Pre-match reports indicate that Christian Pulisic will not be involved in Milan’s upcoming Serie A clash with Atalanta on Sunday evening, which likely means a last chance for Rafael Leao to impress.
Pulisic out, Leao in for Milan vs. Atalanta
Massimiliano Allegri is expected to make several personnel changes to his Milan side for Sunday’s game against Atalanta following a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Sassuolo last weekend. Sunday’s newspapers claimed that the coach would change both of his starting centre-forwards, replacing Leao and Christopher Nkunku with Pulisic and Santiago Gimenez.
However, according to updates from Gianluca Di Marzio, Pulisic reported an issue with his gluteal muscles in the final session before the Atalanta game, and it is now expected that he will be left out of the matchday squad on Sunday.
The extent of the damage remains to be seen. Further updates are expected in due course.
It has been a disappointing calendar year for Pulisic, who had come up with eight league goals during the first half of the 2025-26 season, but has not hit the back of the net at all for club or country since the turn of the new year.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Rafael Leao of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It hasn’t been a brilliant period for Leao, either, who is on nine Serie A goals for the season, but has gone goalless across his last seven league outings.
It was expected that he would be dropped from the Milan line-up for the Atalanta match, amid claims that he could be sold in the summer, but Gianluca Di Marzio reports that he will be given another opportunity to impress in place of Pulisic on Sunday.
Roberto Baggio has sat down for a rare in-depth interview, discussing his playing career, the 1994 World Cup final, his relationships with Diego Maradona, Alessandro Del Piero, his family and his religion, and has had his say on the issues facing the Italy national team: ‘Kids aren’t playing in the street anymore’.
Baggio spoke in detail with Corriere della Sera as part of the promotion of his newly-written autobiography, Luce nell’oscurita.
Baggio on 1994 World Cup, best teammates and current Italy national team problems
Among the topics of conversation was Baggio’s infamous penalty miss during the shootout at the end of the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil.
“I felt the guilt for every Italian. I wanted to disappear. I felt infinite shame, one of those things that stays with you even as the years go by,” Baggio recalled. “Over time, you learn to live with it, but it’s a wound that never closes completely.”
Baggio admits that the 1994 shoot-out still comes back to haunt him: “Continuously,” he said. “Sometimes, I think about it while I’m awake in bed, when I can’t fall asleep. I picture myself scoring, and then I fall asleep.”
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Brazilian players run to join their teammates as Italian midfielder Roberto Baggio bows his head after he missed his penalty kick giving Brazil a 3-2 victory in the shoot-out session (0-0 after extra time) at the end of the World Cup final, 17 July 1994 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Brazil won its fourth World Cup title after 1958, 1962 and 1970. AFP PHOTO/OMAR TORRES (Photo credit should read OMAR TORRES/AFP via Getty Images)
Baggio maintains that two things helped him through the pain of the 1994 World Cup: His faith and his family.
“I believe in the strength that each of us carries inside, even when we don’t see it, even when we think we have no more. I don’t think so much of an external God, who decides everything for us, but of an inner strength that must be sought and respected.”
Baggio also spoke briefly on his Buddhist beliefs: “It’s certainly been my refuge. It’s formed me as a person by leading me to work on certain aspects of my character, which I hadn’t paid attention to before. It gave me strength when I needed it the most and the courage to never give up.”
Baggio also spoke about the importance of his relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Andreina: “One July evening, on the eve of my first training camp with Vicenza, we stopped to talk and I asked her for a ring as a pledge, which I would give back to her when I returned.
“I came back from Recoaro, we met up, I gave her the ring back and we got engaged that same evening. Andreina followed me wherever I played and always helped me to feel at home. We are convinced that we already knew each other in a previous life.”
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JUNE 14: (L-R) Andreina Fabbi and Roberto Baggio attend the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group A match between Al Ahly FC and Internacional CF Miami at Hard Rock Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Alekandra London/Getty Images)
In 1990, Baggio moved from Fiorentina to Juventus in what was a world-record deal at the time. The transfer left a bitter taste in the mouth of the Viola supporters, and there were riots on the streets of Florence in the days that followed.
