Crystal Palace took a controversial penalty in their stead on Thursday evening to take the lead against Fiorentina in their UEFA Conference League quarter-final.
Jean-Philippe Mateta converted from the spot after Dodo fouled Evan Guessand in the box.
However, Dodo’s foul on the Palace forward came after the player had already taken a poor shot at goal. Whilst the Brazilian’s follow through was not great, it had no effect on play.
Whether it should or should not have been given is up for debate but one thing is for certain, the yellow card shown to the Fiorentina man in the aftermath, likely for dissent, will see him miss the second leg in Florence.
You can follow all the action from the rest of the match, as it happens, on our Liveblog.
Jean-Philippe Mateta slots the penalty past David De Gea to put Palace 1-0 up
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 9, 2026
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 07: Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace reacts during the Premier League match between Fulham and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on December 07, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace double their lead over Fiorentina
Shortly after, the Premier League side doubled their lead through Tyrick Mitchell after the full-back pounced on a rebound after the hosts forced a good save out of David De Gea.
Fiorentina have a mountain to climb, now, or at the very least must enforce damage limitation so as to not leave themselves with too much of a hurdle in to clear in the second leg.
Crystal Palace have a two goal lead after just 30 minutes
Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner spoke to the microphones of TNT Sport before kick-off against Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals.
The Austrian coach discussed his team’s progress in training, as well as providing updates on returning stars Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Daniel Munoz and Dean Henderson.
“They trained fully, Dean was ill before the international break and JP [Mateta] and Daniel were managing their minutes. Of course they are starters but we still have to manage Mateta’s knee and so it’s good Strand Larsen comes back for the Newcastle game.
“It’s always good to have many options because as we saw at Larnaca, we needed Strand Larsen and Mateta up front to help us score goals so it’s good to have many options.
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Glasner: ‘We are refreshed and ready’
Asked about how he was feeling, and how the squad have been doing in training, Glasner said
“Yes we’re feeling refreshed. We made the best of it. Many players played for their national team and we had an in-house game so everyone can stay in rhythm with a good week in training.
“Yes I feel relaxed, the players give me a good feeling. We had a great week in training but on the other hand, we know the most important part is after the kick off, how we perform. But the preparation is very good.”
Glasner’s Crystal Palace come into the game with extra rest compared to Fiorentina, who played at the weekend. The English club have not played since before the international break, with many English clubs given an extra week of rest due to the FA Cup weekend.
Weston McKennie has delivered a glowing tribute to Luciano Spalletti in a wide-ranging interview for DAZN’s Remember the Name format, describing the Juventus head coach as the best manager of his career while also reflecting on the extraordinary experience of sharing a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo.
The American midfielder has been one of Juventus’ most consistent performers this season and recently signed a contract renewal, a far cry from the period not long ago when he appeared to have no future at the club. Much of that transformation, McKennie suggests, is down to the environment Spalletti has created around him.
“I get on very well with him,” McKennie said, with quotes via AlfredoPedulla. “I think every player has different needs and there are different expectations on each of us. Every time I see the manager he gives me a sense of security.”
He was particularly struck by Spalletti’s ability to deliver criticism constructively, an approach he contrasted with other managers he has worked under.
“When he tells you off he never does it in a harsh way, he always does it to make you improve. Some coaches humiliate you, but Spalletti’s personality makes you think that you need to get better. He commands your attention every time he speaks, he has experience, he is wise.”
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of Juventus FC reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Juventus, McKennie: ‘Spalletti is the best coach I’ve had’
McKennie also highlighted the collective philosophy that underpins everything Spalletti does. “He focuses heavily on team success,” he said.
“He always says that you can dribble past four opponents, score and be happy, but if you provide a beautiful assist, two people are happy. That is why I say he is the best coach I have had in my career. The numbers say it and the way he manages the group makes him an outstanding coach.”
On Ronaldo, McKennie was equally vivid, recalling the sheer reality of the Portuguese superstar’s legendary dedication. “It was incredible to play with him,” he said. “When I met him I thought that everything you hear about his professionalism is completely true.”
He went on to describe scenes that have become almost mythological in football, returning from away matches at three in the morning to find Ronaldo heading for an ice bath rather than home, and seeing him back in the gym the morning after a gruelling fixture. “It was something I needed to see with my own eyes to believe,” McKennie said.
