Stefan De Vrij will be out of contract at Inter after June 30, and Friday’s reports indicate that the Netherlands international will not be signing a new deal in San Siro. 

De Vrij expected to leave Inter on free transfer

De Vrij is one of several senior Nerazzurri players whose contracts will be expiring in less than a fortnight’s time, along with the likes of Yann Sommer, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian. 

Unlike Sommer, Acerbi and Darmian, the 34-year-old De Vrij had been offered the opportunity to extend his stay in San Siro and has been taking his time to evaluate his next steps. 

According to the latest updates from Calciomercato.com, all signs point towards De Vrij leaving Inter on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at the end of this month. 

The former Lazio and Feyenoord defender reportedly has an offer on the table from Greek Super League side Panathinaikos and the Dutchman is said to be sold on the idea of Athens as his next destination. 

Friday’s reports claim that Panathinaikos have presented De Vrij with a two-year contract offer worth €3m per season in wages.

Friday’s reports claim that Juventus have been in contact with the agent of Paulo Dybala regarding a sensational return to Turin in 2026-27 despite the ongoing negotiations over a new contract with Roma. 

Report: Juventus request information on Dybala

Dybala spent seven trophy-laden careers with the Bianconeri, winning the Serie A title five times, the Coppa Italia four times, the Supercoppa Italiana twice and reaching the final of the 2016-17 Champions League before joining Roma on a free transfer in the summer of 2022.

Dybala’s current contract with Roma expires at the end of the month, but the Giallorossi have long been discussing a renewal with ‘La Joya’, who will have to accept a cut in wages from the reported €7m base salary he has been earning for the last two seasons. 

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma are currently offering Dybala, who will turn 33 in November, a net salary of €2.5m per season, while the player and his entourage are reportedly holding out for €3m per season plus bonuses. This would be for a one-year contract with an option to extend for a further season. 

However, Dybala and his agents have not fully closed the doors to opportunities elsewhere, and according to Friday’s updates, Juventus are among the clubs who have been in contact with the player’s representatives to discuss the financial details of a potential deal. 

For now, this has been described as an ‘exploratory’ call, and it remains to be seen whether or not Juventus will follow up on this initial sign of interest.

Get today’s transfer updates with the Football Italia Transfer Show on YouTube with fresh news on Paulo Dybala, Nico Paz, Curtis Jones and much more.

The new episode of the Football Italia Transfer Show has dropped on our YouTube channel.

Football Italia Transfer Show: July 19, 2026

It’s been another day with plenty of juicy updates from Serie A, starting with Corriere dello Sport’s report that Nico Paz’s decision to stay at Como for one more season has upset Real Madrid, who still want to bring the Argentine back to the Bernabeu and have warned Cesc Fabregas’ side that they’ll need to pay €60m to remove Madrid’s buy-back option.

According to Gazzetta, Juventus have sounded out Paulo Dybala’s availability to return to Turin as contract extension talks between La Joya and the Giallorossi are still stalling and the striker’s contract expires on June 30, 2026.

Inter are keen on Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, but the Reds are reluctant to let the Englishman leave for less than €30m.

Get the most relevant updates on the Football Italia Transfer Show. Watch the full episode below.

Milan’s hunt for a senior management team continues and the latest reports claim that Domenico Teti is the latest name under consideration for the role of sporting director in San Siro. 

Teti the latest name on Milan’s list of potential sporting directors

Milan have recently appointed a new head coach in Ruben Amorim, but remain without a sporting director, technical director or CEO following the dismissals of Igli Tare, Geoffrey Moncada and Giorgio Furlani at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

Several names have been linked with a move to take over the sporting sector of Milan: First it was Ralf Rangnick, who has since made it clear that he will be continuing in his role as head coach of the Austria national team. Then came Markus Krösche, for whom the Rossoneri are still negotiating despite an initial rejection from Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Now, according to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, a new name has emerged on Milan’s list of potential new sporting directors. 

The Rossoneri are reportedly studying potential Italian candidates for the sporting director role and Teti, formerly of Wolves and Al-Shabab is an option. 

The 49-year-old has been out of work since leaving his position as director of football at Wolves back in November. His reign lasted just 141 days. 

Teti was previously the sporting director for Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League between 2023 and 2024 and has also previously held directorship roles with APOEL Nicosia, Novara, Sampdoria and FC Lugano.

Reports in Italy claim that Milan are not giving up in their pursuit of Eintracht Frankfurt director Markus Krösche, despite claims in Germany that the Bundesliga side are unwilling to let the executive leave so close to the start of the summer transfer window. 

Report: Milan still holding out hope for Krösche and Hardung 

Milan’s hunt for a new set of sporting and technical directors continues following the departures of Igli Tare, Geoffrey Moncada and Giorgio Furlani back in May. 

Over the last week, reports in Italy have indicated that Eintracht Frankfurt’s Krösche was at the top of the Rossoneri wishlist to take over as technical director or ‘head of football’, and that he would bring his Eintracht Frankfurt colleague Timmo Hardung with him if he were to make the switch to San Siro this summer. 

News outlets in Italy had even claimed that Krösche and Hardung had reached agreements to join the senior management structure in Milan.

However, reports in Germany have made it clear that Eintracht Frankfurt are unwilling to let go of their directors as it would have an obvious impact on the club’s plans for the 2026-27 season. 

Reports on Thursday criticised Milan for their ‘amateurish’ handling of negotiations with Krösche and Frankfurt and argued that Krösche had been left ‘annoyed’ by the reports that he had reached an agreement to join Milan when nothing had been arranged between the two clubs. 

• Read more: Who is Milan-linked Krösche and who are his best signings?

There are conflicting reports in Germany and Italy, as La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported on Friday that Milan are not giving up on their pursuit of Krösche and Hardung, despite the reports in Germany that the directors will not leave their current positions in Frankfurt. 

The Pink Paper claims that despite their initial rejection earlier this week, Milan continued to discuss a potential set of deals for Krösche and Hardung on Thursday. The Rossoneri are reportedly hoping that Frankfurt will ‘soften’ their current stance if the potential compensation fee is raised. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport confesses that the signs are still not particularly encouraging for Milan. 

Other names that have been linked with the technical director role include Devin Ozek and Simon Rolfes.

Meanwhile, reports from Gianluca Di Marzio claim that former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Al-Shabab director Domenico Teti is a potential option in the role of sporting director. 

Genoa have officially announced the return of Tommaso Baldanzi in a permanent deal from Roma following a successful loan spell under Daniele De Rossi in the second half of the 2025-26 season. 

The 23-year-old has returned to Genoa on another initial loan, although this time for the whole of the 2026-27 season, in a deal that also includes an obligation to buy. 

Reports earlier this week indicated that Genoa’s obligation to buy clause will be in the region of €9.5m. It is believed that Baldanzi will sign a contract until the end of the 2029/30 season once his obligation to buy clause has been triggered. 

This is the third time that De Rossi has signed Baldanzi: Initially bringing him to Roma from Empoli almost immediately after his appointment as Giallorossi head coach in 2024. De Rossi also brought Baldanzi to Genoa on loan in January and he is now back for a third stint for the 2026-27 season onwards. 

He will continue to wear the no.8 shirt for Genoa heading into the 2026-27 campaign. 

Baldanzi returns to Genoa on a permanent deal from Roma: Club statement 

“Genoa CFC announces the completed return of Tommaso Baldanzi from AS Roma,” read a statement. 

“The transfer will consist of a loan and an obligation to buy. The 2003-born midfielder, who arrived on loan with an option to buy from the Giallorossi during the January transfer window, proved to be an important figure in the team’s attacking play during the second half of the season, racking up eight appearances and two assists for the Rossoblu. 

“Tommaso will be a big player for the Grifone in the 2026-27 season.” 

Baldanzi himself added: “I’m thrilled to be able to continue this adventure in the Grifone shirt. I can’t wait to get back on the pitch in these colours. 

“I feel like I have a lot to give, and I know that I still have a lot to prove in front of the Rossoblu fans, who made me feel right at home from my first day here in Genoa.”

Hellas Verona have officially announced that Marco Baroni has returned as head coach as the club look to earn promotion back to Serie A at the first time of asking in 2026-27. 

Baroni is back at Verona for a third stint, having spent three years with the Gialloblu towards the end of his playing career, returning in the position of head coach for the 2023-24 season. 

The Tuscan-born tactician led Verona to a 13th-place finish in Serie A in 2023-24, the club’s highest finish across the last four seasons, before joining Lazio in 2024-25 and then Torino in 2025-26. 

He will be tasked with steering Verona back to Serie A at the first time of asking following the team’s 19th-place finish in the top flight last term. 

Verona have confirmed that Baroni has signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional 12 months, tying him to the club until the summer of 2028, potentially 2029. He will officially begin work in his new role on July 1. 

Baroni returns to Verona: Club statement

“Hellas Verona FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Marco Baroni as the new head coach of the first team, effective from July 1. Baroni has signed a contract with the club until June 30, 2028 with an option to extend for a further season until 2029,” read a statement on the Verona website.

“Born in Florence on September 11, 1963, Baroni returns to the Gialloblu dugout following his spell in charge during the 2023-24 season, which ended with the team securing Serie A survival with a 13th-place finish in the league table. Earlier in his career, he was also part of Verona’s coaching staff in the 2002-03 season, serving as an assistant coach under Alberto Malesani. 

“His connection with Hellas Verona began as a player: He wore the Gialloblu shirt from 1995 to 1998, making 93 appearances and scoring nine goals across Serie A, Serie B and the Coppa Italia. 

“During his managerial career, he has achieved two promotions to Serie A, leading Benevento to the top flight in 2016/17 and Lecce in 2021/22. He has also successfully secured Serie A survival with both Lecce and Hellas Verona.

“Hellas Verona FC warmly welcomes Coach Marco Baroni and all members of his staff back to the Club and wishes them every success in their work.”

Italy Marcello Lippi has shared an anecdote from Italy’s triumphant 2006 World Cup campaign, recalling an incident involving alleged spies that led to the CT instructing his players to pull their shorts down and expose their backsides: ‘I was convinced there were photographers hiding behind the bushes’. 

Lippi on Italy’s ‘spygate’ at 2006 World Cup: ‘Maybe I was wrong’

Lippi spoke in depth in an interview with La Repubblica and shared a few stories from his time in charge of the Italy national team, of course focusing on the journey to winning the 2006 World Cup. 

While training in Dortmund ahead of their semi-final against Germany 20 years ago, Lippi was so convinced that photographers were sneaking around the Italy training base in an attempt to gather information on the team’s tactics and personnel, that he ended up telling his players to pull down their shorts and show their backsides to these alleged ‘spies’. 

“I was so sure,” Lippi recalled. “After training one day, I told the boys to stand in front of a certain bush and pull their shorts down. I was convinced that there were photographers hiding behind them. 

“As no pictures of that moment came out, maybe I was wrong,” Lippi conceded. 

Italy would go on to beat Germany in their semi-final thanks to a dramatic quickfire double from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero in the final two minutes of extra-time before going on to defeat France on penalties in the 2006 World Cup final. 

• Read more: Why Italy will not be participating at the 2026 World Cup

News outlets in Italy claim that Scotland International Che Adams is tempted by the idea of a return to the UK with Wolverhampton Wanderers, despite a reported offer from newly-promoted Venezia in Serie A. 

Venezia and Wolves interested in Torino’s Adams

According to reports from tuttomercatoweb, Adams is keen to return to the UK after spending the last two seasons in Serie A with Torino. 

The Italian outlet claims that Adams is of interest to at least two clubs, including 2025-26 Serie B champions Venezia and English side Wolves, who will be playing in the EFL Championship next season following their relegation from the Premier League. 

TMW claims that given Adams’s desire to return to the UK, Wolves could be an enticing option for him. Friday’s report claims that Venezia are ‘not willing to throw in the towel’ yet, though. 

Wolves have not yet put a formal offer on the table for Torino, but TMW claims that Venezia have had an initial proposal in the region of €4m-€5m turned away by Torino. 

The Scotland international, currently gearing up to take on Morocco at the 2026 World Cup, will be into the final year of his contract with Torino next season, having signed a three-year deal after leaving Southampton on a free in 2024.

Adams scored nine goals from 36 appearances during his first season in the Italian top flight and added a further six goals from 33 appearances in 2025-26.

Former Italy star Marco Materazzi taunts his former Inter teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic: ‘With what he’s doing, he’s the biggest Inter fan in history.’

Safe to say it hasn’t been an easy summer for ex-Milan and Inter star Ibrahimovic, who is currently leading the Rossoneri’s rebuild as a senior advisor to Gerry Cardinale.

Materazzi jokes: Ibrahimovic is the biggest Inter fan

Milan sacked coach Massimiliano Allegri and directors Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada and Igli Tare at the end of the 2025-26 campaign without having a clear plan B.

They did hire Ruben Amorim as their new coach on a three-year deal, but missed out first on Ralf Rangnick and then on Markus Kroche as Football Directors, meaning the Serie A giants are still without a leading figure deciding on the sporting project and new signings.

Questioned about his rivalry with Ibrahimovic during their playing career, ex-Inter defender Materazzi told Gazzetta: “For me, it was just an on-the-field matter. I don’t know about him. I can’t really say anything about him because, with what he’s doing, he’s the biggest Inter fan in history.”

The dispute between Ibra and Materazzi began in 2009, when the Swede pushed to join Barcelona and ultimately completed the move in a swap deal involving Samuel Eto’o.

“Eto’o knew he was strong; he had an incredible ego, but he put himself at the team’s disposal with humility,” Materazzi said.

“Even if, in footballing terms, he’s not the most humble I’ve ever met, he always gave his all for the team.

“He didn’t care whether Milito, Materazzi or Zanetti would score. What mattered was to lift the trophies. For this reason, I’ll forever be grateful to Ibrahimovic, as he left Barcelona and let us get Eto’o.”

Italy are at a crossroads and need to rebuild again after missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time. In this new episode of the Football Italia Summer Show, Lorenzo Bettoni and Richard Hall discuss who should remain in the Azzurri squad and who should be cut.

New day and new episode of the Football Italia Summer Show on YouTube.

Keep or drop? Assessing the future of the Italy national team

In our very first episode alongside TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton earlier this week, we discussed Roberto Mancini’s potential return as the Azzurri national team coach.

Today, we examine the options for the incoming Nazionale boss.

Starting from Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad for the World Cup play-off in March, Richard Hall and Lorenzo Bettoni named the Italy players who should be given a second chance and those who should not be part of the new project.

Check out our YouTube page for all the episodes of the Football Italia Summer Show and our daily transfer updates.

If you haven’t done it yet, subscribe to the channel and join the conversation with your questions and thoughts!

Italy’s rebuild: Who stays and who goes?

Watch the full episode below

Sassuolo and Lega Serie A reacted to Ismael Koné’s horrific injury with the Canada national team, wishing him a speedy recovery: ‘We will get through this difficult time together,’ his club said.

Sassuolo midfielder Koné suffered a broken leg during Canada’s 6-0 win over Qatar in their second 2026 World Cup group stage game on Thursday.

Koné immediately underwent surgery in Vancouver, where he was visited by his teammate Moïse Bombito.

Koné scored six goals in 36 matches with Sassuolo during the 2025-26 season. He played a significant role for the Neroverdi in his first year in Serie A, and the Italian club sent him a message on social media following his injury.

“Get well soon, Isma,” Sassuolo wrote on X.

“We are close to you, and together we will get through this difficult time.”

Get well soon, Isma!

Ti siamo vicini e insieme supereremo questo momento difficile #ForzaSasol pic.twitter.com/KdTjlx5YNF

— U.S. Sassuolo (@SassuoloUS) June 19, 2026

Lega Serie A joined Sassuolo in wishing Koné a speedy recovery with a message posted on Facebook: “We’re gonna wait to see you again like this! Get well soon.”

The Serie A message came with a picture of Koné celebrating one of Canada’s goals against Qatar before his injury in the second half.

Koné’s recovery time remains unclear, but he’ll obviously miss several months of action with his club.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti confirms he’ll ‘make some changes’ for the second World Cup group stage game against Haiti: ‘We have to find a solution.’

Brazil face Haiti in their second group stage game at the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, June 20 at 2:30 CET Friday, June 19 at 6:30 pm local time.

Ancelotti’s side had a disappointing start to the tournament, grabbing a 1-1 draw against Morocco, which dominated proceedings for much of the match.

Brazil vs. Haiti – Ancelotti confirms line-up changes

“The team can and must do more,” Ancelotti admitted at a pre-match press conference via Corriere dello Sport.

“We’ll make some changes, maybe bring in a fresher player. We need to improve our balance and the quality of our play. Make fewer steps wrong. We have the quality to do it, to play a fun game.

“I have no problem communicating initial training. Football has no secrets, but I prefer to tell the players first,” Ancelotti added.

“Against Morocco, the match didn’t go well and makes me a bit critical of the team. We have to find a solution. We have been working over the past few days to try to resolve the situation, and I believe we will succeed because I continue to trust that the team will be competitive in this World Cup.”

