League third place play-off against the Netherlands in June 2023. 

It remains to be seen whether Verratti will play if he is called up to the squad. According to Thursday’s report, he is seen as an alternative option to Juventus’s Manuel Locatelli at the base of the Azzurri midfield. Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Barella are unlikely to be dropped from their starting spots in Italy’s strongest XI. 

If Verratti is to play, it is most likely that he would be a second half substitute: An experienced player capable of helping Italy get things over the line with his ability to read play and control the tempo of the game from the middle of the park. 

Strahinja Pavlovic has revealed that he spoke to Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic and former Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic before deciding to join Milan from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2024 and claims that Serie A is the best league he’s played in: ‘In these two short years, I’ve learned more than the last six of my career’. 

The Rossoneri defender spoke in-depth to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the Derby della Madonnina between Milan and Inter coming up in Serie A on Sunday evening. 

• Read more: Kaka picks one Inter player he’d steal for Milan and picks derby MVP 

Pavlovic on joining Milan, talks with Vlahovic and improving under Allegri 

Pavlovic claims that he has learned more from playing in Serie A than he had done across six years of his career across Serbia, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Austria. Being at Milan and playing under Massimiliano Allegri specifically has played a major role in his development. 

“You just have to walk around Milanello to understand how many legends have played here, there are pictures everywhere: In the dining room, in the gym … It makes me happy to wear the same shirt that they wore. It’s a great feeling, it’s hard to describe.” 

Pavlovic revealed which of his Serbian teammates he spoke to before joining Milan: “I called Luka Jovic who was here last season, but I also spoke with Milenkovic and Vlahovic to find out more about the Italian division.” 

He insists that moving to Serie A has been the most insightful step of his career: “Milan is the biggest club I’ve played for so far and Serie A is stronger than Austria, France and Serbia. Everything is different here, there are no easy games. And in these two short years, I’ve learned more than the last six of my career. For a defender, it’s the perfect league to grow.

“The coach puts a lot of attention on the defence and we’ve made a lot of progress. The credit is not only due to the defenders, though, because we need everyone’s help. The forwards and midfielders lend us a big hand as well.

“(I’ve learned) so many little things. I’ve started paying attention to little details that I hadn’t even considered before, which makes the difference.” 

After a difficult 2024-25 season in which Milan finished in eighth place, missing out on European football altogether for 2025-26, the Rossoneri now find themselves in second, albeit 10 points off their city rivals, Inter. 

Are Milan ‘happy’ with their season so far?
“It’s a difficult question,” Pavlovic pondered. “We’re happy compared to last year, the goal at the beginning of the season was to get into the top four and we are in the running to achieve that. But looking at our performance, we could have had more points, so there is a bit of regret. 

“There are still 11 games to go and we will do everything we can to get the most out of them.” 

Click here to read the full interview with Pavlovic