Juventus have identified Ederson as a primary midfield target for this summer, with Luciano Spalletti personally requesting the Atalanta and Brazil international as the player he believes can fundamentally change the character of his squad, even if the path to signing him is far from straightforward.
According to Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, the Brazilian has already decided to leave Bergamo at the end of the season.
With his contract running until 2027 and Atalanta determined to cash in rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee next summer, the Brazilian’s entourage have been active in exploring options for some time.
They have already reached a preliminary agreement with Atletico Madrid, who have tabled a bid in the region of €35 million, though Atalanta are holding firm at €40 million and are prepared to let a bidding war develop if necessary.
That is where Juventus see their opportunity.
BERGAMO, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Ederson of Atalanta BC passes the ball under pressure from Nuno Tavares of Lazio during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at Gewiss Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Juventus aim to sabotage Atletico move for Ederson
Despite Atletico’s head start, the Bianconeri believe their own appeal, particularly under Spalletti, who has a strong track record of maximising the potential of dynamic box-to-box midfielders, could prove persuasive.
The pursuit of Sandro Tonali has been abandoned due to the prohibitive cost and fierce English competition, making Ederson the most realistic route to the high-quality midfield addition Spalletti has been promised.
Ederson has been at Atalanta since 2022 and has made 173 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals, while also collecting a Europa League winner’s medal in 2024. This season he has featured 34 times, contributing two goals, numbers that underline his consistency if not his attacking output.
The broader picture at Juventus this summer involves significant investment across the squad, with the Vlahovic renewal situation still unresolved and at least one further striker required. But in midfield, Spalletti has made his wishes clear, and Ederson is the name at the top of his list.
Juan Sebastian Veron knows a thing or two about thunderous long-range strikes, and the Argentine midfield legend watched Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning effort against Roma with the appreciative eye of someone who spent a career doing exactly the same thing.
Calhanoglu‘s powerful drive to seal Inter’s victory over Roma was a goal of genuine quality, precise, powerful and deliberate in its execution. Whether goalkeeper Mile Svilar could have done better is debatable, but the Turkish international gave him precious little chance, picking his spot and striking with conviction from well outside the penalty area.
For Veron, it was a moment of rare craft in a modern game that has largely abandoned the art of shooting from distance.
“Calhanoglu did today what was fairly common in my time,” Veron explained, via La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Back then, midfielders, especially box-to-box players, would always have a go when they reached 25 metres. Now the preference is to carry the ball inside. I loved shooting from distance, and I wasn’t bad at it either.”
What impressed Veron most was not simply the power of the strike but the intelligence behind it.
“He had no opponent pressing him, so he had time to take aim and shoot,” he said.
“He was clever enough to generate power without losing his coordination, which is an error you often see. What I particularly liked was that he aimed for a specific part of the goal and found it. So often you see wild shots that somehow end up in the net. This was different. Well done.”
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 05: Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter scores his team’s second goal while under pressure from Lorenzo Pellegrini of AS Roma during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Veron: ‘Calhanoglu is an excellent regista, dictates Inter tempo’
On why players attempt so few long-range efforts in the modern game, Veron was blunt.
“Because it requires courage, the courage to miss, to ignore the criticism,” he said. “And it requires considerable technique. The ball must be struck in a specific way, the leg must follow through freely but always under control.”
He proceeded to break the skill down methodically: strike with the instep or outer instep rather than the inside of the foot, decide before striking whether to keep it low or lift it, and crucially, read the goalkeeper’s position rather than shooting blind. “Only through repetition in training do you make progress,” he added.
On Calhanoglu’s broader value to Inter, Veron was equally admiring.
“He has this quality in his locker, but not only this one. He is an excellent deep-lying playmaker, he dictates the tempo, knows when to slow things down or speed them up, and has a superb long pass that opens defences and finds teammates in space. For Inter he is an enormous asset.”
Asked to recall his own finest long-range effort, Veron needed no time to think.
“January 1997, I was at Sampdoria. A corner from Mihajlovic and I volleyed it just inside the area, straight under the crossbar.”
He also remembered a stunning volley at San Siro against Inter for Parma in the Coppa Italia, set up by Asprilla and finished across goal with power and precision.