According to Gazzetta, Ancelotti will make three changes to the Brazil XI, but Endrick is expected to remain on the bench.

Douglas Santos is expected to replace Alex Sandro as left-back, Fabinho should replace Casemiro in central midfield, while Luiz Henrique will replace Paquetà, Gazzetta claims.

“We have to do many things well: defend with a low block, attack, exploit individual quality, be aggressive forward, lower the block, defend in our own area,” Ancelotti continued.

“Haiti is a very balanced team, with above all physical quality, well organised and with a rather clear system.

“They play good football given their characteristics. We must respect everyone because this is a World Cup and everyone is very motivated.”

Probable Brazil XI vs. Haiti (4-2-4): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel, Douglas Santos; Fabinho, Bruno Guimarães; Raphinha, Vinícius, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique.

Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup, but many Serie A stars will feature in this summer’s tournament, and some of them will be looking for redemption after a disappointing season at a club level.

The World Cup can feel like jackpots slots sometimes: one lucky bounce, one perfect strike, and everything changes in an instant on football’s biggest stage.

Serie A stars looking for redemption at 2026 World Cup

Players who have failed to impress during the season might end up playing a vital role for their countries, scoring crucial goals or making crucial saves that football fans will remember for years.

Sixty-six Serie A players will feature at the 2026 World Cup, and Genoa centre-back Leo Ostigard recently became the first player from Italy’s top flight to score in the tournament.

Ostigard had a positive season with Genoa as the Rossoblu secured survival under the guidance of Azzurri legend Daniele De Rossi, but some of his Serie A colleagues are looking for a fresh start in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Among them is Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku, who has only played 64 minutes for Napoli in 2026-27.

The Belgium international suffered a severe injury during the pre-season and then had a fallout with the club in March, when he refused to return from Belgium, where he remained during the international break to train individually.

Napoli first fined him, but then approved him to continue preparations after the World Cup break.

Lukaku played a key role in Belgium’s 1-1 draw against Egypt in their 2026 World Cup opener earlier this week, contributing to Egypt’s own goal just 30 minutes after being subbed on.

“Even if it went down as an own goal, Romelu’s presence was vital. We know how dangerous he can be for our opponent’s defence,” said his teammate Kevin De Bruyne.

“If we look at the other matches at this World Cup, though, nothing can be taken for granted, and no game is easy.”

Rudi Garcia, a former Napoli coach, added: “Lukaku could even have ended up with a brace with that header, but I am delighted for him, and the whole squad feels the same way. Lukaku is hugely important to us.”

Other Serie A stars looking for redemption at the World Cup include Milan wingers Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic.

The latter hasn’t yet scored a goal at a club level in 2026, while Leao already confirmed that he feels his time at the club is over and that he’ll be looking for a new challenge at the end of the World Cup.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Liverpool refuse to lower their €30m asking price for Curtis Jones, but Inter are still confident of reaching an agreement with the Reds as the Englishman wants to move to San Siro.

Inter continue to push to sign Liverpool midfielder Jones and are confident of reaching an agreement with the Reds in the coming days.

Latest Inter transfer updates: Jones and Solet

Gazzetta reports that Inter sent an opening €20m offer for the 25-year-old earlier this week, but Liverpool continue to ask for €30m and a sell-on clause.

The Nerazzurri are reportedly working to finalise a deal in the coming days as they hope Jones can start the pre-season under Cristian Chivu in less than a month.

Jones’ contract expires in a year, boosting Inter’s confidence that Liverpool will ultimately lower their asking price.

Gazzetta claims that Jones wants to move to Inter this summer.

The pink paper adds that the Nerazzurri have continued talks with Udinese over Oumar Solet and aim to bring the 26-year-old to San Siro in time for the start of the pre-season.

Inter have practically completed their first summer signing as they are finalising negotiations with Atalanta for Marco Palestra in a deal exceeding €50m.

Ismael Koné underwent surgery after suffering a broken leg in Canada’s 6-0 World Cup win over Qatar last night and was immediately visited at the hospital by his compatriot Moïse Bombito.

Canada’s first-ever World Cup win, inspired by Jonathan David’s hat-trick last night, was marred by a horrific injury suffered by Sassuolo midfielder Koné.

Canada reactions as Koné suffers horrific injury

The 24-year-old was stretchered off following a reckless challenge from Assim Madibo, who was immediately confronted by some of Koné’s teammates and then received a straight red card after a VAR check.

“You could hear the bone snap,” said Canada coach Jesse Marsch via The Athletic.

“Your heart goes out to him. Everybody’s shaken for him.”

Ten minutes after Koné’s injury, Nathan Saliba scored a free-kick goal for Canada and celebrated by holding up Koné’s No.8 shirt.

“Koné means everything to this team,” said Juventus and Canada striker David.

“If you ask the same question to any guy on this team, they will tell you the same. He is someone that we love a lot.”

Koné immediately underwent surgery at a Vancouver Hospital and was visited by his teammate Bombito, who then shared a picture on Instagram.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Nico Paz’s decision to remain at Como in 2026-27 has upset Real Madrid, which still want the Argentine to return to the Bernabeu unless the Serie A club pay €60m.

Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Real Madrid are unhappy with Nico Paz’s decision to remain at Como in 2026-27.

Nico Paz’s transfer decision upsets Real Madrid

AS.com in Spain reported earlier this week that Paz had opted to stay at the Stadio Sinigaglia for one more year, given that Real Madrid are bringing in several experienced players, including Bernardo Silva, which will raise the competition for a starting spot in attack next season.

Italian sources such as Sky Sport Italia and Fabrizio Romano had been more cautious, saying that Como were confident of retaining Paz, but adding that the Serie A side and Real Madrid were in talks to determine the best transfer formula.

Technically, Nico Paz is a Como player, having completed a permanent transfer from Real Madrid two years ago.

Real Madrid, however, have an option to bring him back until 2027.

If they sign him this summer, they’ll need to pay €10m, while the fee for the next campaign is €11m.

Corriere dello Sport adds that Como will be entitled to a 50% sell-on clause if Paz remains with the club beyond the summer.

The Italian newspaper claims that Real Madrid still want to bring the Argentine back to the club this summer by activating their clause and have warned Como that the only way to retain him permanently is by paying €60m.

Juventus striker Jonathan David has made history for Canada, becoming the country’s first player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup, but Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Koné suffered a serious injury in a 6-0 win over Qatar.

Canada secured a comfortable 6-0 win over Qatar in their second group stage game at the 2026 World Cup last night.

Juventus striker David makes Canada history at World Cup

Juventus striker David took centre stage by scoring a hat-trick, becoming the first-ever Canadian player to score three goals in a World Cup match.

There was, however, also bad news for one of the World Cup’s host countries as Sassuolo midfielder Koné suffered a broken leg eight minutes into the second half with Canada leading 3-0.

Assim Madibo’s reckless challenge led to Koné’s injury. The player from Qatar initially received a yellow card, but this was quickly upgraded to a red card after a VAR review.

 “Ismael is such a great kid – he’s so imperfect, but that’s part of why you love him,” said Canada coach Jesse Marsch via The Sun.

“Because he can do great things that nobody else can do, then the next moment he loses concentration. He embodies us as a team, it’s a huge loss for us. He’ll be fine; we’ll get him good doctors and get him back, but that kid is a big part of our future and everything we do.”

Both Koné and David have just terminated their first season in Serie A.

David scored eight goals in 46 appearances across all competitions with Juventus, while Koné netted six times in 36 matches with Sassuolo.

David is now the World Cup’s top-goal scorer, but according to recent reports in Italy, Juventus are open to offers for the Canada international this summer.

According to Gazzetta, however, David wants to remain at Juventus and fight for a starting spot in 2026-27.

Catch our latest Transfer Show on YouTube, where we break down the latest updates on David and the newest transfer news from Serie A.

You can watch the full episode below.

Igor Protti’s family has announced the death of the former Italian striker at the age of 58 and, in accordance with his wishes, shared his final message: ‘This wonderful journey, like every match, has reached the final whistle.’

Former Italian striker Protti died last night, aged 58.

Ex-Italian striker Protti dies at 58

His family confirmed the news in a statement published on his official Instagram page: “With immense sorrow, the family announces that Igor passed away during the night,” the statement reads.

In accordance with Protti’s wishes, the family also published a farewell message from the ex-striker: “This wonderful journey, like every match, has reached the final whistle. It is difficult to find words that can explain it, the only thing I can do is thank my great and wonderful family, whom I have loved dearly.

“I also want to thank all the people who cared for me and stood by my side, and all the supporters of the teams I played for, for the affection and love they always showed me, which I wholeheartedly returned. Hoping this is a see you again rather than a farewell.”

Protti revealed in July 2025 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, which, by September, had spread to his vertebrae. At the end of last month, he walked his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

A former striker for Livorno, Messina, Bari, Napoli and Lazio, among others, Protti was, along with Dario Hubner, the only player to become the Capocannoniere in each of the top-three Italian leagues: Serie A, Serie B and Serie C.

To date, he’s also the only player to finish as the Serie A leading scorer while playing for a team that was relegated in the same season (Bari).

During his playing career, Protti scored 48 goals in 144 Serie A matches.

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

 

Un post condiviso da Igor Protti (@igor10protti)

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Big coup: here’s Palestra

Meeting with Atalanta: agreement close for a 50m deal. Chivu signs until 2028

Carletto changes everything: Brazil with four strikers

Ancelotti with a super attack for a push against Haiti

Messi beats Ronaldo, duel (almost) over

Corriere dello Sport

Ancelotti changes, Montella risks

Watch Out for Paz

In Madrid, the Argentine feels blocked by Bellingham and Bernardo Silva

Real Madrid and Nico at odds: ‘Bring us €60 million.’

The talent has asked to play the Champions League with Como. Florentino picks the hard line: he doesn’t want to renew the loan. Cesc stunned. Premier League looming.

Inter, now there’s Jones. Chivu until 2028

Ausilio calls Liverpool: breakthrough for the full-back, 50m to La Dea

Kolo, Juve prepare the offer

New contacts with the entourage. Vicario advances in goal

Milan, now Leao is a burden

The Portuguese is disappointing at the World Cup too: Cardinale worried

Tuttosport

Lucumì, Juventus push

The Colombian centre-back is convincing in terms of leadership and versatility: contacts with the Rossoblu have resumed. Working on the 28m clause, the good relationship can ease the deal. Kolo Muani: Carnevali in talks with PSG. Attacking midfield: idea Zaniolo as an alternative to Brahim Diaz. Milan in the race too.

Toro and Abate: project Cacciamani

Montella risks flopping, asks for Yildiz’s help

Ancelotti remakes Brazil, but there’s the Neymar affair

Malagò is eligible, green light to Mancini

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

Thursday’s reports claim that Juventus have reopened talks with PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani as the club seek a replacement for Dusan Vlahovic, who will become a free agent at the beginning of July. 

Report: Carnevali wants Kolo Muani back at Juventus

Vlahovic’s contract with Juventus expires on June 30 and as things stand, the Serbian will not be signing a renewal and is expected to walk away on a free transfer without a sudden, last-minute u-turn. 

This leaves Juventus with just Jonathan David, Lois Openda and Arkadiusz Milik among their striking options, who, between them, scored just seven Serie A goals in 2025-26 (David with six, Openda with one). 

Newly-appointed CEO Giovanni Carnevali is actively on the hunt for solutions in attack, and according to Thursday’s reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, he has recently reopened talks over a potential return for Kolo Muani. 

Kolo Muani impressed while on loan with the Bianconeri in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, averaging a goal every other game with eight from his first 16 appearances in the Italian top flight. 

Thursday’s reports claim that Carnevali wants to get to the bottom of exactly how much it will cost to bring Kolo Muani back to Turin between the transfer fee, wages and agents’ fees.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic faced backlash from large sections of Milan supporters for taking on a TV punditry role in the United States for the 2026 World Cup at a time when the Rossoneri are desperately lacking in leadership, and now the Rossoneri advisor is facing criticism for the quality of his analysis work: ‘Less Zlatan, less Lalas’. 

Ibrahimovic criticised for poor punditry work while Milan remain leaderless

Ibrahimovic is currently serving as a senior advisor to RedBird, the investment management firm that owns Milan. The former Juventus, Inter and Milan striker is not employed by the Rossoneri directly, but there has often been confusion as to the extent of his powers in Rossoneri circles. 

Eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Ibrahimovic would be joining the Fox Sports punditry team for the duration of the 2026 World Cup, especially given that Milan were without a head coach for several weeks – Ruben Amorim only appointed on Tuesday – while the Rossoneri remain without a sporting director, technical director or CEO less than a fortnight before the summer transfer window formally opens. 

Not only did Ibrahimovic face backlash for his decision to take on the Fox Sports gig at such an unstable time in San Siro, but he is now facing criticism for the quality of his punditry work as well. 

The Athletic have published an article lambasting the ‘awkward’ on-screen dynamic between Ibrahimovic and former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas, claiming that Fox’s flagship football – or ‘soccer’ – show would be ‘better’ with “less Zlatan, less Lalas.” 

The Athletic criticised Ibrahimovic for his lack of knowledge, claiming that the Swede had ‘never heard’ of Canada’s American head coach Jesse Marsch while analysing a Canada match in front of a US-audience.

Ibrahimovic was also criticised for leaning too much into over-confidence ‘shtick’, especially compared to the considerably more palatable Thierry Henry. 

The Athletic’s advice is for Fox to utilise Zlatan’s insight into goalscoring and on-pitch intelligence, and for there to be much less coverage given to Lalas as a whole.

Fabio Capello is celebrating his 80th birthday on Thursday and has named the best players he has worked with in his career to date, the best ‘pupil’ that he has taught and has looked back on his most memorable highlights from a career that spanned over 50 years. 

Capello’s 80th birthday interview: ‘Herrera lightyears ahead, Cassano made me too angry’

As a player, Capello was a four-time Scudetto winner and lifted trophies with Roma, Juventus and Milan, before embarking on a managerial career that would take him back to Milan, Roma, Juve but also to Real Madrid, and the England and Russia national teams. 

Capello won nine trophies while in charge of Milan, including the 1993-94 Champions League, two league titles with Real Madrid, two trophies with Roma and two league titles with Juventus that were later revoked. 

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello says that there are three main coaches that have given him the most inspiration. 

“I tried to take something from all of their methods. I copied a lot from (Helenio) Herrera, a great motivator, lightyears ahead of the rest. I won my first trophy with him, the Coppa Italia in 1969, beating Cagliari with Riva, the greatest striker around by some distance. 

“(Nils) Liedholm, on the other hand, made you believe that you wanted to do something, even if it was actually just him who wanted you to do it. 

“(Nereo) Rocco understood football brilliantly. He was very direct, no beating around the bush.” 

And what are Capello’s favourite memories from his playing career?

“The early days,” he replied. “The first trophies: The first Coppa Italia, the first Scudetto with Juve, putting the star on the shirt with Rivera’s Milan, the strongest team I played in. 

“As a coach, the best feeling of all was the 1994 Champions League which we won against all odds, so that was even more beautiful.” 

Capello says that De Rossi was his best ‘student’, i.e. players that he has coached that have gone on to have their own coaching career. 

“If I have to name one, I would say De Rossi. I gave him his debut at Roma, I invested a lot in him, so out of affection, I would say Daniele.” 

And who is the best player that Capello has had the honour of coaching?

“Ronaldo, o Fenomeno. He was an absolute champion. It’s a shame he didn’t want to make any more sacrifices. And in Madrid, they forced me to sell him. 

“Another out-of-this-world talent was Cassano, but he made me too angry: A talent that was lost.” 

Inter have officially announced that head coach Cristian Chivu has put pen to paper on a new contract extension, which will tie the Romanian to the club until the summer of 2028. 

Chivu’s contract extension comes as a reward after a remarkable first season in charge, guiding the Nerazzurri to a Serie A and Coppa Italia double in what was the 45-year-old’s first full season as a head coach. 

Chivu spent the final seven years of his playing career in San Siro and held coaching roles with Inter’s U14s, U17s, U18s and the Primavera side before taking charge of Parma in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign. 

Chivu was then brought back to Inter following the departure of Simone Inzaghi at the end of the 2024-25 season and ended up guiding the Nerazzurri to both the Coppa Italia trophy and the Scudetto in 2025-26. 

Chivu’s previous contract had been due to expire next year, in the summer of 2027.

What Inter said about Chivu’s contract extension

“FC Internazionale Milano is delighted to confirm the contract extension of head coach Cristian Chivu. Thanks to the contract renewal, Coach Chivu will stay in charge of the Nerazzurri until 2028,” read a statement on the club website.

“Cristian Chivu’s story is truly unique: it’s a story defined by passion and sacrifice, it’s a tale of memorable and defining moments. It’s a story entrenched in Nerazzurri colours, with the Club there at every stage of the coach’s life, as was the case when Chivu was appointed Inter head coach on 9 June 2025.