“Florence rebelled,” Baggio recalled. “I cried like a baby. You could hear the ambulances going past on the way to the Fiorentina headquarters, where the clashes lasted for three days. I never wanted the sale, I felt guilty.”
Baggio also spoke about a number of his esteemed former colleagues, including Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, with whom he shared a particularly special relationship: “We spoke in Venetian dialect in the dressing room, and that brought us closer together. It still happens today when we meet.”
There were sympathies for Ronaldo, too: “I really suffered for him when his knee went. He was an immense talent, something truly rare. And maybe for this reason his pain struck me even more.”
Diego Maradona was at the height of his powers when Baggio was breaking through: “He was special, humble. Once on a flight to Argentina, we kicked the ball around together. 10,000 metres above the ground, almost touching the sky.”
ROME, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 01: Roberto Baggio and Diego Maradona celebrate the goal during the Interreligious Match for Peace at Olimpico Stadium on September 1, 2014 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)
Baggio also gave his thoughts on the current state of Italian football and the issues that face the national team in the wake of their failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.
“There are so many things to fix. Kids aren’t playing in the street anymore. And in Serie A, there are not many Italians. If you have to go and get a player from somewhere else and naturalise them, it means that you haven’t been able to find an Italian ready at the same level.
“We need to create a formula that really encourages the use of Italian youngsters. The talent is still there, but we have to seek it, protect it and recognise the value. And you need to have the courage to trust them.”
Como will have their opportunity to respond to Juventus in the Champions League race when they take on Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi in Serie A in Sunday’s early kick-off.
Cesc Fabregas’s side find themselves in sixth place ahead of kick-off, requiring a victory to keep up the pace with Juventus, who moved into third as a result of their 1-0 win against Lecce on Saturday. Como are left needing favours heading into the final three matches of the season, sitting five points shy of the top four ahead of kick-off on Sunday.
Hosts Verona have already been relegated from Serie A, but have gone unbeaten over their last two league fixtures, holding both Lecce and Juventus to draws over the last fortnight.
After last weekend’s draw with Juventus, Paolo Sammarco has decided to keep an almost unchanged XI: Nicolas Valentini is back and available after serving a yellow-card suspension and goes straight back into the starting line-up in place of Domagoj Bradaric.
Fabregas has also made just the one change to his Como XI, with Jesus Rodriguez coming in to replace Martin Baturina on the left flank. This is the Spaniard’s first start in Serie A since the 2-1 victory away against Cagliari back in March.
MARCH 22: Assane Diao of Como 1907 celebrates with his team-mate Jesus Rodriguez after scoring their team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Pisa SC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on March 22, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Kick-off is due at 11.30 BST.
Verona vs. Como: Confirmed line-ups
MAY 02: Cesc Fabregas looks on during the Serie A match between against SSC Napoli at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has given his verdict on Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni, who has been linked with a summer move to join the Catalan giants this coming transfer window: ‘Playing as a defender at Barcelona isn’t easy’.
Puyol comments on Barcelona links to Bastoni
For several months of the 2025-26 season, Barcelona have been linked with a move to sign Bastoni from Inter during the next summer transfer window.
Recent updates claim that Barca are beginning to cool off in their pursuit of the Italy international, and that the signing of a new centre-forward to replace Robert Lewandowski may be more of a priority than the purchase of a new luxury centre-back, but nothing has yet been ruled out either way.
The potential transfer of Bastoni continues to be a hot topic of conversation regardless, and former Barcelona defender Puyol was recently asked about the prospect of signing the recently-crowned Scudetto winner.
“You should ask Deco,” Puyol told DAZN when asked if he thinks Bastoni is the ‘right’ choice for Barcelona this summer.
LIMA, PERU – NOVEMBER 29: Carles Puyol waves to fans prior to the 2025 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores Final match between Palmeiras and Flamengo at Estadio Monumental on November 29, 2025 in Lima, Peru. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
“I think he’s a very good defender. I also think that Barcelona have very good defenders, youngsters who know Barcelona’s style well.