“Inter protested that there had been a foul and three of their players were sent off,” he recalled with a smile. “I had never seen that before, I score and three opponents get dismissed. And that season we won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup.”
Gianluigi Donnarumma has broken his silence on one of the darkest weeks in Italian football history, addressing the bonus controversy that emerged in the aftermath of the World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia while paying tribute to the three figures who have since stepped down from their roles.
The Manchester City goalkeeper, who served as Italy captain during the playoff campaign, spoke to Sky Sport, via TMW, in a reflective and emotional interview that covered everything from the personal pain of a third consecutive World Cup absence to the damaging reports that surfaced about bonus demands from within the squad.
For Donnarumma, those reports cut particularly deep. “What hurt me most was what came out,” he said. “As captain I never went to ask the Italian national team for a single euro. What happens at the national team, as always in every competition, is that a gift is given to players if they reach a target. That was all it was, and nobody asked the federation for anything. Our gift was going to the World Cup. Unfortunately that did not happen.”
It was a firm and unambiguous denial from a player who clearly felt the integrity of the group was being called into question at an already painful moment.
“I was hurt more by the comments and the words that came out than anything else,” he added.
MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy, issues instructions during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
The departures of Gabriele Gravina, Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon have added another layer of emotion to an already bruising period. Donnarumma was generous in his words for all three, and visibly affected by the chain of resignations that followed the Zenica defeat.
“I had a wonderful relationship with Gigi, with Gattuso, with Gravina,” he said. “We feel sorry above all for them, it is natural that you feel somewhat responsible for everything that is happening now, and it hurts. But I want to thank the manager, the president and Gigi, because they gave an important contribution.”
Despite the pain, the goalkeeper was determined to frame the situation within a broader context.
Italy’s record-breaking winning streak and the European Championship triumph of 2021 remain genuine achievements, and Donnarumma was insistent that the country’s footballing identity is not beyond repair. “In these years, beyond the disappointments, we have achieved important things,” he said. “Not everything should be thrown away.”
His message for the future was simple but heartfelt. “It is hard, but we must move forward with strength and with the awareness that Italy will return strong, will return great.”
With the Nations League and European Championship still to come before any future World Cup campaign, the rebuilding process begins sooner than many might think.
“The first two days were very hard and tiring,” Donnarumma admitted. “It hurts, it really hurts. The first days I struggled to process it. But the truth is that you have to restart, move forward, react.”
Jonathan Rowe has opened up on a difficult start to life at Bologna and the hard work that has gone into transforming his fortunes, ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Aston Villa at the Renato Dall’Ara.
The English winger was candid with UEFA about the challenges of adapting to a new country and a different style of football after joining from Marseille, admitting he may have initially underestimated how significant that transition would be.
“I found myself in a situation where I had to adapt to a different kind of football,” Rowe said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“I analysed my statistics and, together with my staff, compared them to what I was doing before and what the best players in my position do. I took that information and applied it to my game. I also became more aware of my positioning on the pitch, and I think that has allowed me to reach this level of performance.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Jonathan Rowe of Bologna reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Bologna FC 1909 and SK Brann at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on February 26, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Rowe: ‘Bologna fans are starting to see the real me; Italiano helps us feel free in the final third’
The forward believes that growth is now becoming visible to Bologna’s supporters.
“I think the Rossoblù fans are starting to really see what I am capable of,” he said, a confident but measured assessment from a player who has worked methodically to earn his place in Vincenzo Italiano’s plans.
On the manager himself, Rowe was enthusiastic. The language barrier presented an early challenge, but as communication improved so did his understanding of what Italiano demands.
“The most important thing is that with him, we forwards feel free in the final third,” he said. “We must maintain quality, create goals, assists and chances, and be a constant threat.”
Rowe also identified what he believes Italiano values most in him specifically.
“I think what the manager appreciates most about me is my hunger, both offensively and defensively, my desire to always give everything on the pitch. These are characteristics that have always been part of my game, so it is easier for me to build on them.”
Rafael Leao’s name has resurfaced at Barcelona once again, with Spanish newspaper Sport reporting fresh interest from the Catalan club, though any potential move remains far from a concrete negotiation at this stage.
According to the report, via MilanNews, the pursuit of Leão is being driven from the very top of the club, with president Joan Laporta personally behind the recurring interest in the Portuguese winger.