“Since then, Cristian has been on the touchlines for Inter for 58 matches in an intense and demanding season that proved unforgettable as the months went by. The coach won a historic double featuring Inter’s 21st Scudetto, the Club’s tenth Coppa Italia. These were victories from a special team built under the Romanian coach, who was also recognised as Serie A Coach of the Season for 2025/26.

“Pride, loyalty, and passion for Inter: these were Chivu’s words to introduce himself to the Nerazzurri family at the start of his third stint with Inter. Words that served as a mantra, guiding his daily work with the squad and building the foundations for a triumphant season. 

“They are also values he recognised in his players, the core of a special team that went on to achieve remarkable success. Chivu has always allowed his team to be recognised for their merits, stepping back to let them have their moments to shine, even in the most celebratory moments. 

“These include the Coppa Italia ceremony in Rome, when he left the stage to the players, and at San Siro during the Serie A trophy celebration, when his players had to encourage him to lift the trophy with captain Lautaro Martinez. Perhaps the most special recognition of all: a group that truly views Chivu as their leader and guide.

“He’s a coach who can read every moment, a master who has passed on the values of Inter passion, a tradition long carried forward by a group that has consistently raised the profile of the Nerazzurri colours over the years. 

“This has been a key part of Inter’s journey, a factor that has given the players self-belief and allowed them to pick themselves back up after they were knocked down, a driving force ready to propel the team towards new challenges and new goals: from the Champions League to the league title, via the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup.

“This season has also seen the Romanian coach set several records: Chivu won the Scudetto as a coach after winning three league titles as a player, a feat achieved only by Armando Castellazzi in 1937/38, after winning in midfield for Inter’s 1929/30 Scudetto, while the legendary Virgilio Fossati had won as player-manager of the first championship in Nerazzurri history. 

“That’s not all, Chivu is also the fifth Inter coach in history to win Serie A in his first season, after Árpad Weisz (1929/30), Alfredo Foni (1952/53), Giovanni Invernizzi (1970/71), and Jose Mourinho (2008/09). Chivu’s records extent to more than this as he is the second coach to win Serie A with both the first team and the Primavera side, having previously won with Inter’s youth squad in 2022. 

“Alongside him, only Invernizzi had accomplished this, who, as well as the 1971 title, also won three Primavera tournaments in 1964, 1966, and 1969. Chivu is therefore the first to win the Scudetto across all three of his Nerazzurri ‘lives’. With the addition of the Coppa Italia, he has once again rewritten the record books, becoming the only figure in Inter history to win both competitions in the same season as both player and coach.

“Triumphs and spectacular achievements, possible only for those who truly know what it means to have passion for Inter, a value that has defined the entire season and will once again guide Cristian Chivu until 2028.”

The latest Football Italia Transfer Show is out on YouTube. Check out today’s most relevant updates from Italy.

Italy international Marco Palestra is expected to join Inter by next week, as the newly crowned Serie A champions had a positive meeting with Atalanta on Thursday and are close to reaching an agreement over the full-back’s transfer fee.

Inter have moved quickly to replace Denzel Dumfries, who will move to Real Madrid for €20m.

Serie A transfer round-up June 18

Inter’s city rivals Milan are still looking for a director of football and a sporting director, and the uncertainty regarding the club’s management has unsettled some key members of the team, such as Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot, according to Gazzetta and Corriere dello Sport.

Both Frenchmen are reportedly considering leaving Milan this summer, even though they have not yet made any public statement about their intentions, unlike their teammate Rafael Leao.

Jonathan David, on the other hand, wants to stay at Juventus to prove his worth in 2026-27, and according to Gazzetta, the Canadian’s stance complicates the Bianconeri’s search for a new centre-forward.

Roma remain keen on Mason Greenwood, and it is cheaper for the Giallorossi to sign the Englishman by the end of the month than from July 1.

As reported by Gazzetta, Marseille might be forced by financial difficulties to accept a €50m fee, including add-ons, to sell Greenwood before June 30, while, from July 1, a €60m clause will activate for the ex-Manchester United winger.

Find out today’s transfer updates in the Football Italia Transfer Show

Five Serie A stars are involved in the starting line-ups as Switzerland and Bosnia meet in the second round of group stage fixtures at the 2026 World Cup on Thursday evening. 

Group B at the 2026 World Cup is at a complete deadlock after the first round of group stage fixtures as the opening matches between Switzerland and Qatar ended level at 1-1, as did the match between Bosnia and co-hosts Canada.

Switzerland have made two changes for Thursday’s match, dropping Denis Zakaria and Ruben Vargas in favour of Silvan Widmer and Fabian Rieder. 

The Swiss side will feature three Italian representatives in the form of Inter center-back Manuel Akanji, Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Michel Aebischer. Milan’s Ardon Jashari is named among the substitutes. 

Bosnia, who defeated Italy in the World Cup play-off final in order to qualify, will have two Serie A representatives in Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic and Atalanta’s Sead Kolasinac. 

Kick-off is due at 20.00 BST.

Switzerland vs. Bosnia: Confirmed line-ups

Switzerland (4-3-3): Kobel; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka, Aebischer; Rieder, Embolo, Ndoye. 

Subs: Mvogo, Keller, Coemert, Amenda, Jaquez, Zakaria, Manzambi, Jashari, Sow, Fassnacht, Vargas, Okafor, Amdouni, Itten.

Bosnia (4-4-2): Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac; Alajbegovic, Tahirovic, Sunjic, Memic; Dzeko, Demirovic. 

Subs: Jurkas, Zlomislic, Mujakic, Hadzikadunic, Radeljic, Malic, Gigovic, Basic, Hadziahmetovic, Burnic, Mahmic, Bazdar, Bajraktaervic, Tabakovic, Lukic.

Declan Rice took a moment to speak about his friendship with Italy international Riccardo Calafiori after England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia at the 2026 World Cup and says that Italy is ‘an amazing country, I respect everyone there’. 

Declan Rice on love for Calafiori and Italy

The Arsenal midfielder started alongside Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham in the England midfield as Thomas Tuchel led the Three Lions to an encouraging 4-2 victory over a Croatia side featuring the likes of Luka Modric, Petar Sucic, Martin Baturina and Mario Pasalic.

During the post-match interviews, Rice took a moment to speak to the Italian media and discussed his friendship with Italy international Calafiori, who is not at the World Cup and is instead preparing to defend Arsenal’s Premier League title in 2026-27.  

“One of my best friends at Arsenal, Calafiori, he’s obviously Italian. I love that guy, one of my best friends in football,” the England midfielder said in a post-match interview with DAZN.

“It’s an amazing country, I’ve been there a few times myself so I respect everyone there.” 

The DAZN reporter asked Rice how he is coping with the sun in the United States, joking with the sunburned Englishman that he’s picked up a nice bit of colour. 

“I’ve got a nice colour now,” Rice insisted. “I’m not sunburned anymore. I was very burnt the first few days but now I’m good. I’m happy now”

Declan Rice ama l’Italia e Calafiori #FIFAWorldCup #DAZN pic.twitter.com/0nqVUNnrcz

— DAZN Italia (@DAZN_IT) June 18, 2026

Brazil are preparing to take on Haiti in their second group stage match of the 2026 World Cup, but Carlo Ancelotti will once again have to go without star attacker Neymar, who will not be available despite his recent return to training. 

Still no Neymar for Brazil and Ancelotti

Neymar did not feature for Brazil in their 1-1 draw against Morocco in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup after picking up a new injury almost immediately after reporting for national team duty. 

The former Barcelona and PSG star has recently returned to training with the rest of his teammates, but this was not enough for him to be considered for selection for Brazil’s upcoming match against Haiti, which will kick-off at 1.30 BST in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

According to the latest updates from Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Neymar has remained at Brazil’s base camp in New Jersey to continue his recovery work while the rest of the squad have set off for their match against Haiti, which will be played in Philadelphia. 

There is still some optimism that Neymar may be fit enough to feature against Scott McTominay’s Scotland on Wednesday, June 24.

Francesco Camarda is now officially a Milan player again as the Rossoneri have exercised their buy-back option to bring the teenager home from Lecce just two days after his loan deal was made permanent. 

Official: Lecce confirm Milan have activated Camarda buy-back clause

Camarda spent the 2025-26 season on loan with Lecce in order to experience a full season playing regularly in the Italian top flight. Curiously, that loan deal included a low-cost option to buy for Lecce and another low-cost buy-back option in favour of the Rossoneri. 

Lecce confirmed on Tuesday that they had activated their option to buy to sign Camarda on a permanent basis. 

However, Lecce have since confirmed on Thursday that Milan have exercised their buy-back option, which means that the 18-year-old spent less than two days as a full-time Lecce player. 

Milan have since confirmed the deal in a statement of their own, which reads: “Milan announces that it has exercised the buy-back option relating to the ownership of Francesco Camarda. The striker will return to the Rossoneri starting from July 1, 2026.”

Reports on Wednesday indicated that Milan’s buy-back option was set at just above €500,000 and that they only had a brief period between June 18 and June 20 to activate the clause.

Reports in Germany claim that Milan offered Eintracht Frankfurt director Markus Krösche a staggering salary of €10m per season for four years and a transfer budget of €700m in order to transform the Rossoneri, but this was still not enough to convince the German to move to San Siro. 

BILD: Milan’s handling of Krösche negotiations were ‘amateurish’

Milan have recently learned that Krösche will not be joining the club in the role of ‘head of football’. The Eintracht Frankfurt director had been linked with a move to take over the sporting sector of the club but seems set to stay on in his current role with the Bundesliga outfit. 

• Read more: Who is Milan-linked Krösche and who are his best signings?

That is despite the fact that Milan were willing to offer Krösche €40m in salary over a four-year period, equating to €10m net per season according to reports from German outlet BILD. 

A €10m-per-season salary would have been significantly higher than any of the current players in the Rossoneri squad: The likes of Rafael Leao and Mike Maignan believed to be earning somewhere in the region of €7m net per season. 

BILD also claims that Milan were willing to give Krösche a budget of €700m over a four-year period to completely transform the playing staff, coaching staff and the general sporting side of the club.  

Thursday’s report points out that there was a release clause in Krösche’s contract with Eintracht Frankfurt, believed to be worth €7m, but this would have only been valid during the winter, not the summer. 

That means that Milan would have had to negotiate with Frankfurt, who reportedly set their price at €10m to free Krösche from his current contract. 

In the end, the German executive decided to stay where he is, and BILD claims that part of his decision was due to the fact that he did not want to ‘let down’ a club that has treated him so well so close to the beginning of the transfer window, nor did he want to disappoint the 600 staff that work under him at the Deutsche Bank Park. 

BILD also claims that Krösche was ‘annoyed’ at the reports that came out in the Italian press regarding his talks with Milan when an agreement had not been reached. The German outlet claims that the handling of the situation was ‘amateurish’ from such a respected and world-renowned club.

Czechia and South Africa are hoping to get off the mark at the 2026 World Cup when they face each other in Atlanta as the second round of group stage fixtures gets underway on Thursday evening. 

Both nations fell to defeats in their first matches in Group A: South Africa fell to a 3-1 defeat against co-hosts Mexico in the opening game of the 2026 World Cup while Czechia were defeated 2-1 by South Korea shortly afterwards. 

South Africa’s defeat was particularly costly as they had two players sent off in the process and will therefore be without Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane against Czechia on Thursday. 

The Czech outfit has made a handful of changes, most notably leaving West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek among the substitutes. 

There are no Serie A representatives involved in today’s game

Kick-off is due at 17.00 BST.

Czechia vs. South Africa: Confirmed line-ups 

Czechia (5-3-2): Kovar; Coufal, Holes, Hranac, Krejci, Sojka; Sadilek, Darida, Cerv; Hlozek, Schick.

Subs: Stanek, Hornicek, Zima, Chaloupek, Zeleny, Doudera, Provod, Soucek, Sochurek, Kuchta, Chytil, Sulc, Chory, Visinsky.

South Africa (4-3-3): Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Mbatha, Adams; Maseko, Rayners, Appollis.

Subs: Chaine, Goss, Matuludi, Ndamane, Kabini, Sibisi, Makhanya, Cross, Moremi, Foster, Mofokeng, Makgopa, Sebelebele.

Suspended: Sithole, Zwane

Ruben Amorim has a rebuild job on his hands as the recently-appointed head coach of Milan, as the Rossoneri have a list of nine players whose futures remain unsettled including the likes of Rafael Leao, Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot. 

Amorim has nine potential transfer headaches at Milan

It was a bitterly disappointing end to the 2025-26 season for Milan, who missed out on qualification to the Champions League despite having spent much of the campaign in second place. 

The collapse in form in the final in the final weeks of the season led to the departures of head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani, who were all dismissed in one brutal statement the day after the Serie A campaign came to an end. 

It took several weeks for Milan to make any new appointments, but have since landed on former Manchester United and Sporting CP tactician Amorim to take over from Allegri. A new set of directors are still yet to be appointed. 

Before the new coach starts thinking about potential signings, he already has a list of nine players whose futures need to be sorted as a matter of priority. 

Perhaps the biggest issue for Milan is the future of Leao, who has made it clear in a series of interviews during the off-season that he feels ready to take on a new challenge elsewhere. 

The issue is finding a willing buyer, as La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Milan are still hoping to bring in a fee of €50m if they are to sell the Portugal international this summer. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that Amorim may not be the best fit for Leao as a head coach, especially if he intends to deploy his usual 3-4-2-1 formation, which would not get the best out of Leao’s characteristics. 

Additionally, it remains to be seen what Luka Modric will decide to do after the 2026 World Cup comes to an end. He joined Milan on a free transfer last summer, signing a one-year contract with an option to extend, but many signs point towards him potentially calling it a day on his playing career at the age of 40 this summer.

Then there is Rabiot, who was brought to the club by his former Juventus coach Allegri last summer. Allegri has since taken over from Antonio Conte as head coach of Napoli, and Rabiot continues to be linked with a potential move to join his trusted leader at the Stadio Maradona. 

As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan  have no intention of letting Christian Pulisic go this summer, but the fact that he has not yet put pen to paper on a new contract is not a particularly encouraging sign. 

The USMNT star is under contract until 2027 with a club option to extend for a further 12 months, so there is still time to negotiate a renewal, and US-based owner Gerry Cardinale is said to be particularly keen on keeping ‘Captain America’ on board. 

There are also doubts surrounding goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who has often been linked with big-money moves to some of Europe’s biggest clubs. La Gazzetta dello Sport suggests that a season without Champions League football and an unclear direction at boardroom level is not particularly appealing to the Frenchman. 

Then, there are a set of returning loanees who appear unlikely to reclaim their places in the Rossoneri first team. They include Samuel Chukwueze, who could still potentially join Fulham on a permanent basis, Ismael Bennacer, set to return from Dinamo Zagreb, Yunus Musah, set to return from Atalanta, Warren Bondo, set to return from Cremonese. 

Reports in Italy claim that Jonathan David does not want to give up on his Juventus career after one disappointing season in Serie A, but the Canada international’s stance could complicate the club’s chances of bringing in a new centre-forward during the summer transfer window. 

Juventus could struggle to sign a new striker if both David and Openda stay

David joined Juventus on a free transfer during the 2025 summer transfer window, signing on a five-year contract running until the summer of 2030. The 26-year-old earns a reported wage of €6m per season plus up to €2m in bonuses in Turin. 

Despite delivering a consistent return during his time in Ligue 1 with Lille, averaging above 17 league goals per season during his time in France, David struggled to hit the ground running in Serie A and for the first time in his professional career, ended a season without hitting double figures (six goals from 35 Serie A appearances, eight goals from 46 appearances across all competitions). 

With Juventus missing out on qualification to the Champions League and with Dusan Vlahovic’s contract expiring at the end of June, Juventus have been keen to bring in a new centre-forward to add to Luciano Spalletti’s ranks. 

Given that David arrived on a free transfer, any sale would be recorded as a capital gain for Juventus if they were to sell the Canadian this summer. 

However, according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, David is unwilling to give up on his Bianconeri career after just one season and is determined to prove his worth at the Allianz Stadium. 

However, this could complicate Juventus’s search to bring in another centre-forward, given that David still earns a significant salary and selling Lois Openda outright this summer seems like an impossible task. 

And, with an expected drop in budget of around €50m-€60m without access to the Champions League, stumping up the cash to sign a new, starting centre-forward while keeping both David and Openda on board is a difficult task to say the least.

Scotland and Morocco meet in a fascinating Group C clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with both nations heading into the game in a confident mood after positive opening results.

BUY SCOTLAND VS. MOROCCO TICKETS

For Scotland, this fixture already feels like a major opportunity. Steve Clarke’s side began their campaign with a gritty 1-0 win over Haiti, a result that gave them three precious points and their first World Cup victory since 1990.

It was not always pretty, but it was exactly the kind of disciplined, hard-working performance that has come to define this Scotland team.

Morocco, meanwhile, opened their tournament with an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil.

The Atlas Lions showed once again that their run to the semi-finals in 2022 was no fluke.