“Playing as a defender at Barcelona isn’t easy with such a high line. Sometimes it’s difficult to adapt, but if the club thinks they have to go and get Bastoni, then I think they’ll be buying a strong player and they will have analysed him perfectly to understand if he’s the right choice and whether his purchase is feasible, because in the end, you can want a player but there aren’t always the right conditions to buy him.”
Reports in Italy claim that Atalanta could turn to two former Juventus leaders in Cristiano Giuntoli and Raffaele Palladino to replace their current sporting director Tony D’Amico and head coach Raffaele Palladino.
Could Atalanta appoint ex-Juventus pair Giuntoli and Motta?
It has been a disappointing end to the 2025-26 season for Atalanta, who are no longer able to qualify for the Champions League and could mathematically be out of the race for Europa League football by the end of the weekend as well.
With two draws and two defeats across their last four Serie A fixtures and a Coppa Italia semi-final defeat against Lazio, the Corriere dello Sport claims that it has been an April that has ‘cancelled out’ the work done in the previous months of the 2025-26 season.
Now, La Dea could be heading for a ‘mini revolution’ this summer.
Reports on Saturday confirmed that Atalanta are on the verge of appointing former Napoli and Juventus executive Giuntoli as their new sporting director to replace the outgoing Tony D’Amico, who has been linked with moves to join Milan and Roma.
epa11889266 Juventus coach Thiago Motta looks on during the UEFA Champions League play-offs first leg soccer match between Juventus FC and PSV Eindhoven, in Turin, Italy, 11 February 2025. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
Corriere dello Sport claims that Giuntoli could be tempted to make a change of head coaches at the beginning of his Atalanta tenure, and that Motta, whom he appointed at Juventus, is the leading candidate.
Atalanta had also looked at the possibility of appointing Motta before settling on Palladino at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. The 43-year-old has been out of work since leaving the Old Lady towards the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Massimiliano Allegri is expected to make several changes to his Milan side as the Rossoneri take on Atalanta in a huge match in the race for Champions League football in Serie A on Sunday evening.
Milan have not yet secured their position in the top four, and begin the day in fourth place as a result of Juventus’s 1-0 victory over Lecce on Saturday night.
It has been a troubling run of form for the Rossoneri over the last few weeks, with three defeats and just four points on their record from their last five outings. They are looking to bounce back after a 2-0 defeat against Sassuolo last weekend.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan reacts after Fabio Maresca, referee of the match shows to hi a red card during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Fikayo Tomori was sent off last weekend, which means that Koni De Winter is in line to return to the back three to replace him.
Ardon Jashari failed to impress standing in for the injured Luka Modric last weekend, and pre-match reports indicate that it will be over to Samuele Ricci to have a go this time. Davide Bartesaghi is also likely to return at left wing-back.
Rafael Leao has also been struggling for form and is likely to be dropped this weekend. Sky Sport Italia predicts that there will be a changed front two of Santiago Gimenez and Christian Pulisic in San Siro on Sunday.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 26: Rafael Leao of AC Milan warms up prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 26, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Atalanta are no longer able to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and Europa League qualification could also be mathematically impossible by the end of the day. Raffaele Palladino’s seventh-placed Dea are now likely looking at a Conference League spot at best.
They were held to a 0-0 draw by Genoa last weekend, but only a handful of personnel changes are expected this time. Sead Kolasinac could return to the back three, Raoul Bellanova could also be re-introduced, as could Giacomo Raspadori in attack.
Kick-off is due at 19.45 BST.
Milan vs. Atalanta: Probable line-ups
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Massimiliano Allegri,Head Coach of AC Milan reacts during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Milan (3-5-2): Maignan; De Winter, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Loftus-Cheek, Ricci, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Gimenez, Pulisic.
Atalanta (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Zappacosta; De Ketelaere, Raspadori; Krstovic.