It explains why Leão’s name has been linked with Barcelona virtually every summer for the past several years, it is a presidential fixation rather than a sporting director’s initiative.
However, the key factor determining whether Barcelona pursue the Milan star in any meaningful way this summer is entirely separate from the Portuguese winger himself.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Marcus Rashford of Barcelona looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Chelsea FC and FC Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on November 25, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Barcelona interest in Milan man Leao depends on Rashford pursuit
The club’s priority is to establish whether they can make Marcus Rashford’s loan from Manchester United permanent. Barcelona are understood to have a personal agreement with the England forward, but United are holding firm at a fee of €30 million, and until that situation is resolved, no other wide forward targets can be properly explored.
Barcelona’s financial constraints add another layer of complexity. The club cannot overspend and must carefully manage how they distribute their transfer budget, making any move for a player of Leão’s calibre contingent on significant sales elsewhere first.
Crucially, Milan are not looking to sell. There is no negotiation between the clubs, no formal approach from Barcelona’s sporting director Deco, and no indication from Leão’s camp that he is pushing for a move. For now, the interest remains exactly what it has always been, a name on a presidential wishlist rather than a transfer in motion.
Benjamin Pavard’s loan spell at Marseille is set to end without a permanent transfer, with RMC Sport reporting that the French club have decided against triggering their purchase option for the World Cup winner.
The Frenchman returned to his home country last summer on loan from Inter with considerable fanfare, expected to bring experience, leadership and defensive reliability to a Marseille side with genuine ambitions.
Instead, his campaign has fallen well short of expectations on multiple fronts.
According to reports from France, via FCInter1908, Pavard has failed to meet the standards demanded of him in terms of both performance and attitude, becoming, in the eyes of many supporters, a symbol of the club’s broader frustrations this season.
MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Benjamin Pavard of Internazionale controls the ball during the warm up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Marseille rule out permanent move for Inter owned Pavard
The situation has deteriorated to the point where Marseille have apparently ruled out a permanent move even at a reduced fee, despite having the option to negotiate a lower buyout figure with Inter.
The final decision may ultimately rest with incoming leadership at the club, but the current direction of travel leaves little room for doubt.
Pavard will therefore return to Inter at the end of the season, where his future will need to be resolved.
With the Nerazzurri already planning a significant summer overhaul, including changes in defence following the expected departures of several out-of-contract players, where Pavard fits into Cristian Chivu’s plans, if at all, remains an open question.
Another loan move looks the most likely outcome, though finding a club willing to take on a player whose stock has fallen considerably during his time in Ligue 1 may prove more difficult than anticipated.
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery and defender Matty Cash faced the media on Wednesday evening ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, with both manager and player showing considerable respect for a Bologna side they have faced before, and know better than to underestimate.
Emery arrived in Bologna with his squad boosted by the returns of John McGinn and Youri Tielemans from injury, providing additional options for a tie the Spaniard described as one of the most difficult Villa could face at this stage of the competition.
The extended break following the international window has been used productively, though Emery acknowledged the challenge of resetting players mentally after time away with their national teams.
Jadon Sancho remains sidelined and will not feature, with the manager hopeful of his return within a fortnight.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, gestures from the sidelines during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on September 25, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Bologna vs Aston Villa – Emery: ‘Bologna aggressive, great respect for them’
On Bologna themselves, the Aston Villa coach’s admiration was genuine and detailed.
“They beat Roma and Vincenzo Italiano has played three finals in the last three years,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“He is very good in knockout matches, he reached two European finals with Fiorentina and won the Coppa Italia. I have great respect for Bologna and I know very well what the difficulties will be.”
He also credited the continuity of the club’s footballing identity, noting that quality football has been a constant at the Dall’Ara from the Thiago Motta era through to the present day.
On the tactical challenge of facing Bologna’s aggressive man-marking system, Emery was pragmatic.
“In Italy many teams play this way, Atalanta were among the first,” he said. “It will be very important for us to adapt to their aggression while maintaining our own style. The qualification chances are 50-50. We must be resilient when they press us and patient when we don’t have the ball.”
Cash, speaking separately, offered a more concise but equally respectful assessment. The Polish international noted his personal connection to the opposition, having spoken with his compatriot Skorupski despite the goalkeeper’s injury absence.