Compact, aggressive and technically sharp in transition, they frustrated one of the tournament favourites and now face Scotland knowing a win could put them in a very strong position to progress from the group.

How Scotland could line up against Morocco

BUY SCOTLAND VS. MOROCCO TICKETS

Scotland appear to be in a healthy position heading into the match.

There are no major injury concerns currently confirmed, giving Steve Clarke the option to either stick with the side that beat Haiti or make one or two changes to freshen up the attack.

One interesting decision could involve Ben Doak. The young winger started against Haiti and offered directness, but there have been suggestions Clarke may consider rotating his forward line depending on how he wants to approach Morocco’s defensive structure.

John McGinn is almost certain to keep his place after scoring the winner, while Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay and Angus Gunn should remain key figures in the spine of the team.

Scotland Predicted Line-up: Gunn, Hickey, Hanley, Hendry, Robertson, McTominay, Ferguson, Doak, McGinn, Christie, Adams.

How Morocco could line up against Scotland

Morocco are expected to stay close to the structure they used against Brazil.

Bounou gives them elite experience in goal, Hakimi remains their most dangerous outlet from right-back, and Ounahi provides creativity between midfield and attack.

Saibari’s goal against Brazil should strengthen his case to start again, while Brahim Díaz will be one of Morocco’s main threats in possession.

Morocco Predicted Line-up: Bounou, Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui, Aynaoui, Bouaddi, Díaz, Ounahi, El Khannous, Saibari.

How to buy Scotland tickets

Tickets for Scotland fixtures can be purchased via the official website, although that route is not always the most convenient or straightforward option for fans.

Because of that, we recommend using our trusted link, which provides a reliable and more budget-friendly way to secure match tickets.

How to buy Morocco tickets

BUY SCOTLAND VS. MOROCCO TICKETS

Morocco fans often buy their match tickets through the official website, which can be accessed here, but it is always a good idea to compare other options in case better deals are available.

For a quicker and more convenient process, we suggest using our recommended link. It can help you avoid extra membership charges and skip long waiting times for popular fixtures.

The platform is easy to navigate and provides added security for supporters, including a 150% money-back guarantee.

Scotland vs Morocco head-to-head record

Scotland and Morocco have met once before at a World Cup, and it was a painful day for the Scots.

Their only previous World Cup meeting came in 1998, when Morocco beat Scotland 3-0 in the group stage.

Salaheddine Bassir scored twice, while Abdeljalil Hadda also found the net.

Scotland had Craig Burley sent off in the second half, and the defeat confirmed their group-stage exit.

That match remains Morocco’s only win over Scotland, but it also gives this fixture an interesting historical edge. Scotland will be desperate to avoid a repeat, while Morocco will hope history can work in their favour again.

Reports in Italy claim that Roma are prepared to increase their current offer for Mason Greenwood, but there is a race against time to strike a deal with Marseille, who must raise funds before the end of the month to comply with FFP regulations. 

Where Roma stand in negotiations for Greenwood

Roma have been targeting the signing of former Manchester United forward Greenwood for several weeks and recent updates claim that there is an agreement in principle on personal terms with the 24-year-old for an initial salary of €4.5m per season, which could rise over the years. 

Roma have not yet come to an agreement with Marseille as things stand, though. Reports in Italy claim that Marseille value the Englishman in the region of €50m-€55m, while the Giallorossi have tabled an offer of €40m made up of an initial €5m loan fee, a €25m transfer fee and guaranteed bonuses of €10m. 

According to Thursday’s reports from the Corriere dello Sport, Roma are prepared to raise their offer to €45m including bonuses. 

Marseille, meanwhile, have been left needing to sell players in order to raise funds to comply with FFP regulations. Roma themselves learned on Wednesday that they will be fined €6m for failing to comply with the terms of an FFP settlement agreement during the financial year ending in 2025, but for Marseille, the situation is more severe and the club risk being excluded from UEFA competitions for the next three years if they do not raise funds before the end of June. 

From a budgeting perspective, it is important to remember that if Marseille were to sell a big-name player like Greenwood, they would be able to record a capital gain in full on their accounts for the current season, Meanwhile, if Roma were to sign Greenwood, they would be able to spread the cost of his purchase over several years of the player’s contract in the club’s accounts. 

Roma hope that the deadline for Marseille to raise funds will play into their hands and that the French side may be forced into lowering their asking price within the next few days. 

There is still pressure on Roma to get a deal done, as there have been suggestions that Atletico Madrid are also interested in a potential deal for Greenwood this summer.

Fabio Paratici refuses to rule out Moise Kean’s summer exit, but insists Fiorentina want to retain Cher Ndour and are interested in Luca Koleosho.

Paratici held a press conference at the Viola Park on Thursday to discuss the Tuscans’ plans for the summer transfer window.

“The ownership is very strong; it wants to build a competitive and lasting Fiorentina over the years. I want to emphasise these two words: competitive and lasting,” he said via LaViola.it.

“The ownership, I add, needs time. Things don’t happen in two weeks. It takes time to build lasting and competitive things.”

Paratici had met with Kean’s agent on Wednesday.

“We are in a transfer window. There are discussions with the footballers and their entourages. It’s a normal thing. I’m definitely not here to tell you the whole truth of what we say to each other with players and their entourage during this transfer window, to be honest,” Paratici said.

“As for Kean, he is absolutely a heritage of Italian football and Fiorentina. Everyone knows how fond I am of him; I watched him grow from when he was nine years old until the Champions League.

“I’ve also already sold him once under my management. I am as fond of him as I am of all the footballers I have had. But we are in a market period. We hope and want him to be our No.9. But all football clubs are not masters of their fate on the market, apart from the top five or six in the world.

“I believe it is a sincere and realistic response for our fans. First of all, because it takes respect, but also to educate people about what’s happening in the world of the market and football in general.”

Fiorentina parted ways with coach Paolo Vanoli a few weeks ago and hired Fabio Grosso.

“Grosso was the only candidate. We liked the profile and everything that follows,” Paratici said.

Fiorentina have not won a trophy in over 20 years.

“You always need a minimum correlation between dream and goal. They should be as closely related as possible,” noted Paratici.

“Yesterday my son, who plays football, told me his dream is to play in the World Cup. I told him that if his goal is to play in the World Cup, we risk getting disappointed. It’s best if we set a realistic goal and a dream that’s close to it. That’s not to say you don’t want to try to win. But the dream remains a dream and a goal becomes a goal.”

Fiorentina failed to qualify for European competitions in 2025-26, does Paratici fear the club has lost appeal?

“No, Fiorentina have not lost appeal. The clubs have not lost appeal. Liverpool didn’t win for 20 years, and all the footballers wanted to go there. Manchester United haven’t won in so many years, but ask any footballer if they don’t want to go play for them.

“The clubs are historic; they have their own historic relevance regardless of the sporting result. Then it’s clear that if you play the Champions League, you’re more attractive.”

U21 Italy international Ndour has been linked with Juventus, but Paratici is not considering selling him, contrary to Dodo.

“Ndour is at the heart of Fiorentina’s project, absolutely,” Paratici said.

“He’s just getting started; he needs to confirm himself. This is another point I would like to emphasise, not only for Fiorentina but for Italian football. We cannot beatify players after twelve matches. We can have a positive or negative impression. We don’t even have to crucify them.

“We need to find a balance. Ndour had a very good second half of the season. He’s growing. We expect him to improve even further next season.

“Dodo is 28 years old and has legitimate ambitions. Like Fiorentina have them. We’ll see what happens in the next few days or months.”

During an interview with Sky Sport Italia, Paratici also confirmed interest in Burnley-owned Koleosho: “Everyone likes good players. Koleosho is a good player, like others in the U21 team,” Paratici concluded.

Paratici took charge of Fiorentina in February 2026 so this is the first transfer window he’ll oversee at the Stadio Franchi.

Sky Sport Italia reports that Marco Palestra is closing in on a move to Inter after the latest meeting between the Serie A champions and Atalanta today.

Inter are close to reaching a full agreement with Atalanta for Palestra, according to Sky Sport Italia.

Latest meeting brings Palestra closer to Inter

The Italian broadcasters claim that a meeting between the two clubs took place on Thursday morning, helping the newly crowned Serie A champions move closer to Atalanta’s demands.

According to the report, the two parties hope to shake hands by the end of next week.

Currently, the two parties are discussing the bonus structure and a potential sell-on clause for Atalanta, so an agreement is not too far away.

Palestra has also attracted interest from the Premier League, especially Chelsea and Manchester City.

Sky Sport, however, already reported a few days ago that the promising Italian defender was willing to wait for Inter and Atalanta to reach an agreement, having prioritised a move to San Siro.

Inter have planned to make Palestra their replacement for Denzel Dumfries, who is set to move to Real Madrid in a €20m deal.

The latest episode of the Football Italia summer show is not live on YouTube. Giancarlo Rinaldi joined us to discuss the next Juventus moves, including the future of Andrea Cambiaso and the Bianconeri’s search for a new striker.

Both Chelsea and Barcelona have shown interest in Juventus defender Cambiaso, and according to Gazzetta, both sides are eager to discuss swap deals with the Bianconeri, who need to make a €20m capital gain by the end of the month.

Football Italia Summer Show, June 18: Juventus, Cambiaso, Kean and more

Chelsea have reportedly offered Nicolas Jackson as part of a swap deal, while Barcelona want to include Ronald Araujo in negotiations with the Bianconeri.

“From a selfish Italian national team point of view, I’d like to see him where he plays regularly and not another kind of Chiesa, making a big move and not playing any football at all,” Gincarlo Rinaldi said during the latest episode of our Summer Show on YouTube.

Juventus are also chasing a new centre forward and, aside from Jackson, the most concrete options on the table are Alexander Sorloth and Randal Kolo Muani. The latter already played for Juventus in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, scoring ten goals in 22 appearances in Turin.

Giancarlo, however, feels that Sorloth would be the best option for the Old Lady.

Check out the full show below.

Italy missing the 2018 World Cup was hard enough to take. Missing 2022 after winning the Euros made no sense to many supporters. Now 2026 has gone as well, and there is only so long a country can keep calling this a shock.

The Azzurri will not be at the next World Cup, even with the tournament expanded to 48 teams. Europe has more places, too, so there was no hiding behind a narrow format this time. For a country with four World Cup titles, this is not one bad campaign. It is a serious football problem.

The last hit came in Zenica. Italy drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final, then lost the shoot-out 4-1. Moise Kean gave them the start they wanted, but Alessandro Bastoni’s red card before half-time changed the mood completely. Bosnia stayed alive, Haris Tabakovic levelled late, and Italy once again found a way to make a World Cup place slip away.

The group stage had already made things messy. Norway beat Italy 3-0 in Oslo in June 2025, and it was not a strange result from one lucky night. Alexander Sorloth scored early, Antonio Nusa added another, and Erling Haaland made it 3-0 before half-time. Italy had plenty of the ball, but Norway had the parts that mattered: speed, bite, and clear chances.

That result cost Luciano Spalletti his job and pushed the federation towards Gennaro Gattuso.

It is too easy to say Italy simply froze. They did, in moments, but this was not only a mental collapse. The team had gaps that never really went away. The defence still had strong names, including Donnarumma, Bastoni, and Calafiori when available, but it did not look as secure as old Italian teams. The midfield had quality through Barella, Tonali, and others, but it rarely carried matches with real force. Up front, Italy still looked like a side trying to decide who they were.

Kean, Retegui, Scamacca, Raspadori, Lucca, and the younger Pio Esposito all offer something different. None of them became the clear, cold, reliable striker Italy needed during the campaign. That matters in qualifying. Tight games often come down to one early chance, one ugly finish, or one forward who can bully a match into submission.

Italy have had plenty of good footballers. They have not had enough players on the national team to feel settled.

The Euro 2020 win now looks even stranger in the middle of this run. Italy were brave, sharp, and full of life under Roberto Mancini. They pressed well, moved the ball quickly, and won the final at Wembley against England. At the time, it felt like a rebuild had arrived early. Now it looks more like a peak that the system could not hold.

Since then, the national team has kept changing faces without changing the deeper story. Mancini left. Spalletti arrived. Gattuso arrived. Results improved in small patches, then collapsed when the pressure returned. Gabriele Gravina’s resignation after the latest failure only confirmed how deep the embarrassment had become.

There is also a club problem sitting under the national team. Serie A remains a strong league, and Italian clubs still produce tactical detail that many countries envy. But the pathway for Italian attackers and young players has not been clean enough. Too many prospects get minutes late, move often, or sit behind older and foreign players, which slows their development.

That is not a simple “too many foreigners” argument. The better question is why Italian clubs do not trust enough young Italian players early enough, especially in attacking positions. Spain, France, Germany, and England have found ways to throw young players into serious football sooner. Italy still talks about talent for years before fully using it.

The 2026 World Cup will still have plenty of Serie A interest. Argentina, Brazil, France, the United States, and others will bring players from Italian clubs. Italy will watch its league represented while its own national team stays home. That is a painful little detail.

There is also a betting angle around this World Cup, especially now Italy’s absence has changed the market for outright winners, top scorers, and group betting. For readers who still want to follow the tournament that way, OnlineBookies has a list of the best new betting sites that includes newer platforms with football markets and World Cup-specific offers.

For Italy, though, no market or outside story softens the truth. They have not scored a World Cup goal since Mario Balotelli against England in 2014. By the time 2030 arrives, a whole generation of supporters will have grown up without seeing Italy play at a World Cup.

That is almost impossible to process for a country that gave the game Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, and Gianluigi Buffon. Italy are tied with Germany for the most World Cup wins, behind only Brazil. They are not supposed to be a side people discuss during qualifying post-mortems every four years.

The answer to what went wrong is not one red card, one coach, one penalty shoot-out, or one bad night in Bosnia. It is all of those things sitting on top of years of weak planning, striker uncertainty, unstable leadership, and a football culture that still does not quite know how to move from pride to repair.

Italy do not need another slogan about rebuilding. They have had enough of those. They need a clearer youth pathway, bolder squad choices, a stronger attacking identity, and a federation that stops treating failure as a shock.

The Azzurri can come back. Countries with that much football history usually do. But 2030 cannot be treated as another chance to hope. It has to be treated as the deadline for finally fixing what three missed World Cups have already made obvious.

Having failed to match Juventus’ asking price for Andrea Cambiaso, Chelsea have asked the Bianconeri to consider including Nicolas Jackson in a swap deal, according to Gazzetta.

Juventus defender Cambiaso is attracting interest from several European clubs, especially Barcelona and Chelsea, with the Bianconeri forced to sell one of their players by the end of June to make a capital gain and comply with FFP regulations.

Cambiaso transfer: latest updates as Chelsea explore swap deal

Gazzetta reported on Wednesday that Barcelona were eager to include Ronald Araujo in a player-plus cash swap deal, while, still according to Gazzetta, Chelsea are open to including Senegal international Jackson in negotiations with the Old Lady.

Cambiaso has a low amortised cost in Juventus’ balance sheet, so he’s practically the most sellable player in the team right now.

The Bianconeri value the Italy international at €40m, but Chelsea’s opening offer is only around € 27m- €28m, according to Gazzetta.

Therefore, the Blues have asked Juventus to consider the potential inclusion of Jackson in the deal, given that the Bianconeri are looking for a new centre-forward for next season.

Jackson has returned to Stamford Bridge after a one-season loan spell at Bayern Munich.

Juventus keep their eyes open for a new centre-forward and have also opened talks for Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid) and Randal Kolo Muani (PSG).

Rafael Leao has opened up about his future at Milan for the first time since his compatriot Ruben Amorim was appointed as the Rossoneri boss.

Leao’s time at Milan might be over following a disappointing 2025-26 season at San Siro under Massimiliano Allegri.

Leao comments on Milan future after Amorim’s appointment

The Portuguese winger struggled with injuries and played for the whole campaign out of position. Over the last few weeks, he repeatedly said he would be looking for a new challenge during the summer transfer window, and it’s unclear whether his plans will change following Amorim’s appointment as the new Diavoli boss.

“Now I only think about the World Cup and helping my national team. When the World Cup is over, I’ll think about my future,” Leao said on Wednesday, following Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo at the World Cup.

Leao started on the bench and was introduced in the second half.

“I tried to give my best. Sometimes there are games when you don’t score or assist, but that doesn’t mean you were sloppy,” he added, via Sky Sport.

They defended well, with two or three defenders close to me, but I still tried to go one-v-one and do well. The team is the most important thing. We have to raise our heads and work. We must win the next game.

Milan have appointed Amorim on a three-year deal, but have yet to rebuild the club’s management after failing to bring in both Ralf Rangnick and Markus Kroche as Football Director.

Leao remains under contract with Milan until June 2028 and has a €175m release clause.

Sky Sport Italia reports that both Juventus and Napoli have shown interest in Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after Inter opted for Lazio’s Ivan Provedel instead.

Napoli and Juventus have set their sights on Tottenham keeper Vicario, according to Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio.