Where to watch Milan vs. Atalanta
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 02: Raffaele Palladino of Atalanta BC looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Genoa CFC at Gewiss Stadium on May 02, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
Today’s game will be available to watch live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and through 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.
Champions League fight: Goal in 12 seconds, Juve third
Scores immediately and the Bianconeri win in Lecce. The Serbian: ‘Farewell in two games? We’ll see’
Allegri turns Milan around
Six changes, Gimenez-Pulisic up top. Roma and Como still believe
Lautaro lion
Lazio warned
Inter, from the Pope to scoring three, Wednesday the game that counts
Corriere dello Sport
Dusan the difference
Vlahovic flash, Milan overtaken
Juve are third | Spalletti wins 1-0 in Lecce: +1 above Allegri and +4 above Gasp, goal from the Serbian after 11 seconds
Second goal in a row from the no.9: ‘The Champions League depends only on us, I thank the coach, he’s stuck close by me. Is my future still here? We’ll see’.
Inter don’t give discounts
Lazio beaten 3-0: They also want the Coppa Italia on Wednesday
Lautaro, Sucic and Mkhitaryan take centre stage and reserve the double against Sarri. Super numbers: 27 victories and 85 goals in 36 games. Romagnoli sent off: He will miss the derby
Leao and Fofana finish on the bench
Atalanta at 19.45
Milan need six points from three games to secure Champions League qualification. Gimenez in tandem with Pulisic. Ricci is there
La Dea have an idea: Thiago Motta
The Percassis’ move
Giuntoli progressing as the new sporting director, the Italian-Brazilian could replace Palladino
Gasp, a day in the name of Liedholm
Parma at 17.00
635 games on the bench in Serie A today, like Nils: ‘Roma deserve fourth place’. Como in Verona
Tuttosport
Vlahovic impact
Flash-goal from DV9: Juve win in Lecce and rise up to third place
The Serbian scores the Bianconero goal after 12 seconds, his fastest ever in Serie A, then they disallow one for offside and (amidst doubts) judge his position to be irregular before Kalulu’s double: It ends nervously, but Milan are overtaken and Roma are back to -4. Dusan: ‘Staying at Juve? I don’t know, we’ll see’
Squad and fans back D’Aversa
‘Toro, the coach deserves to stay’
Results and a newly-united dressing room. Ebosse: ‘We want a big finish for him, too’. But Cairo continues to not make a decision and meets with Gattuso and Juric
Chivu doesn’t stop, 3 warnings to Lazio
3-0 in the Coppa Italia appetiser
Lautaro-Sucic-Mkhitaryan. The Scudetto hasn’t satisfied Inter. The final on Wednesday
Max: Still Milan, Palladino: Goodbye Dea
Tonight’s battle and the future
Allegri: ‘I’ll be here for a long time’. Revolution is in the air at Atalanta: Sporting director D’Amico is also leaving
Roma will have their opportunity to respond to Juventus when they take on Parma away from home on Sunday evening, as Serie A’s Champions League race heads towards its conclusion.
Hosts Parma have won two of their last fixtures in Serie A, but fell to a 2-0 defeat against Inter last weekend in the game that won the Nerazzurri the Scudetto for 2025-26.
They find themselves in 13th place ahead of kick-off and have already confirmed their top-flight status for next season.
Roma have responded well since their 5-2 defeat against Inter back in April. They have gone four matches unbeaten since then, winning three, with their most recent ending in a 4-0 scoreline against Fiorentina.
They start the day in fifth place, three points behind Milan in fourth and four points behind Juventus in third heading into the final three games of the season.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 04: Niccolo Pisilli of AS Roma celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal with teammate Matias Soule during the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on May 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Carlos Cuesta is expected to stick with the same front two of Lorenzo Pellegrino and Gabriel Strefezza, but could make some alterations to the midfield three in his 3-5-2. Sky Sport Italia claims that several combinations have been tested ahead of the visit from Roma.
Gian Piero Gasperini, meanwhile, is likely to stick with a similar line-up to the one that put four past Fiorentina last time out. It could be an unchanged Giallorossi XI, led by Donyell Malen, Matias Soule and Niccolo Pisilli in attack.