“They are an excellent team, after we beat them they did not lose again,” Cash said, via TMW. “So it will not be easy.”
His message for the tie itself was straightforward. “There are 180 minutes and anything can happen. Our objective is to win and put ourselves in an advantageous position for the second leg.”
Paolo Vanoli held his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg at Selhurst Park, and the Fiorentina head coach was candid on multiple fronts, confirming Moise Kean’s fitness setback, acknowledging Crystal Palace’s status as favourites, and expressing his pride at the scale of the occasion despite a lengthy injury list.
Kean has been nursing a long-standing shin problem, and Vanoli confirmed the striker was unable to train on Wednesday after reporting pain in the affected area.
“Moise has been carrying this shin issue for a very long time,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.
“After yesterday’s training he felt pain and today he was not able to make it.”
VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Moise Kean of Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 04, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
The news is a blow for a Fiorentina side already managing several absences ahead of what Vanoli himself described as one of the most demanding spells of the season.
On the injury situation more broadly, Vanoli pushed back against any narrative of crisis.
“I would have liked to arrive here with a full squad because against opponents like this I need everyone,” he said. “But the word ’emergency’ is not in my DNA. It must be an opportunity for those who have played less and for the younger players. If we play as a team we will achieve great results.”
Vanoli has done his homework on Crystal Palace and their manager Oliver Glasner, whom he has followed closely for some time. “Glasner has already proven himself in Europe, his team is organised and you can see his footballing ideas trace back to his days at Salzburg,” he said.
“Now he is managing in the Premier League, the strongest league in the world. I experienced it personally with Chelsea. This must be a source of pride for us after the whole season we have had.”
CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 16: Coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 16, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Vanoli: ‘They are favourites, we must play with character’
He was equally respectful of the venue itself, describing Selhurst Park as an intimate, atmospheric ground where Palace have built their successes, with 25,000 supporters packed tightly around the pitch.
Asked directly whether he considers Palace favourites, Vanoli did not hesitate.
“Yes, I think so, they are coming off an FA Cup victory.” But he was equally clear that Fiorentina belong on the same stage. “We must play with personality and lucidity. It is a beautiful test and we will measure our growth as a team.”
He also offered an encouraging update on Albert Gudmundsson, noting the Icelandic forward’s growing defensive discipline and competitive reaction to his own mistakes at Verona.
“These reactions are small but important details,” Vanoli said. “We are all growing.”
With the second leg to follow in Florence, Vanoli’s message was clear, the tie is far from over before it has even begun, and Fiorentina intend to make their mark on the European stage.
Weston McKennie has reflected on a remarkable personal journey that has taken him from being cast aside at Juventus to becoming one of Luciano Spalletti’s most trusted and indispensable midfielders, and with a home World Cup on the horizon with the United States, life could hardly look more different from the darkest moments of his career.
The American, who recently signed a contract renewal at Juventus after establishing himself as a key figure under Spalletti, spoke candidly to Goal about self-doubt, humility and the importance of staying grounded despite achieving things he once considered impossible.
His honesty about the fragility of his early career is striking for a player now operating at the very highest level.
“When I was in the USA youth teams I never would have thought something like this could happen to me,” McKennie said, with quotes via CalcioMercato.
“As a child you get discouraged easily, and every time I was left out of the squad I thought there was no way I could ever make it. I would go back to Dallas, to my family and to FC Dallas, and there they relaunched me, believing in me day after day. That pushed me to improve more and more, to push beyond what I thought was possible. I am grateful for the journey I have taken to get here, I never would have imagined reaching this level.”
PARMA, ITALY – FEBRUARY 01: Weston McKennie of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and Juventus FC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on February 01, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
McKennie: ‘I’m a human being like everyone else’
That journey has not only shaped him as a footballer but as a public figure, one acutely conscious of the responsibility that comes with being a role model for young American players trying to follow a similar path.
“It is an extraordinary feeling but also a responsibility,” he said. “Back then social media was not so common and my role models were people I saw on TV or in magazines. Today there is much more responsibility.”
What McKennie is most eager for people to take from his story, however, is something more personal than the goals and assists. “I am a good footballer, but above all I am a human being like everyone else,” he said.