Vicario transfer news: latest updates with interest from Serie A

Inter had chased the Italy international for several weeks in the past, but the Nerazzurri eventually decided to pick Provedel from Lazio and promote Josep Martinez to a starting role for 2026-27 following Yann Sommer’s exit as a free agent.

The Serie A interest in Vicario, however, remains very much alive, with both Juventus and Napoli tracking the ex-Empoli and Cagliari keeper.

Juventus have made Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez their primary target for a goalkeeper, but they have not yet reached an agreement with the Premier League club and would consider Vicario if he were less expensive than the Argentine.

Napoli, on the other hand, would only open formal talks for Vicario’s return to Serie A if one of their goalkeepers, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic or Alex Meret, were to leave this summer.

Paolo Maldini reacts to Lionel Messi’s hat-trick with a social media message: ‘No words needed, simply the best.’

Argentine legend Messi scored three goals in the Albiceleste’s 2026 World Cup debut against Algeria on Wednesday, leaving ex-Milan and Italy star Maldini impressed.

The legendary defender reacted to Messi’s latest World Cup display with an Instagram story: “No words needed, simply the best,” Maldini wrote, posting a picture of the Argentine superstar’s goal celebration.

Maldini participated in four World Cups, finishing 3rd in 1990 and second in 1994, when Italy lost the final on penalties to Brazil.

Maldini’s reaction to Messi’s hat-trick

Follow Football Italia on YouTube: watch our latest show below

La Gazzetta dello Sport

The king is always Leo

Messi wants the double that only Pelé could make; this is how he can overtake Maradona as well. ‘We are a marvellous group.’ Cristiano doesn’t work; Kane yes: scores twice.

Cardinale’s choices

Double setback, what a blow: Krosche and Hardung are no longer coming

FFP: Inter and Milan ok, Roma fined

Corriere dello Sport

Messi impresses, Ronaldo fails

If this is Milan: Krosche and Hardung deals collapse, Maignan and Leão to break away

Krosche and Hardung deals collapse, Maignan and Leao to break away

Amorim has signed for three years, but there’s a lack of management structure to plan ahead. The arrival of the two Eintracht managers falls apart. Modric won’t renew, Mike and Rafa want to leave.

Exclusive Gravina: ‘I’ll bring the bill.’

Inter done deal: Provedel arrives

Napoli, Lukaku perfect for Max

Roma, effort needed for Greenwood

Reggina to Lotito: signatures arrive

Tuttosport

Dibu, Kolo and Sorloth wait for Juve

The Bianconeri are confident that the requests for the goalkeeper and the strikers will decrease. There’s always Vicario as an alternative. Carnevali is waiting for signals from Brahim Diaz and studies the youth sector in Vinovo. Cambiaso between Chelsea and Barça (swap deal with Araujo?)

Messiah

Messiah: hat-trick and tears to rewrite history

Ravaglia rivals Falcone

Chivu signs, three gifts for Inter

Cardinale, a mess after the other

Portugal and Ronaldo, double disappointment

Super Kane, Bellingham and Rashford: Come on England

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

Inter striker Marcus Thuram has joked that he is ‘a bit jealous’ of Lautaro Martinez and his relationship with Argentina teammate Lionel Messi after the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s hat-trick against Algeria at the 2026 World Cup. 

Thuram jokes with Martinez after Messi’s World Cup masterpiece

It was a performance for the ages as Messi stuck a hat-trick past Algeria to draw level with Miroslav Klose as the joint-highest goalscorer in World Cup history.

Both have 16 to their name and it now seems a matter of when, rather than if, Messi will claim the record for himself. 

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez was also part of the Argentina side that got off to a winning start at the 2026 World cup and shared a series of pictures of himself hugging his legendary teammate to his Instagram profile, captioned: “Victory in the first game, step by step with lots of enthusiasm. Vamos Argentina.” 

Among the commenters was Martinez’s strike partner at club level, Thuram, who replied with a GIF that read: ‘A bit of jealousy there,” which has gone down well among Inter and Argentina supporters alike. 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lautaro Javier Martinez (@lautaromartinez)

Reports in Italy confirm that Milan are set to activate their buy-back option for teenage centre-forward Francesco Camarda, who was loaned and then later sold to Lecce during the 2025-26 campaign. 

Milan to pay circa €500,000 to bring Camarda back from Lecce

Camarda netted an almost unbelievable 485 goals from 89 matches for Milan’s youth teams and has already racked up 33 appearances in Serie A having only turned 18 in March. 

As part of his development, a 17-year-old Camarda was sent out on loan to Lecce at the beginning of the 2025-26 season in order to bring a full season’s-worth of experience playing in the Italian top flight. 

Curiously, that deal also included an option to buy and a buy-back option in favour of the Rossoneri. Lecce confirmed on Tuesday that they have activated their option to buy clause. Lecce’s announcement confirmed that Milan have a buy-back option that will be valid from June 18 until June 20. 

According to the latest updates from Matteo Moretto, Milan intend to activate their buy-back clause and will have to pay Lecce a fee slightly above €500,000 in order to do so.

Wednesday’s reports indicate that Tommaso Baldanzi is all set to join Genoa on a permanent basis after spending the second half of the 2025-26 season on loan from Roma. 

Genoa set to sign Baldanzi on loan with obligation to buy from Roma

Baldanzi joined Genoa on loan with an option to buy during the January transfer window, and despite making just eight appearances under Daniele De Rossi in the second half of the 2025-26 season, the Grifone have renegotiated with Roma and are set to sign the 23-year-old in a permanent deal. 

According to reports from TMW, Baldanzi will rejoin Genoa on another loan deal, but this time with an obligation to buy for a fee of €9.5m. 

This is a slightly lower figure than the option to buy that Genoa negotiated during the January transfer window. 

Wednesday’s reports claim that Baldanzi will sign a contract that will keep him with Genoa until the summer of 2030. 

Baldanzi was originally brought to Roma from Empoli by Genoa head coach De Rossi during the winter transfer window in 2024 in a deal reported to be worth €10m plus bonuses. 

Thomas Tuchel will have to do without Bukayo Saka as England open their 2026 World Cup campaign against a Croatia side that will be led by Milan star Luka Modric, Inter’s Petar Sucic and an entire midfield of players currently plying their trade in Italy.

There are no Serie A representatives among the England squad: Milan’s Fikayo Tomori still not selected despite the recent withdrawal of Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento. Former Genoa full-back Djed Spence is named among the Three Lions substitutes. 

Croatia, meanwhile, have plenty of Serie A representation among their 26-man squad: Fiorentina’s Marin Pongracic, Bologna’s Nikola Moro, Milan’s Modric, Inter’s Sucic, Torino’s Nikola Vlasic, Atalanta’s Mario Pasalic and Como’s Martin Baturina are all available for selection. 

The entirety of the Croatia midfield will be made up of Serie A representatives, with Modric, Pasalic, Baturina and Sucic all selected to start. 

Kick-off is due at 21.00 BST.

England vs. Croatia: Confirmed line-ups 

England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

Subs: Henderson, Trafford, Guehi, Burn, Spence, Quansah, Henderson, Mainoo, Rogers, Eze, Saka, Rashford, Watkins, Toney.

Croatia (4-3-3): Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol, Sutalo; Modric, Mario Pasalic, P.Sucic; Perisic, Musa, Baturina.

Subs: Pandur, Kotarski, Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Jakic, Erlic, Moro, Kovacic, Vlasic, Fruk, L.Sucic, Kramaric, Budimir, Matanovic, Marco Pasalic.

The agent of Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel has confirmed that his client is closing in on a move to join Inter during the summer transfer window: ‘We’re very close, he’s always been an Inter fan’. 

Inter ‘very close’ to finalising low-cost Provedel deal

According to reports from various sources in Italy, the Nerazzurri are down to the final details of a deal to sign Provedel from Lazio and are hoping to exchange documents with the Biancocelesti within the next few days. 

According to the latest updates from Gianluca Di Marzio, Provedel has agreed to a three-year contract, which would see him through until the age of 35, with wages reported to be worth around €1.5m per season. 

The two clubs reportedly have a verbal agreement over a fee of just €3m for Provedel, who will otherwise be heading into the final year of his contract at the Stadio Olimpico. 

“We’re very close, we’ve been working in the right direction,” said Provedel’s agent Gianni Rava. “I hope that we’ll soon be able to close this transfer. Let’s hope for the best.” 

Rava later added: “Provedel has always been an Inter fan and I think it would be the closing of a full circle for him in terms of his career. He’s a great player and will come here to put his cards on the table, we’ll see. We’re confident.” 

Inter are bringing in Provedel to replace the departing Yann Sommer, who has served as the club’s no.1 for the last three seasons. The 37-year-old is leaving the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June. 

The Nerazzurri had been linked with a series of more expensive first-choice options, such as Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario, but have since decided to promote their recent understudy Josep Martinez and bring in an experienced, Serie A-proven back-up option in Provedel instead.

UEFA have confirmed that Roma will be fined for a breach of FFP rules during the financial year ending in 2025, but Milan and Inter have met the terms of their agreements with European football’s governing body and will not be punished. 

Roma fined €6m by UEFA

UEFA imposed a series of restrictions upon Roma for the years spanning from 2022 and 2026 following a breach of financial fair play regulations during the 2021-22 season. The exact terms of the settlement agreement can be read on the UEFA website. 

UEFA have confirmed that in the financial year ending in 2025, Roma ‘slightly exceeded’ their interim financial targets and as a result, have been handed a €2m fine. 

Additionally, Roma broke UEFA’s squad cost ratio in the financial year ending in 2025, exceeding the required 70% limit, and for that breach, the Giallorossi have been fined a further €4m. 

Inter and Milan have also been operating under settlement agreements with UEFA, but according to Sky Sport Italia, they have fully complied with the regulations set out to them and will not face any further punishments.

Reports in Italy claim that Milan are discussing the final details of a deal for 18-year-old winger Aurelien Guernier from EFL Championship side Birmingham City. 

Milan closing in on signing of 18-year-old Guernier from Birmingham

According to reports from various outlets, including Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, Milan have been in discussions over a deal for teenage winger Guernier, who is also of interest to Chelsea. 

Di Marzio reports that talks are at an advanced stage and that Guernier is expected to travel to Milan within the next few hours with the aim of closing a deal. 

Guernier is coming to the end of his youth-team contract with Birmingham, which will officially expire at the end of June. 

As Guernier is still only 18, the Rossoneri may still be obliged to pay a fee to Birmingham as per FIFA’s training compensation rules. 

The youngster is yet to appear for Birmingham’s senior side, and has instead been playing his football with the club’s U18 and U21 sides this season in the U18 Premier League and in the Premier League 2. 

If Guernier is to move to San Siro this summer, it is expected that his first opportunities would come with the Milan Futuro side.

New squad number added. #⃣4⃣4⃣

Keep impressing, Aurelien. pic.twitter.com/bmQ9VPU0zF

— Birmingham City Academy (@BCFCAcademy) March 12, 2026

Catch up on today’s biggest transfer stories from Italy with the latest Football Italia Transfer Show on YouTube.

Leading the headlines is the news that Markus Krösche will not be taking over as Milan’s new Football Director, but that’s just one of the key developments covered in today’s episode.

June 17 Transfer News – Latest Football Italia Show

Cristian Chivu will sign a contract extension with Inter until 2028 after the coach’s agent visited the club’s headquarters today.

Juventus and Roma must make a capital gain by the end of the month to comply with Financial Fair Play, and according to Gazzetta, the Bianconeri have been offered Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo in a swap deal for Andrea Cambiaso.

According to Tuttosport, Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin has also been offered to the Old Lady by the defender’s agents, who are on good terms with Marco Ottolini, Juventus’ sporting director.

Tune in for all the latest transfer updates, rumours, and insights from across Italian football.

Watch the full episode below:

Ruben Amorim has recently been appointed as the new head coach of Milan, and reports in Italy claim that he wants to bring two trusted players he knows well from his time at Sporting CP with him to San Siro. 

Report: Amorim wants Hjulmand and Trincao at Milan

Milan officially announced the appointment of Amorim as head coach on Tuesday evening, following the departure of Massimiliano Allegri the day after the 2025-26 season came to an end. Reports indicate that the Portuguese has signed an initial two-year contract with an option to extend by a further 12 months. 

Though Milan are still on the hunt for a new technical director and a new sporting director having learned that Markus Krösche will not be joining from Eintracht Frankfurt, reports in Italy claim that Amorim has already identified two signings he wants the club to make this summer. 

According to Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport Italia, the first is Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who spent two-and-a-half seasons in Italy playing for Lecce across Serie A and Serie B. 

The Denmark international left Lecce to join Sporting in a deal potentially worth up to €21m including add-ons at the end of his first, impressive season in the Italian top flight. 

Amorim worked with Hjulmand in Portugal before leaving to take over as head coach of Manchester United, and Di Marzio adds that the coach would have wanted to take the Dane with him to Old Trafford as well. 

While Sporting CP were not open to selling Hjulmand last summer, Di Marzio claims that there is much more room to negotiate in the summer of 2026.

The same report claims that Amorim is also hoping to bring Portugal international Francisco Trincao with him to San Siro. 

The 26-year-old has spent the last four seasons with Sporting after struggling to cement himself at Barcelona and has gone on to provide 47 goals and 38 assists from 208 appearances across all competitions. 

He was also coached by Amorim prior to his Manchester United move, and the coach is said to appreciate the fact that his compatriot can comfortably cover in any of the three attacking roles behind a centre-forward. 

Serie A stars Rafael Leao and Francisco Conceicao have to settle for spots among the substitutes as Portugal open their 2026 World Cup campaign against DR Congo on Wednesday evening. 

Both of the Serie A representatives in the Portugal vs. DR Congo match in Group K will start among the substitutes in Houston on Wednesday. 

Roberto Martinez has opted to field departing Manchester City star Bernardo Silva on the right of his attack and Chelsea’s Pedro Neto on the left, instead of Juventus’s Conceicao and Milan’s Leao, who are best suited on the right and left respectively.

The Portugal attack will be completed by Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo at centre-forward. PSG pair Vitinha and Joao Neves start in midfield. 

DR Congo appear to have gone with a back-five in Houston, featuring West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe and captain Chancel Mbemba.  The attack will be led by Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa.

Gedeon Kalulu, brother of Juventus defender Pierre, is named among the DR Congo substitutes. 

Kick-off is due at 18.00 BST.

Portugal vs. DR Congo: Confirmed line-ups 

Portugal (4-2-3-1): D.Costa; Cancelo, T.Araujo, R.Veiga, N.Mendes; J.Neves, Vitinha; B.Silva, B.Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo. 

Subs: Sa, R.Silva, N.Semedo, R.Dias, Dalot, Inacio, S.Costa, M.Nunes, R.Neves, G.Ramos, J.Felix, Trincao, Leao, Guedes, Conceicao.

DR Congo (5-3-2): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Kapuadi, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, E.Kayembe; Bakambu, Wissa.

Subs: Fayulu, Epolo, Batubinska, Bakeyme, J.Kayembe, Kalulu, Mbuku, Bongonda, Sadiki, Tshibola, Pickel, Cipenga, Kakuta, Elia, Mayele, Banza.

Reports in Italy claim that Barcelona are willing to include centre-back Ronald Araujo as part of a player exchange deal involving Juventus’s Andrea Cambiaso, but the Bianconeri remain unconvinced by this proposal despite their previous interest in the Uruguayan. 

Report: Barcelona willing to offer Araujo to Juventus as part of Cambiaso deal

Cambiaso has been heavily linked with a move away from Juventus over the last few days. The Bianconeri are left needing to sell players to make up for the expected drop in revenues with no Champions League football in 2026-27 and the Italy international has emerged as an expendable, yet profitable asset for the Bianconeri. 

Juventus reportedly value Cambiaso in the region of €40m, which would go a long way to covering the expected drop in revenues without access to the Champions League, which could amount to around €60m. 

Reports earlier this week claimed that both Barcelona and Chelsea are interested in a potential deal for Cambiaso this summer. And, according to updates from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Barcelona are willing to include centre-back Araujo as part of a player exchange deal. 

Araujo had previously been linked with a move to Juventus during the winter transfer window in 2025, before the club landed on Englishman Lloyd Kelly. 

Despite their previous interest in Araujo, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Juve are not particularly interested in listening to player-plus-cash proposals for Cambiaso, as they would prefer a cash-only offer to reinvest across multiple different areas of the squad. 

For this reason, Chelsea, who have just sold left-back Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid in a €60m package, are more likely to be able to stump up the cash that Juventus are seeking. 

Reports in Italy claim that Premier League side Chelsea have made an unsuccessful approach for Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra, who is waiting for Inter to strike an agreement with La Dea. 

Inter is Palestra’s priority, not Chelsea or Manchester City

Palestra was one of the breakout stars of the 2025-26 Serie A season, and a number of Europe’s most prestigious clubs have registered an interest in picking up the 21-year-old Italy international from Atalanta this summer. 