Kick-off is due at 17.00 BST.
Parma vs. Roma: Probable line-ups
ROME, ITALY – MAY 04: Gian Piero Gasperini, Head Coach of AS Roma, looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Olimpico on May 04, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
PARMA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Carlos Cuesta, Head Coach of Parma Calcio reacts during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and SSC Napoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 12, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
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.
The 2025-26 Serie B season has drawn to a close, and Frosinone now know that they will be joining Venezia in Serie A in 2026-27, confirming a second-place finish with an emphatic 5-0 win over Mantova on Friday night.
Confirmed: Venezia and Frosinone promoted to Serie A after one year
Venezia were promoted last weekend, with one round of fixtures left to play, and they have now been confirmed as champions of Serie B for 2025-26. Giovanni Stroppa’s side closed the season with a 2-0 win at home against Palermo on Friday night.
Venezia will be joined in Serie A by Frosinone, who finished the campaign on 81 points after 38 matches, one shy of the league champions.
VENICE, ITALY – MAY 25: Fans of Venezia create a TIFO in the stands prior to the Serie A match between Venezia and Juventus at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo on May 25, 2025 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Both Venezia and Frosinone were relegated from Serie A at the end of the 2024-25 campaign and have earned promotion at the first time of asking.
The Serie B play-offs have now been set as well.
Monza and Palermo finished the season in third and fourth place respectively, which means that they are guaranteed a spot in the play-off semi-finals.
MONZA, ITALY – MAY 04: A general view of the U-Power Stadium ahead of the Serie A match between AC Monza and Atalanta BC at U-Power Stadium on May 04, 2025 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Catanzaro finished in fifth, Modena in sixth, Juve Stabia in seventh and Avellino in eighth, and they will all contest in the preliminary round of the play-offs.
Catanzaro (fifth) will take on Avellino (eighth), and Modena (sixth) will take on Juve Stabia (seventh) in a one-legged play-off match on Tuesday, May 12.
The play-off semi-finals will be played over two legs, home and away, on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, with the return legs set for May 19 and May 20. The play-off final is also a two-legged affair and will take place on Sunday, May 24 and Friday, May 29.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the Serie B table, it has been confirmed that Pescara, Spezia and Reggiana have been relegated and Bari and Sudtirol will take part in the relegation play-out.
Sassuolo claimed a second-half lead away against Torino in Serie A on Friday evening, but the hosts struck back with two goals within the space of four minutes to extend the team’s unbeaten home run to five matches: Kristjan Thorstvedt, Giovanni Simeone and Marcus Holmgren Pedersen with the goals.
Torino were coming in off the back of a 2-0 defeat against Udinese and decided to make two changes to their starting line-up on Friday evening. Despite beating Milan 2-0 last weekend, Fabio Grosso changed half of his outfielders, with the likes of Andrea Pinamonti, Cristian Volpato and Luca Lipani returning to the starting XI.
TURIN, ITALY – MAY 08: Roberto D’Aversa gestures during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Pinamonti registered the first shot on target less than two minutes in after being slipped into the area by Cristian Volpato. Pinamonti tried to find the far corner of the net, but Alberto Paleari was well positioned to make the save.
Gvidas Gineitis had to improvise for Torino’s first attempt on target 10 minutes in, but Arijanet Muric was able to get down to his left to prevent what turned out to be a relatively tame effort.
Alieu Njie came within inches of opening the scoring when his header bounced off the crossbar twice from Gineitis’s corner. Part of the ball had crossed the goalline, but importantly, not all of it.
Down at the other end, Lipani was allowed to dribble his way as far as the corner of the six-yard box, but he then found himself at a difficult angle, and Paleari had come out to narrow the angle.
TURIN, ITALY – MAY 08: Kristian Thorstvedt of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
The deadlock was finally broken five minutes after the re-start. Nemanja Matic’s shot from the edge of the area was blocked, but fell kindly into the path of Lipani, who managed to squeeze in a cross from the right byline and Thorstvedt was on hand to finish it off in the middle of the six-yard box.