“I try to always be faithful to my values and my roots. I wish people saw me as humble, you need to remain humble and follow your dream, finding your own path.”
Away from football, McKennie painted a picture of a man who values simplicity above all else. Barbecues with family, a drink with friends, time with his dogs, the kind of ordinary pleasures that keep him anchored to who he was before the fame.
“I like to enjoy life to the fullest,” he said. “The last six to eight months have been pretty positive, in family life, with friends, and with my dogs.”
Danilo has opened up on one of the most emotional moments of his career, the day his closest friend and long-time teammate Alex Sandro left Juventus, in a heartfelt documentary produced by Flamengo TV ahead of the new Copa Libertadores campaign.
The Brazilian defender spent several years alongside Alex Sandro at the Turin club, having previously shared dressing rooms at Santos and Porto.
Their bond, forged across three different countries and multiple trophy wins, runs far deeper than football, and Danilo’s words made that abundantly clear.
EMPOLI, ITALY – MAY 22: Alex Sandro Lobo Silva of Juventus reacts during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on May 22, 2023 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Danilo reflects on Alex Sandro bond & Juventus exit
“When Alex left Juventus it made me cry on the pitch, because we had fought so many battles together,” Danilo said, with quotes via the Corriere dello Sport.
“When he left I didn’t think it would be that difficult. It was then that I truly felt his absence. Understanding how much we have supported each other during our careers and in difficult moments is something that makes me very satisfied, because it has extended to our personal lives and our families.”
Alex Sandro, speaking in the same documentary, was equally emotional in his tribute to a friendship he describes as lifelong. “We talk every day and share feelings that few people can imagine,” he said.
“For me he has always been a mirror, someone I have always admired enormously. Our story as brothers, friends and teammates will last a lifetime, it won’t end here at Flamengo.”
The two are now reunited once more at the Rio club, with Danilo having returned to Flamengo, the club where he grew up, after his time in Europe. He admitted that winning the Libertadores last season and scoring in the final against Palmeiras would have been the perfect moment to retire at 34, adding that only the unfulfilled dream of a World Cup with Brazil kept him going.
On that front, Danilo had warm words for Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose path has crossed his own in unexpected ways. “When I was at Porto and moved to Real Madrid, it was practically Ancelotti who bought me, and then when I arrived, he had already been sacked,” he said with a smile. “The game is like that. But we found each other again more than ten years later in the national team. It is an enormous privilege to work with him.”
Antonio Conte’s candid declaration of interest in the Italy job following Sunday’s Napoli-Milan match has set in motion a fascinating chain of events that could reshape the managerial landscape across Serie A this summer.
Conte was clear on Sunday evening that he would need to speak with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis before any decision could be made, given that he still has a year remaining on his contract at the club.
NAPLES, ITALY – MARCH 14: Antonio Conte SSC Napoli head coach before the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and US Lecce at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on March 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The acknowledgement that he has put himself forward for the national team role makes it difficult to envision him continuing at Napoli beyond this season, though in football, stranger things have happened.
What has emerged in the wake of Conte’s comments is that Napoli had already been quietly exploring their options.
CREMONA, ITALY – APRIL 05: Vincenzo Italiano, Head Coach of Bologna, looks on prior to the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Giovanni Zini on April 05, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
De Zerbi & Italiano among Napoli targets as Conte open to Italy
According to Alfredo Pedulla, the club held conversations with Roberto De Zerbi about a potential move to the Maradona, only for Tottenham to move faster and secure the Brighton manager for themselves.
It is a significant revelation that suggests De Laurentiis had already begun contingency planning well before Conte made his position public.
Vincenzo Italiano remains a name high on Napoli’s list, a long-standing target of De Laurentiis, while Gian Piero Gasperini, despite recent signs of tension at Roma, is tied to the capital club for another two years, making any move complicated.
At Roma, the suggestion that Gasperini could be vulnerable raises wider questions about the club’s direction.
As Pedulla’s report pointedly notes, Roma cannot continue to treat the manager as the primary problem when the issues clearly run deeper, particularly around transfer market strategy and internal alignment, concerns that have been present since at least December.
Massimiliano Allegri, meanwhile, continues to be mentioned as a potential Italy candidate despite recent denials, a situation that could become clearer once Milan’s season reaches its conclusion.
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