Inter are at the front of that queue, and according to Wednesday’s reports from the Corriere dello Sport, if it were down to Palestra himself, he would ‘already’ be a Nerazzurri player. Reports elsewhere claim that there is an agreement in principle on personal terms for a five-year contract worth around €3m per season in wages. 

Inter are not the only club keen on striking a deal for Palestra this summer, though. 

Several outlets have claimed that Manchester City, now under the guidance of Italian head coach Enzo Maresca, were interested in the young Italy international and reports over the last 24 hours claim that Maresca’s former club Chelsea are also intrigued. 

This is a real transfer merry-go-round, as City have reportedly turned to Chelsea’s Malo Gusto after learning that Palestra is likely to remain in Italy next season, and Chelsea have turned to the Italian after learning that City are interested in Gusto. 

Either way, reports in Italy maintain that Palestra is extremely likely to remain in Serie A next season and Inter are still the frontrunners to land his signature. 

The latest updates claim that Inter are currently willing to invest €45m including bonuses on the signing of the former Cagliari loanee, while Atalanta are seeking a fee in excess of €50m.

Reports in Italy claim that Aston Villa scouts were in attendance to watch Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who has been tipped as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who reportedly has an agreement on personal terms in place with Juventus. 

Villa scouts watching Parma’s Suzuki at 2026 World Cup

Suzuki started in goal for Japan in their 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup in North America: Former Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada providing the 89th-minute equaliser in Dallas. 

The World Cup matches are coming thick and fast, but back in Europe, transfer rumours continue to circulate and reports in Italy claim that a scout from Aston Villa was in attendance in Dallas to keep an eye on Parma’s Suzuki. 

The 23-year-old, who was born in the United States and raised in Japan by Japanese and Ghanaian parents, is reportedly among Aston Villa’s list of potential replacements for Dibu Martinez should the Argentina stopper decide to leave this summer. 

Recent reports in Italy claim that Martinez has an agreement on personal terms in place with Juventus, who are willing to pay the 2022 World Cup winner a salary of €5m per season. This is slightly lower than his current wage packet at Villa Park. 

Juventus still need to strike an agreement with Villa themselves, though. The Premier League outfit are reportedly seeking a fee in the region of €10m for Martinez, who is 33 years old and is into the final year of his contract with the Premier League side. 

Juventus, meanwhile, are hoping to sign the keeper ‘practically for free’ given his age, contract situation and his reported ‘desire’ to join the Bianconeri. 

Tottenham coach Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly unwilling to sell Juventus targets Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie this summer, but another Spurs defender, Radu Dragusin, has been offered to the Old Lady.

Juventus are expected to reshape their defence this summer as the Bianconeri will be forced to listen to offers for some of their stars, including Gleison Bremer and Andrea Cambiaso, for financial reasons.

With the latter attracting interest from Chelsea and Barcelona in recent days, Italian media outlets, including Gazzetta dello Sport, have reported that the Bianconeri set their sights on Tottenham’s Spence and Udogie as potential replacements.

According to TEAMTalk, however, De Zerbi is unwilling to let either full-back leave, so Juventus will have to look elsewhere if Cambiaso leaves.

Tottenham defender Dragusin offered to Juventus

Tuttosport has linked a third Tottenham defender with a move to Juventus. It’s not a full-back, like Spence or Udogie, but a centre-back: Dragusin.

Dragusin’s agents reportedly offered the Tottenham defender to Juventus director Marco Ottolini, who first brought Dragusin to Genoa from Juventus in 2022 and then sold him to Spurs two years later.

According to the report, Tottenham are ready to sell Dragusin for a fee between €20m and €25m, as Spurs are ready to welcome Marcos Senesi as a free agent and are in talks with Brighton for Jan Paul van Hecke after reaching an agreement with the 26-year-old.

Tuttosport reports that Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram is uninterested in joining Galatasaray this summer, but would consider a move to the Premier League, with Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa among the interested clubs.

Juventus will have to make a €20m capital gain by the end of the month and, inevitably, the Old Lady will be forced to listen to offers for some of their stars in the coming days.

Among them are Andrea Cambiaso, wanted by Barcelona and Chelsea, and French midfielder Thuram.

Tuttosport reports that Thuram, son of French legend Lilian, was scouted by Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa during the season.

More recently, Galatasaray made an approach to secure his signature, but the Frenchman is unwilling to join the Turkish club.

According to the report, Thuram would like to remain at Juventus, but if he’s forced to leave, he’d consider a move to the Premier League.

Tuttosport adds that Juventus value Thuram at €40m. The Bianconeri will also listen to offers for Fabio Miretti and Federico Gatti.

The latter has also attracted interest from Premier League clubs, especially Everton, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

Key Facts at a Glance

• The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with 48 teams competing across 104 matches in 16 host cities spread between the United States (11 cities), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), and Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey), per FIFA’s official tournament schedule.

• Italy has missed a third consecutive FIFA World Cup, having failed to qualify for the 2018 Russia, 2022 Qatar, and 2026 North America editions — a structural shock for the four-time world champion (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), per FIFA’s official records.

• At least 25-30 Serie A-based players are competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026 representing their home national teams, including Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez and Como midfielder Nico Paz for defending champion Argentina, per squad announcements verified by Football Italia.

• Lautaro Martínez was the Serie A top scorer in 2025-26 with 17 goals and 2023-24 with 24 goals, per official Lega Serie A records — making him one of the most-backed players in tournament markets including the Golden Boot and Argentina top scorer.

• Nico Paz, the 21-year-old Como playmaker, is making his FIFA World Cup debut for Argentina, having scored one goal in eight senior appearances since making his international debut in 2024, per Football Italia’s coverage of the Argentine Federation squad announcement.

• Argentina enters the FIFA World Cup 2026 as defending champions after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with pre-tournament outright winner odds typically between 5.00 and 7.00 at major operators, alongside leading favourite Spain (4.50-6.00) and France (6.00-8.00).

• The seven core World Cup betting markets are: outright winner, group winner, top scorer (Golden Boot), 1X2 match betting, Over/Under goals, both teams to score (BTTS), and in-play markets.

• Crypto-native sportsbooks —Toshi .bet — provides on-chain settlement in 1-2 minutes via USDT-TRC20 for World Cup 2026 betting, with cash out, take-bet-back-in-play, and Early Payout features across all live markets, per published operator documentation.

Why Did Italy Miss the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Italy’s absence from the FIFA World Cup 2026 represents a third consecutive missed tournament for the four-time world champion — following non-qualifications for the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar editions. The Azzurri were eliminated through the European qualifying pathway, falling short of the automatic top-tier qualification spots and missing the additional UEFA playoff route — a structural collapse for a nation that won World Cup titles in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006, per FIFA’s historical records.

The absence shapes the narrative landscape of the tournament for Italian football audiences in a specific way: the Italian football story at World Cup 2026 is told through Serie A’s foreign exports rather than the national team. Inter Milan, Napoli, Milan, Juventus, Como, and other Serie A clubs collectively contribute at least 25-30 players to other nations’ final squads, spread across the tournament favourites and the underdog stories.

Which Serie A Players Are Competing at FIFA World Cup 2026?

The Argentine Federation’s confirmed 26-man squad for World Cup 2026 includes two Serie A players, per Football Italia’s own coverage of the squad announcement: Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez and Como playmaker Nico Paz. Both will represent the defending champions in North America.

Squad inclusions verified against Football Italia reporting and national federation announcements as of June 2026. Some federation final squads may include additional Serie A-based players.

Lautaro Martínez at FIFA World Cup 2026: Why He’s One of the Most-Backed Players in Tournament Markets

Lautaro Martínez enters the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the form of his career. The Inter Milan captain finished as Serie A top scorer in 2025-26 with 17 goals, his second Capocannoniere title after winning the same award in 2023-24 with 24 goals, per official Lega Serie A records. He captained Inter to the club’s 21st Scudetto under first-year manager Cristian Chivu, with the title secured at San Siro on 3 May 2026 in a 2-0 victory over Parma.

For Argentina, Martínez enters 2026 with a track record that few World Cup strikers can match. He was the top scorer at the 2024 Copa America, netting the winner in the final against Colombia, and finished as joint top scorer at the 2021 Copa America. Combined with his role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar, Martínez enters North America 2026 as one of the most decorated international forwards in the tournament — even with Lionel Messi taking the headlines as Argentina’s captain in what is widely understood to be his sixth and final World Cup at age 38.

The market reflects this profile. Pre-tournament Golden Boot markets for the World Cup 2026 typically priced Martínez between 14.00 and 20.00 — competitive odds for a striker likely to start every match for one of the two tournament favourites. Player-specific anytime-scorer markets for Argentina’s group-stage matches have priced Martínez between 2.00 and 2.80, reflecting his role as Argentina’s primary striker alongside Manchester City’s Julián Álvarez.

Nico Paz: The Como Playmaker Argentina Calls a Future Star

Nico Paz represents a different storyline. The 21-year-old Como midfielder, widely cited as the best Serie A midfielder of the 2025-26 season, is making his FIFA World Cup debut after only eight senior appearances for Argentina and one international goal, per Football Italia’s coverage of the Argentine Federation announcement. He represents the next generation of Argentine talent that Lionel Scaloni hopes will carry the squad through North America 2026 and beyond into the post-Messi era.

Paz’s call-up is significant for Serie A specifically: a Como player at the FIFA World Cup illustrates the depth of Italian football’s talent ecosystem beyond the traditional powerhouses (Inter, Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Roma). Como’s promotion-and-establish journey under Cesc Fàbregas — himself a 2010 World Cup winner with Spain — has made the Lake Como club one of the most internationally watched stories of the 2025-26 Serie A season.

What Are the Most Popular Betting Markets at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The seven core World Cup betting markets, ranked by global handle volume according to industry analysis from SBC News, iGB, and EGR Global, are:

Match-by-match 1X2 betting represents the largest single market by handle, accounting for approximately 35-40% of World Cup betting volume according to industry analysis. The outright winner market — where bettors pick a single nation to lift the trophy — typically attracts large pre-tournament volumes but operates at significantly wider margins (8-15%) due to the long-term nature of the wager and the larger number of possible outcomes.

Pre-tournament outright winner odds at major operators in early June 2026 priced the leading contenders as follows: Spain (4.50-6.00), defending champion Argentina (5.00-7.00), France (6.00-8.00), England (7.50-10.00), Brazil (8.00-11.00), Germany (12.00-15.00), and Portugal (14.00-18.00). Spain enters as the slight market favorite after sustained competitive dominance and the breakthrough emergence of 18-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal.

How Does In-Play Betting Work for World Cup 2026 Matches?

In-play (live) betting allows wagers during matches with prices that update continuously as the game progresses. Live football odds typically reprice every 30-60 seconds, with faster repricing in high-intensity moments such as goal-scoring chances, red cards, penalty awards, and tactical substitutions, per the technical documentation of Sportradar and BetGenius — the two principal odds feed providers serving the majority of global sportsbooks.

The most active in-play markets during World Cup 2026 matches include:

1. Next goal: which team scores the next goal
2. Live 1X2: continuously updated full-time match winner
3. Live Over/Under goals: total goals line adjusted based on tempo and chance creation
4. Live BTTS: probability that both teams score, updated throughout
5. Next goalscorer: which player scores next
6. Live cards and corners markets: in-play statistical markets
7. Half-time/full-time result: predicting both interval and final outcomes

The most consistent in-play tactical opportunities during World Cup 2026 matches, documented across analytical publications including Action Network and The Athletic, occur in three specific situations:

• After a red card in the 30th-50th minute: live prices typically overweight the immediate impact of numerical disadvantage relative to historical data showing an actual performance drop of approximately 1.0-1.5 expected goals per match
• When a tournament favourite trails an underdog at halftime: live markets often offer value on thefavourite’ss recovery, particularly in World Cup knockout stages where higher-ranked teams overcome halftime deficits in approximately 35-40% of cases according to historical Opta Sports analysis
• Following tactical substitutions in the 60th-70th minute: the introduction of fresh attackers (such as Argentina bringing on Nico Paz or France introducing fresh wide players) substantially changes scoring probability before markets fully reprice

Toshi.bet provides full in-play coverage of all 104 World Cup 2026 matches with prices updating in real time across all major in-play markets, including next goal, race-to-points, live 1X2, live Over/Under, BTTS, cards and corners, and player live props.

How Does Cash Out Work on World Cup 2026 Bets?

Cash out is a sportsbook feature that allows users to settle a live bet for a real-time value before the match finishes. The cash-out value is calculated as the current win probability × potential payout, minus the operator margin (typically 5-10%), per industry standards documented in EGR Global operator surveys.

Worked example: A bettor places $100 on Argentina to win their group stage match against an underdog at 1.80 odds (potential payout $180). At halftime, Argentina leads 2-0 and the live moneyline has shortened to 1.20 (implying approximately 83% win probability). The cash-out value would be approximately: 83% × $180 = $149.40, minus 7% operator margin = $138.90. The bettor can take $138.90 (locking in $38.90 profit) or let the bet run for the full $180 potential payout.

Cash out is particularly valuable during World Cup 2026 matches in three specific scenarios:

1. Halftime leads by underdogs in knockout-stage matches, where cash out values often exceed the original stake breakeven by 30-60%
2. Key player injuries during a match, where live prices reprice immediately upon a star player (such as Lautaro Martínez or Lionel Messi) exiting
3. Lequalisers/equalisers when a backed team has just conceded but remains likely to advance via tiebreakers or extra time

Take bet back in play is a related feature, distinct from full cash-out — it allows partial position reduction while maintaining some exposure. Operators, including Toshi.bet, offer this functionality across all live World Cup 2026 markets, which is particularly useful during volatile knockout-stage matches where match dynamics shift quickly.

What Early Payout Features Are Offered for World Cup 2026?

Several operators have introduced customer-friendly promotional features specifically marketed for the World Cup 2026:

2 Goals Ahead Early Payout is a feature where a pre-match bet on a team to win is settled as won the moment that team takes a 2-goal lead at any point in the match — regardless of the final result. If the backed team leads 2-0 in the 40th minute and the opponent equalises to 2-2 by full time, the bet has still been paid out. This feature is offered by operators including Toshi.bet and bet365 for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

Bore Draw Money Back is a feature that refunds Correct Score bets if the match ends 0-0 at full time — eliminating the worst-case scenario in correct score betting. Operators, including Toshi.bet, offer this feature on selected matches, including the World Cup 2026.

Over 2.5 Goals Early Payout is a feature in which an Over 2.5 Goals bet is settled as a win at halftime if both teams have scored in the first half, regardless of whether further goals are scored in the second half. The mechanic is supported by the statistical observation that matches in which both teams have scored before halftime produce at least one more goal in approximately 75-80% of subsequent second halves, per historical analysis.

How Do Sportsbooks Compare for FIFA World Cup 2026 Betting?

Both traditional licensed operators and crypto-native sportsbooks serve the World Cup 2026 betting market. The following comparison covers feature parity across major operators:

Comparison based on each operator’s published platform documentation and feature pages as of June 2026. Geographic availability varies by operator and user jurisdiction.

The structural choice between traditional licensed operators and crypto-native sportsbooks for World Cup 2026 betting typically reduces to three factors: settlement speed (minutes vs days), KYC requirements (none vs full), and geographic accessibility. All major operators now offer comparable market depth for the 2026 tournament, with the distinguishing factors operating around payment infrastructure, customer-friendly promotional features, and licensing jurisdiction rather than core market coverage.

What Are the Best Strategies for Betting on Serie A-Linked Players at World Cup 2026?

Bettors targeting Serie A-linked player markets at the World Cup 2026 can apply several analytical principles documented across publications including The Athletic, Action Network, and Opta Sports.

Track Italian-domestic performance signals. Serie A’s tactical emphasis on possession-based football and structured defensive blocks produces specific player profiles that translate into international tournaments. Lautaro Martínez’s combined Serie A and Argentina goal record — 17 league goals in 2025-26, top scorer at the 2024 Copa America — illustrates the consistency profile that tournament markets typically underprice in shorter-term anytime-scorer markets.

Account for the Italian-club tactical ceiling. Players who excel in Serie A’s slower, more tactical environment sometimes lag behind in adjusting to the international tournament tempo. Nico Paz’s playmaking profile at Como is built around possession retention and tempo control — characteristics that may convert more effectively in Argentina’s later knockout matches than in the higher-tempo group stage opener. Markets often underprice this kind of player development arc.

Consider home crowd dynamics for US-based Serie A players. Three Milan players (Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah) and one Juventus player (Weston McKennie), representing the host United States, gain a measurable home-crowd advantage in markets for USA group-stage matches. The historical average for major-tournament hosts is approximately 0.3-0.5 expected goals per match above their baseline performance, per Opta Sports analysis of past World Cup hosts — a factor that markets sometimes underprice for the host nation’s group-stage progression odds.

Watch for Lukaku’s World Cup form pattern. Romelu Lukaku of Napoli — one of the most experienced Serie A-based World Cup veterans in 2026 — has historically performed strongly in the group stage but with inconsistent knockout-stage results. His anytime-scorer odds in Belgium’s opening matches typically range between 1.80 and 2.50, reflecting both his goal-scoring track record and Belgium’s expected match dominance.