It took a quarter of an hour for Torino to come up with a response. Ebosse whipped in a perfect deep cross from the left flank and Simeone pulled out a trademark centre-forward’s header, drilled into the floor and bouncing into the corner past Muric.
TURIN, ITALY – MAY 08: Giovanni Simeone celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Simeone has now scored in each of his last five home matches in Serie A.
It turned out to be a quickfire turnaround for the Granata. Duvan Zapata clipped in a cross from the left-hand side of the penalty area, and Pedersen raced to meet it at the far post. This was the Norwegian’s first goal in Serie A, coming in his 84th appearance.
TURIN, ITALY – MAY 08: Marcus Pedersen celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and US Sassuolo Calcio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 08, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Tonight’s result means that Torino jump up one position in the Serie A table into 12th, while Sassuolo keep hold of 10th place.
Torino 2-1 Sassuolo
Thorstvedt (S) 51′, Simeone (T) 66′, Pedersen (T) 70′.
Reports in Italy claim that Premier League side Chelsea could be poised to make a move for Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic in the coming summer transfer window, but they are not the only club interested in a deal for the Serbia international.
Chelsea and Manchester United interested in Milan’s Pavlovic
Pavlovic has spent the last two seasons in San Siro, joining in a deal worth €18m plus add-ons from RB Salzburg in the summer of 2024.
He had to wait until the end of the 2024-25 season to become a regular starter for the Rossoneri, but has since gone on to make a strong impression in 2025-26 with four goals and an assist to his name from 31 appearances in the Italian top flight.
His performances from the left side of Milan’s back three have begun to attract the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United and most recently Chelsea according to reports from Calciomercato.com. Several Saudi Pro League clubs are also said to be interested.
Calciomercato claims that it is Chelsea who have shown the most interest in signing Pavlovic this summer, though.
CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 01: Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan runs with the ball during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and AC Milan at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 01, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce/Getty Images)
Milan are reportedly keen to keep hold of Pavlovic for the 2026-27 campaign, but it is unlikely that the Rossoneri would block a move away from San Siro if an enticing offer were to come in, as has been the case with Malick Thiaw, Tijjani Reijnders and Sandro Tonali in recent seasons.
Milan reportedly value Pavlovic in the region of €50m, which would not be out of the question for a club with Chelsea’s resources.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are likely to move on centre-back Benoit Badiashile this summer, who has previously been linked with a move to Milan, however, the Rossoneri are not interested in including part-exchange players in a potential deal for Pavlovic, reports Calciomercato.
Instead, Milan are said to be interested in a deal for Lazio’s Mario Gila, and a sale of Pavlovic may provide the funds to pull that move off.
Torino and Sassuolo have made a handful of alterations each as the 36th round of 2025-26 Serie A fixtures gets underway on Friday night.
Torino began April in encouraging form with wins against Pisa and Hellas Verona, before recording back-to-back draws against Cremonese and newly-crowned champions Inter, but slipped to a 2-0 defeat away against Udinese last weekend.
Roberto D’Aversa’s side find themselves in 13th place ahead of kick-off.
Sassuolo have been in decent form over their last six matches. They have only lost once in that period, are currently three games unbeaten and have picked up encouraging results against Juventus, Como and most recently, a 2-0 win over Milan.
Fabio Grosso’s side are 10th in the league in their first season back in the top flight after promotion.
SASSUOLO, ITALY – MAY 03: Armand Laurienté of US Sassuolo celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and AC Milan at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on May 03, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Torino have opted to make a handful of personnel changes: Cesare Casadei and Emirhan Ilkhan dropping out of the line-up to make way for Matteo Prati and Alieu Njie.
Despite their victory over Milan last weekend, Sassuolo have also made changes with Jay Idzes, Ulisses Garcia, Ismael Kone, Domenico Berardi and Mbala Nzola dropping out of the side. Woyo Coulibaly, Josh Doig, Luca Lipani, Christian Volpato and Andrea Pinamonti are all brought back into tonight’s starting XI.