Frequently Asked Questions About FIFA World Cup 2026 and Serie A

Why is Italy not playing at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Italy has missed a third consecutive FIFA World Cup, having been eliminated through the European qualifying pathway. Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 Russia, 2022 Qatar, and 2026 North America editions despite being a four-time world champion (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), per FIFA’s official records. Italian football media have described the absence as one of the most significant structural challenges facing the Italian national team setup.

How many Serie A players are competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

At least 25-30 Serie A-based players are competing at the FIFA World Cup 2026 representing their home national teams. Among the most prominent are Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez and Como midfielder Nico Paz (both representing defending champion Argentina); Milan’s Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Rafael Leão, and Tijjani Reijnders; Juventus’ Weston McKennie; Inter’s Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries; and Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku.

Which Serie A players are in Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad?

Two current Serie A players are in Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 squad: Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martínez (Inter captain and Serie A top scorer 2025-26 with 17 goals) and Como midfielder Nico Paz (widely cited as the best Serie A midfielder of the 2025-26 season). Several ex-Serie A players are also in the Argentina squad, including Juan Musso, Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Leandro Paredes, and Rodrigo De Paul. The Argentine Federation confirmed the final 26-man squad on 29 May 2026.

Who is Lautaro Martínez at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Lautaro Martínez is the captain of Inter Milan and a striker for the Argentina national team. He won the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar with Argentina, finished as top scorer at the 2024 Copa America (scoring the winner in the final against Colombia), and was Serie A top scorer in both 2023-24 (24 goals) and 2025-26 (17 goals) per Lega Serie A records. He led Inter to the club’s 21st Scudetto in 2025-26 under manager Cristian Chivu. Pre-tournament Golden Boot markets typically priced him between 14.00 and 20.00.

Who are the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Spain (4.50-6.00) and defending champion Argentina (5.00-7.00) are the leading betting favourites entering the 2026 tournament, followed by France (6.00-8.00), England (7.50-10.00), and Brazil (8.00-11.00). Spain holds the top FIFA World Ranking entering the tournament, while Argentina enters as defending champion after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

When and where does the FIFA World Cup 2026 take place?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities in the United States (11 cities), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver), and Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey). The tournament spans 39 days and features 104 matches in total — 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout rounds. The opening match was Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026, and the final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026.

What are the most popular betting markets for the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The seven core World Cup betting markets are: outright winner, group winner, top scorer (Golden Boot), 1X2 match betting, Over/Under goals, both teams to score (BTTS), and in-play markets. Match-by-match 1X2 betting represents the largest single market by handle (35-40% of World Cup betting volume), while outright winner and top scorer markets attract the largest pre-tournament volumes.

What is Early Payout betting?

Early Payout betting is a promotional feature in which a pre-match bet is settled as a win when a specific condition is met during the match — regardless of the final result. The most common variants are 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout (pays out when the backed team takes a 2-goal lead at any point), Over 2.5 Goals Early Payout (pays out at halftime if both teams have scored), and 1st Half 2-Goal Lead Early Payout (pays out immediately when a team takes a 2-goal lead in the first half). Operators including Toshi.bet and bet365 offer these features for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

What is cash out on a World Cup 2026 bet?

Cash out is a sportsbook feature that allows users to settle a live bet for a real-time value before the match finishes. The cash-out value is calculated as the current win probability × potential payout, minus the operator margin (typically 5-10%). If the bet is winning, cash out lets bettors lock in partial profit; if losing, it allows partial stake recovery. All major operators offering World Cup 2026 markets provide cash out functionality.

Where can I bet on the FIFA World Cup 2026 with cryptocurrency?

Several major crypto-native sportsbooks offer comprehensive FIFA World Cup 2026 betting markets, including Stake, BC.Game, Cloudbet, Roobet, and Toshi.bet. These operators typically provide on-chain settlement in 1-2 minutes via USDT-TRC20, no-KYC sign-up, full coverage of all 104 World Cup 2026 matches, comprehensive in-play markets, cash out and take-bet-back-in-play functionality, and promotional features such as 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout and Bore Draw Money Back. Geographic availability varies by operator and user jurisdiction.

Who is Nico Paz?

Nico Paz is a 21-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder who plays for Como 1907 in Serie A and is making his FIFA World Cup debut for the Argentina national team in 2026. Widely cited as the best Serie A midfielder of the 2025-26 season, Paz made his senior Argentina debut in 2024 and has scored one goal in eight international appearances. Como, managed by 2010 World Cup winner Cesc Fàbregas, has become one of the most internationally watched Serie A storylines through Paz’s emergence.

Is World Cup 2026 betting legal in the United States?

Sports betting is legal in approximately 38 US states as of June 2026 per the American Gaming Association’s tracker, with state-licensed operators (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars) Authorised to offer World Cup 2026 markets in those states using fiat payment rails. Crypto-native sportsbooks operating under offshore licensing typically authorise US service. US users should verify their state’s specific laws before signing up to any platform.

Final Thoughts

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played without the Italian national team for a third consecutive tournament — but Serie A’s footprint at the tournament has rarely been broader. From Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez and Marcus Thuram, to Como’s breakout star Nico Paz, to Milan’s USA contingent (Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah) and Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku, the Italian football ecosystem is represented across all 12 groups of the expanded 48-team tournament.

For bettors following Serie A players specifically, the markets to watch are anytime-scorer odds for Lautaro Martínez (one of the most decorated international forwards in the tournament after winning the 2024 Copa America Golden Boot and starring in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph), player props for Nico Paz (Argentina’s youngest creative talent making his World Cup debut), and host-nation home advantage markets for the USA’s Milan and Juventus contingent.

For bettors seeking sportsbooks that combine deep World Cup 2026 market coverage with customer-friendly promotional features (Early Payout on 2-goal leads, Bore Draw Money Back on 0-0 finishes), competitive crypto-native operators including Stake, BC.Game, Cloudbet, and Toshi.bet offer feature sets comparable to mainstream licensed operators, with the added benefits of on-chain settlement in 1-2 minutes and no-KYC sign-up where geographic availability permits.

Italy may be watching the tournament from home for a third consecutive time — but Serie A will be everywhere on the pitch in North America.

As ever, verifying the availability of legal gambling in a user’s specific jurisdiction remains the user’s responsibility before signing up to any platform.

Milan have appointed Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, but plans to reshape the club’s management structure have stalled, with Markus Krösche and Timmo Hardung set to remain at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Milan’s search for a new director of football and sporting director has to start from scratch, as Eintracht Frankfurt pair Krösche and Hardung are not expected to leave the Bundesliga side this summer.

Krösche and Hardung won’t join Milan

According to sources in Germany, quoted by Gazzetta, Eintracht are unwilling to release their directors, as doing so would affect their planning for the 2026-27 campaign.

Both Krösche and Hardung had reached an agreement with Milan over the last few days, giving the green light to appointing Amorim as their new coach.

Eintracht, however, have refused to release the pair, especially as the Rossoneri are reportedly unwilling to pay a fee to secure their release.

Krösche was set to become Milan’s new Football Director, with Hardung joining as a sporting director, but Milan’s search will have to start from scratch now.

Richard Hall joins us to talk about all things Inter in the latest episode of the Football Italia Summer Show on YouTube.

The Nerazzurri have already sold Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid for a €20m fee and are preparing to replace the Netherlands international with Marco Palestra of Atalanta.

Latest Inter transfer news: Jones, Bastoni, Palestra and more

La Dea’s asking price exceeds €50m, but the Italian defender is eager to move to San Siro despite recent enquiries from Chelsea and Manchester City.

Inter have also made Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones their priority in the middle of the park and have reportedly made an opening €20m offer to the Reds.

Technically, Jones would fight with Piotr Zielinski for a starting spot in the middle of the park at San Siro in 2026-27, but Inter have yet to reach an agreement with Liverpool.

The latest transfer rumour about the Nerazzurri concerns Alessandro Bastoni, who, according to Gazzetta, has now attracted interest from Real Madrid.

Richard Hall, however, insists that the Italian is happy at San Siro.

Watch the full episode below.

Croatia legend Davor Suker reveals Milan midfielder Luka Modric will return to Real Madrid this summer: ‘Let’s see what happens after the World Cup…’

Croatia international Modric will return to Real Madrid after just one season at Milan, according to the midfielder’s compatriot Suker, a former striker for the La Liga giants.

Suker: Modric will return to Real Madrid from Milan

Talking to Radio Marca on Wednesday, Suker said: “Now you’ll ask me whether he’ll continue at Milan or return to Madrid. I think something will happen with Real Madrid.

“Surely, he will return, but I don’t know how. Let’s wait for the end of the World Cup and see what happens.”

Modric signed a one-year deal with Milan last summer, and the agreement with the Rossoneri included an option to extend for a further campaign.

Milan are technically ready to activate their option but only if Modric agrees to remain at San Siro for one more season.

However, following Milan’s failure to qualify for the Champions League and Massimiliano Allegri’s sacking, the latest rumours suggest that Modric will retire at the end of the season.

Therefore, Suker was asked whether Modric would return to Real Madrid as a member of the club’s management or as a member of José Mourinho’s backroom staff.

The ex-Croatia international, however, was reluctant to release further details: “I can’t say more, I can’t say more. Leave something a bit in the air; I can’t say it all,” he concluded.

Modric scored two goals and provided three assists in 37 appearances with Milan in 2025-26.

Juventus need to make a €20m capital gain by the end of the month, boosting Chelsea and Barcelona’s hopes of signing Andrea Cambiaso, according to reports in Italy.

Juventus must complete the sale of at least one player by the end of June to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

Why Juventus might be forced to sell Chelsea target Cambiaso this month

According to Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Giovanni Albanese, the capital gain Juventus need to make is around €20m and currently one of the few players who can bring this money to the club is Cambiaso.

The Italian full-back has attracted interest from Barcelona and Chelsea in recent days, and Juventus are inevitably open to offers for the ex-Bologna and Genoa defender.

As we explained in our latest transfer show on YouTube, Cambiaso has a low amortised cost on Juventus’s balance sheet, around €5m, and if the Bianconeri manage to sell the defender for €40m, the club’s capital gain will be even higher.

Tuttosport confirms that Cambiaso is the most likely player to leave Juventus by the end of the month, due to his financial situation and the size of the clubs that have set their sights on him.

Genoa centre-back Leo Ostigard became the first Serie A player to score a goal at the 2026 World Cup, contributing to Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq.

There’s finally a Serie A goal at the World Cup, scored by Genoa defender Ostigard.

The 26-year-old netted Norway’s third goal with a towering header from a corner kick routine in a 4-1 win over Iraq last night.

It was Norway’s 2026 World Cup debut and marked Ostigard’s second goal in 39 appearances with his national team.

Norway qualified for the 2026 World Cup by winning their qualification group ahead of Italy, with the Azzurri later eliminated in the play-off.

Video: Ostigard is the first Serie A player to score at the 2026 World Cup

Leo Ostigard heads home

Norway have a third against Iraq! pic.twitter.com/0W26W8wqUd

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 17, 2026

Reports in Italy claim that new Milan coach Ruben Amorim has made PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos his priority target as the Rossoneri chase a new centre-forward for 2026-27.

Milan confirmed the appointment of ex-Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim on a three-year deal on Tuesday.

Amorim’s priority target for Milan’s attack

The Rossoneri will be looking for a new centre-forward this summer, and according to Gazzetta and Tuttosport, PSG’s Gonçalo Ramos is Amorim’s top choice.

According to Gazzetta newspaper, PSG value their centre-forward at €40m, a sum that Milan could match even if the Rossoneri are eager to discuss a loan deal with an obligation to buy in 2027.

Both Gazzetta and Tuttosport report that Milan and Amorim will rely on Jorge Mendes’ negotiating ability to persuade PSG to offload Ramos on favourable terms for the Rossoneri.

Mendes, Ramos, and Amorim are all Portuguese. However, Mendes is the agent of the PSG forward, not of the new Rossoneri boss.

According to Tuttosport, another option for the Milan attack is ex-Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, currently under contract with Al-Hilal, managed by Simone Inzaghi.

Football Italia has discussed the pros and cons of Amorim’s appointment as Milan coach in our latest YouTube video, which you can watch below.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Real Madrid directors have informed Inter that they are keeping a close eye on Alessandro Bastoni, but the Merengues are waiting for the green light from José Mourinho before starting negotiations.

La Liga giants Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Inter and Italy centre-back Bastoni, according to Gazzetta.

The report claims that Real Madrid executives informed Inter about their interest during a recent charity event held in Madrid between the Merengues’ and the Nerazzurri legends.

Inter vice-president Javier Zanetti and President Beppe Marotta learned of Real Madrid’s interest but confirmed that their asking price for Bastoni is €70m, the same fee they had demanded from Barcelona a few weeks ago.

According to the report, Real Madrid are now waiting for their new coach, Mourinho, to complete internal assessments before entering formal discussions with the Nerazzurri.

Bastoni’s agent spoke about the defender’s future last week: “In football, anything can happen. A player like Bastoni attracts interest from all the top clubs, but that’s not the issue. He is happy where he is. You never know what life may bring, but right now, he is extremely happy where he is.”

Real Madrid already signed a player from Inter this summer, Denzel Dumfries, who will formally join the Merengues in July as the La Liga giants will activate his €20m release clause.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

Music Mbappé

Haaland scores a brace too, Norway go

Bastoni, there’s Real

The defender on the Galacticos’ list: Mou decides

Inter ask for 70m: the same fee demanded from Barcelona. The coach, not arrived yet, has the last word.

Amorim restarts from the No.9

The dream is Ramos from PSG. Cardinale: ‘Attacking Milan.’

Corriere dello Sport

Master Mbappé, CR7 for history

Palestra booked

Inter advance: after City, the full-back stops the Premier League again

No to Chelsea: he has chosen Chivu

Enquiry from London: the Italian is liked by Xabi Alonso, but insists that his priority are the Italian champions. Maresca has given up too, turning to Malo Gusto. Marotta and Ausilio are looking for an agreement with Atalanta.

Exclusive Capello: ‘I offered myself to Sensi.’

Gila puts Napoli in pole

The agent will ask for a sale: Lotito likes Lucca, Beukema and Rafa Marin

Amorim: ‘Milan, a great honour.’

‘Coaching here has always been my ambition.’ Cardinale: ‘He has a strong identity.’

Juve, Vicario in the race with Dibu

Spalletti plans the first three coups: the goalkeeper right away, then Lucumì and one between Sorloth and Kolo.

Tuttosport

Milan confirm the appointment of the Portuguese coach: the super agent Mendes will help him

Ramos or Nunez for Amorim

The first target is a hitman, who can arrive from PSG or Saudi Arabia. Three-year deal for the new coach. ‘I’ve always had the ambition to lead this club.’ Cardinale: ‘His modern and attacking football fits our philosophy. ‘

Carnevali: fewer virtual data, more scouting

Juve, no more algorithms!

The new CEO turns Comolli’s method on its head to restore an old-style transfer market that prioritises scouting reports and human relationships. The scouting area gets amplified: Cangini arriving from Sassuolo. Arthur issue. Dragusin returns?

Mbappé suddenly comes out, like the sun.

Zapata ’28: agreement with Torino

Frosinone become American too?

The group that controls Ipswich is in action: developments expected soon

England, Cannavaro, CR7: thrilling debuts

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

Argentina vs Algeria features a wealth of Serie A connections, headlined by Inter captain Lautaro Martínez, who starts alongside Lionel Messi and Thiago Almada in a formidable attacking trio for the Albiceleste.

Como’s Nico Paz, one of Serie A’s breakout stars this season with six goals and nine assists, is among the substitutes for their World Cup opener, while Juventus’s Nicolás González, who spent last season on loan Atletico Madrid, is also in the squad.

The Serie A history runs deep across the entire Albiceleste party, Cristian Romero was Serie A’s Best Defender at Atalanta, Rodrigo De Paul spent five seasons at Udinese, Nahuel Molina was De Paul’s Udinese teammate, and Leandro Paredes had extensive time at Roma across multiple spells.

Molina features on the bench while Romero stars alongside Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez in central defence.

Juventus linked Emiliano Martinez starts in goal.

For Algeria, former Roma midfielder Houssem Aouar starts on the bench, having made 16 Serie A appearances for the Giallorossi in 2023-24.

Relegated Hellas Verona’s Rafik Belghali, however, is in the starting eleven.

Argentina vs Algeria – World Cup Lineups

Argentina: E.Martinez; Montiel, Romero, L.Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Lautaro, Almada.

Algeria: Zidane; Bensebaini, Mandi, Belghali, Ait-Nouri; Boudaoui, Chaibi, Bentaleb, Maza, Gouiri, Hadj Moussa.

Iraq vs Norway sees both sides kick off their World Cup campaigns, with three points on the line in Boston.