Kick-off is due at 19.45 BST.
Torino vs. Sassuolo: Confirmed line-ups
SASSUOLO, ITALY – DECEMBER 21: Nikola Vlasic of Torino FC scores the opening goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Torino FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on December 21, 2025 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Former Roma and Juventus defender Medhi Benatia is reportedly among the options to replace Ricky Massara as Giallorossi sporting director according to the latest updates, but a clear first choice is already beginning to emerge.
Benatia joins list of potential Massara replacements at Roma
Roma are widely expected to part company with sporting director Massara at the end of the season. The Giallorossi have recently decided to ‘side’ with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini after a public falling out with former senior advisor Claudio Ranieri, and it is likely that Massara will also depart in the near future.
Frederic Massara with new buy Wesley,
Several names have already been linked with the vacant position at the Stadio Olimpico. Reports on Thursday indicated that Roma had approached Inter’s Piero Ausilio, but he is highly unlikely to leave San Siro immediately after winning the Serie A title.
Daniele Prade, formerly of Fiorentina, is also among the names linked with a move to Roma, as is former Napoli and Juventus man Cristiano Giuntoli and Atalanta’s Tony D’Amico.
However, according to the latest updates, Napoli’s Giovanni Manna is the preferred option to replace Massara this summer.
There is one another situation to keep an eye on, though. Benatia, who spent the 2013-14 season with Roma before joining Bayern Munich and later Juventus, could also be an option to replace Massara.
The former Morocco international will leave his position as sporting director of Olympique de Marseille this summer after one season in the role. The 39-year-old has been part of the Marseille management since 2023.
In fact, according to TMW, there is a potential scenario where Roma and Marseille end up ‘swapping’ directors, as Massara could potentially be an option to replace Benatia at the Stade Velodrome.
Inter and Italy striker Pio Esposito says that Cristian Chivu has given him ‘unconditional confidence’ and has spoken about the relationship that he has enjoyed with the coach dating back to his time with the U14s, and says that captain Lautaro Martinez’s numbers speak for themselves.
Esposito has won the Serie A title in his first full season with the Inter first team, chipping in with six goals and four assists from his 33 appearances in the league this term. Across all competitions, the 20-year-old has provided 15 goal involvements from 46 outings.
The youngster, now a nailed on member of the Italy national team squad, spoke about his impressive breakthrough season in an interview with Cronache di spogliatoio.
Esposito on Chivu relationship, first impressions with Inter and Lautaro Martinez insipration
For Esposito, the appointment of Chivu as head coach following the departure of Simone Inzaghi at the end of last season was fate. Chivu began his coaching career in the Nerazzurri youth ranks, where he crossed paths with Esposito on numerous occasions.
“I’ve known him since I was with the U14s, it was his first ever year as a coach,” Esposito said (via Calciomercato).
“He already had me playing, I immediately took a liking to him and a beautiful bond was born. I met him again in the Primavera and he started giving me the captain’s armband even if I was ‘underage’. The first time against Cagliari, I scored a hat-trick.
“We continued to talk over the years and it was lucky that we got to meet again this year. His presence has been decisive. He’s given me unconditional confidence since day one.”
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, celebrates after being confirmed as Serie A champions following victory in the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
It is easy to forget that Esposito’s senior debut with Inter came less than a year ago, during the FIFA Club World Cup in June, 2025.
“I felt like I was in a movie when we flew to America,” Esposito recalled. “I was there with them, in the hotel, with the group, I worked alongside the champions I was used to watching on TV every Sunday.”
Esposito also had nothing but positive things to say about his captain and fellow centre-forward Lautaro Martinez.
Inter came back from two goals down in a home Serie A clash against Pisa, completing a comeback with Piotr Zielinski, Lautaro Martinez and Francesco Pio Esposito in the opening Round 22 match.
“The numbers speak for themselves, and for us, seeing him never settle for anything in training is an inspiration. He returned after quite a long break against Roma and immediately made the difference.”
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