Genoa’s Leo Østigård starts from the bench, with Bologna’s Torbjørn Heggem taking his place in central defence alongside Ajer.

Torino right-back Marcus Holmgren Pedersen is also among the substitutes, while Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt and Cremonese’s Morten Thorsby, the most experienced Serie A player in the squad, are both named among the replacements.

Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, heavily linked with Juventus this summer, starts on the right of the attack.

For Iraq, Como’s Ali Jassim, who spent last season on loan at Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia, is named among the starters, while Venezia’s Marko Farji starts on the bench.

Iraq vs Norway – World Cup 2026 – Official Lineups

Iraq XI (4-4-2): Hassan; H.Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Jasim, Ismael, Al Ammari, Bayesh; Hussein, M.Ali.

Norway XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.

Gabriele Gravina has pushed back against the prevailing narrative that Italian football is in terminal decline, insisting that judging the national game solely on World Cup qualification failures is both reductive and inaccurate.

Speaking at the presentation of Ivan Zazzaroni’s book in Rome, with quotes via gianlucadimarzio.com, the former FIGC president acknowledged the pain of a third consecutive World Cup absence but refused to accept the most damning verdicts being levelled at the Italian game.

“I don’t agree that Italian football has reached its lowest point,” he said. “Evaluating our football based on a single result is a mistake, we need to stop being hypocritical about this.”

Gravina points to youth success and Mancini era as evidence Italian football retains its foundations

Gravina pointed to the broader context that often goes unacknowledged in the post-Mondiale gloom.

“From 2018, with Mancini, Italy achieved 37 consecutive positive results and won the European Championship in 2021, these are extraordinary results,” he said.

“Before 2018 the youth national teams never reached finals. Today the Under-17s win the European Championship, as do the Under-19s.”

On the specific moments that proved costly in qualification, Gravina was equally candid. “Kean and Pio Esposito missed goals that could have been decisive and that is why we stayed out,” he said.

“But if they had scored? We would have reopened all the oratorios and magically solved every problem in Italian football.”

On the path forward, Gravina called for structural reform and greater investment, wishing incoming FIGC president Giovanni Malagò well, with one specific request.

“It is not possible that a reform gets blocked if 3% disagree,” he said. “It is anti-democratic and contrary to any sense of reasonableness. I did not manage to change it, I hope he does.”

Earlier this week, we asked you whether Ruben Amorim was the right choice to take over as Milan head coach.

With his appointment now officially confirmed, the results make for interesting reading.

A clear majority of the 418 voters were unconvinced.

Oliver Glasner, fresh from winning the Conference League with Crystal Palace, was the preferred alternative with 38% of the vote, while a further 30% backed a different candidate and 8% wanted Mauricio Pochettino.

Just 3% would have chosen Arne Slot and only 21% of voters felt Amorim was the right man for the job.

Is Amorim the right man for Milan?

It is a fascinating snapshot of the mood among the Milan-watching community, and one that Amorim will now have the chance to prove wrong.

One user expressed their doubts over the Portuguese coach but that they prefer it to an ‘old recycled Italian coach,’ while another dreamed of a move for former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

His record at Sporting and his reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches suggest the doubters may yet be won over. The next question is whether he can do it without Champions League football.

What do you think – have Milan made the right call? Let us know in the comments.

Milan have confirmed the appointment of Ruben Amorim as head coach, announcing the move on their website.

The former Manchester United and Sporting coach joins the Rossoneri following Massimiliano Allegri’s departure, after the veteran coach failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Allegri is off to join Napoli, whilst Amorim takes over in Lombardy, on a reported 2-year deal until 2028.

After Man Utd difficulties, Amorim hoping to lead Milan rebuild

Following his dismissal from the Red Devils at the start of this year, the Portuguese coach will be hoping to help rebuild at a Rossoneri who have been inconsistent in recent seasons.

He is a proven coach, having demonstrated his abilities in his native Portugal, and his 3-4-2-1 formation could suit Serie A well.

On their website, Milan highlight that ‘throughout his career, Amorim has developed a modern dominant tactical approach with clear player profiles and strong organizational design that develops young players and maximizes their potential.’

‘AC Milan extends a warm welcome to Rúben and his staff,’ the statement concludes.

Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Manu Koné and are pushing to complete a deal with Roma before the end of the month, with the French midfielder identified as Mikel Arteta’s primary midfield target this summer.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via CalcioMercato, Koné, currently on World Cup duty with France, is understood to strongly favour a move to the Premier League, preferring Arsenal to both Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, who had tracked him extensively last season.

The reigning English champions and Champions League finalists represent exactly the kind of challenge the Frenchman is seeking, though his entourage are in no rush to force a resolution while the World Cup is ongoing.

Roma weigh Koné sale as UEFA deadline forces hand ahead of Greenwood pursuit

Roma need to generate significant capital gains before June 30 to satisfy their UEFA settlement agreement, and with Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa making only tentative moves for Matias Soulé without submitting formal offers, the Koné route is becoming increasingly attractive as a solution.

Roma are asking €50 million for the midfielder, which would generate a profit of approximately €38 million given his residual book value of around €12 million.

Gasperini is prepared to sanction the sale, with the funds earmarked to pursue Mason Greenwood and potentially Crysencio Summerville.

Ismael Koné of Sassuolo has been identified as the ideal midfield replacement should the deal go through.

France get their World Cup campaign underway this afternoon when they face off against Senegal in New York, in the opening match of Group I before Iraq faces Norway later.

Didier Deschamps has started two Serie A teammates in Milan duo Mike Maignan and Adrien Rabiot, as he looks to get off to a flying start.

Former Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly starts in defence for the African side, whilst former teammate of Maignan in Theo Hernandez starts at left-back for France.

Como’s Assane Diao is on the bench for Senegal whilst Inter’s Marcus Thuram and Roma’s Manu Koné start on the bench for the European giants.

2026 World Cup – France vs Senegal – Official Lineups

France: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Theo, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Doue, Olise, Dembele, Mbappe

Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Gueye, Camara, Gueye; Mane, Jackson, Sarr

Nico Paz has reportedly informed Real Madrid that he’s happy to stay at Como for one more season, while Tottenham have joined the race for Sandro Tonali and Chelsea have set their sights on two Serie A defenders.

Even with the World Cup in full swing, Serie A clubs are making their initial moves to bring in reinforcements for the 2026-27 campaign, and some big decisions have already been made.

Today’s Transfer news: June 16, 2026

One comes from Como star Nico Paz, who, according to AS.com and Nico Schira, has decided to stay at Como for one more season.

Real Madrid still have an option to re-sign him in the summer of 2027.

The other big news of the day is Tottenham’s strong interest in Sandro Tonali, with Roberto De Zerbi strongly pushing to sign the ex-Milan star.

According to Gazzetta and The Times, Newcastle’s asking price for Tonali this summer is €150m.

Chelsea have been linked with both Marco Palestra (Atalanta) and Andrea Cambiaso (Chelsea) after selling Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid.

Check out the latest transfer updates in our YouTube video below:

Roma are under growing pressure to sell Matias Soulé before June 30, with Borussia Dortmund emerging as the most concrete suitor for the Argentine as the Giallorossi race to generate €50 million in capital gains to satisfy their UEFA settlement agreement obligations.

According to Sky Sport, via Goal, Roma value Soulé at around €30 million, a figure that would contribute significantly towards that target and help the club avoid fresh sanctions ahead of their return to the Champions League for the first time in seven years.

Dortmund lead race for Soulé as Roma eye two new forwards this summer

Dortmund’s interest is driven by their need to replace Julian Brandt, who departs on a free transfer this summer, and Soulé’s profile, seven goals and eight assists in 42 appearances last season despite battling a groin problem in the second half of the campaign, fits what they are looking for in attack.

For Roma, the logic of selling is clear.

Gasperini intends to keep Paulo Dybala and sign at least two new wide forwards, making Soulé effectively surplus to requirements. At €2 million net per season, his wages represent no real obstacle, but time is running out.

Andrea Cambiaso has emerged as Juventus’s most immediately sellable asset this summer, with Barcelona and Chelsea both monitoring the Italy international as new CEO Giovanni Carnevali looks to generate the funds necessary to rebuild the squad without Champions League revenue.

Juventus value Cambiaso at €40 million, a figure that would represent an enormous profit given his current book value of just €6 million.

Barcelona have maintained their interest in the Italian for several months, while Chelsea’s pursuit has been given fresh impetus following their sale of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid.

Xabi Alonso, now at Stamford Bridge, was already keen on Cambiaso when at Leverkusen last year.

Carnevali’s strong existing relationships with both clubs, built during his Sassuolo years, could facilitate negotiations considerably.

Spence, Emerson Palmieri and Ruggeri among three options to replace Cambiaso at Juventus

Despite Luciano Spalletti’s genuine admiration for Cambiaso, describing him as a player who sees the pitch not just vertically and horizontally but “in a circular way,” the Bianconeri are preparing contingency plans.

Three names are under active consideration, according to Gazzetta.

Sporting director Marco Ottolini is pushing for Tottenham’s Djed Spence, a player he knows well from a loan spell at Genoa between January and June 2024, when Spence was part of the deal that took Dragusin to north London.

The 2000-born right-footer has a contract until 2029 and is valued at around €30 million, though a loan could also be possible.

Spalletti, meanwhile, is advocating for Emerson Palmieri, who he launched at Roma and who is currently at Marseille.

At 32 with a contract expiring in a year, the operation would be considerably cheaper than alternatives.

Carnevali himself is intrigued by the prospect of Atletico Madrid’s Matteo Ruggeri, an Italian option that would also strengthen the dressing room’s domestic core, though Atletico’s valuation above €20 million and significant competition from other clubs present real obstacles.

Udinese have made Nicolo Zaniolo’s move from Galatasaray permanent, but the striker is ‘disappointed and frustrated’ amid an ongoing dispute over his salary, his agent has revealed.

Udinese have activated a clause to sign Zaniolo on a permanent transfer from Galatasaray after the striker’s one-season loan spell in 2025-26.

Udinese make Zaniolo’s move permanent

According to Fabrizio Romano, it’s a deal worth €5m with a 50% sell-on clause for Galatasaray.

Zaniolo, 26, scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 34 appearances across all competitions with Udinese, convincing the Bianconeri to retain him on a permanent transfer.

During an exclusive interview with Football Italia just a few weeks ago, Udinese director Gokhan Inler praised Zaniolo for his performances in the 2025-26 campaign, arguing that the Italian deserved a spot in the Azzurri squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

The Italian striker, however, is dissatisfied with recent negotiation discussions with Udinese and has expressed his concerns through his agent.

“We are certainly pleased with the impact Nicolò has had at Udinese, but it will now be necessary to reach an agreement regarding his salary for his stay at the club to truly rest on solid foundations,” Claudio Vigorelli told Italian media, including Gazzetta.

“The circumstances that brought Nicolò to Udinese last summer were shaped by a race against time in the final minutes of the [summer] transfer window. As a result, the contractual salary terms agreed for Nicolò in the event of a permanent transfer did not reflect his true value.

“Together with Udinese, we decided to sign and complete the deal based on the understanding that, before the purchase option was exercised, we would sit down and negotiate new terms.

“Today, Nicolò feels bitterly disappointed and frustrated by the circumstances that have led to this permanent transfer. Nevertheless, we remain open to discussion with Udinese in order to clarify our respective positions, in the hope of reaching an agreement that satisfies both parties.”

Kevin De Bruyne admits Romelu Lukaku was ‘vital’ for Belgium in a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their World Cup debut, but Rudi Garcia insists that the Napoli striker is ‘still not ready’ to start a game.

Belgium were held to a 1-1 draw by Egypt in the World Cup opener on Monday.

Lukaku, who started on the bench, had an immediate impact when he was substituted on at minute 65, contributing to Mohamed Hany’s own goal just 28 seconds later.

Decisive Lukaku in Belgium 1-1 Egypt

“We were not at our best in the first half, but we found different ways to hurt them after the break,” Lukaku’s Napoli and Belgium teammate said at full time via FIFA.com.

“Even if it went down as an own goal, Romelu’s presence was vital. We know how dangerous he can be for our opponent’s defence. If we look at the other matches at this World Cup, though, nothing can be taken for granted, and no game is easy.”

Lukaku played only 64 minutes at club level with Napoli, mostly due to injuries, but still earned a call-up to the World Cup.

“He is not ready yet to start a game,” said Belgium coach Garcia, a former Napoli and Roma boss.

“We did not even expect to have him with us at this tournament. Sixty-four minutes over an entire season is hardly ideal preparation for a World Cup. It is fantastic to have him back, but his body still needs to adapt to the demands of competition.

“He could even have ended up with a brace with that header, but I am delighted for him, and the whole squad feels the same way. Lukaku is hugely important to us.”

England are set to take on Croatia – so don’t miss out on last-minute World Cup tickets with our guide on how to buy England vs Croatia tickets.

WORLD CUP: BUY ENGLAND VS. CROATIA TICKETS

Thomas Tuchel was appointed as Gareth Southgate’s replacement to finally take England that step further in major tournaments after those near-misses in Euro 2020 and 2024.

The Group L clash against Croatia is not the easiest start for England, but can the Three Lions get some revenge for that painful semi-final defeat from the 2018 World Cup?

Read on for our England vs Croatia preview and ticket info…

How to buy England vs Croatia World Cup tickets

World Cup tickets have not been cheap or easy to come by, but you can get more info about availability on FIFA’s official website here.

Still, we’d highly recommend our alternative here that has competitive prices, an easy-to-navigate site, and a 150% money-back guarantee for your peace of mind.

WORLD CUP: BUY ENGLAND VS. CROATIA TICKETS

How England could line up vs Croatia

There are some big questions for Tuchel about his England line-up for this game, and indeed for the tournament as a whole.

Michael Owen has suggested that Tuchel rotates heavily in the group stage, possibly giving key players like Harry Kane just 45 minutes of playing time.

There have also been debates about Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers in the central attacking midfield role, while it’s unclear at the moment if Bukayo Saka is fully fit and able to start.

With all that in mind, here’s our best bet at a predicted England line-up to take on Croatia…

England XI: Pickford; James, O’Reilly, Guehi, Konsa; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

WORLD CUP: BUY ENGLAND VS. CROATIA TICKETS

England vs Croatia head-to-head record

Although there have been a few memorable defeats for England against Croatia – that World Cup semi-final, and that home defeat that cost the team a place at Euro 2008 – the Three Lions actually have a good record in this fixture.

Overall, England have won six, lost three, and drawn two against these opponents, including two wins and one draw in the three games since the 2018 World Cup semi-final.

Given that this is also not exactly a vintage Croatia side, full of ageing stars like Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic who are now past their best, this could be a good opportunity for England to make a real statement at the start of this tournament.

England should progress through the group

A win against Croatia and England should be able to relax.

The format of this year’s expanded World Cup means many teams finishing third in their group will qualify for the knockout stages.

With Croatia the toughest fixture, and Ghana and Panama the other two teams in Group L, it’s hard to see England messing this up.

Perhaps we shouldn’t speak too soon, but this is a very winnable group and a strong start should make it pretty plain sailing from there.

Multiple reports suggest that Nico Paz will remain at Como for the 2026–27 season, with Real Madrid reportedly following José Mourinho’s advice to prioritise experience in their squad planning.

Como will continue to rely on Nico Paz in the 2026-27 campaign when Cesdc Fabregas’ side will be playing in the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Nico Paz set to stay at Como

AS.com first reported that Nico Paz had informed Real Madrid of his desire to continue at Como following a meeting with the club’s directors and coach Mourinho.

Both Real Madrid and Mourinho have faith in the Argentine talent, but are already building a team with mostly experienced players, such as Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva.

Nico Paz is a Como player, having completed a permanent transfer from Real Madrid in 2024.

However, Real Madrid have an option to bring him back to the club, valid until 2027.

Sky Sport Italia reports that Como are increasingly confident of retaining Nico Paz for 2026-27, but club-to-club talks are now ongoing to determine an appropriate transfer formula that would allow Nico Paz to remain at Como for the third consecutive season.

Milan are set to announce Ruben Amorim as their new coach: Ben Dixon of SempreMilan joins Lorenzo Bettoni to analyse the risks and opportunities under the Portuguese tactician.

Former Manchester United coach Amorim has signed a two-year contract with Milan and will soon be confirmed as the Rossoneri’s new head coach.

Breaking down Amorim’s appointment as Milan coach

Amorim was sacked by Manchester United last January after just 14 months in charge of the Red Devils, but he had emerged as one of the most promising young coaches during his time at Sporting CP, leading the Portuguese club to win the domestic trophy for the first time in 19 years.

Milan also have an agreement in place with Eintracht Frankfurt directors Markus Krösche and Timmo Hardung, who are now in talks to release themselves from the German club.

Our editor Lorenzo Bettoni examines Milan’s latest transfer news with Milan expert and SempreMilan writer Ben Dixon in the latest episode of the Football Italia Summer Show on YouTube.

Check out the full episode below:

Italy has lifted the World Cup four times (in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), which puts the Azzurri among the most successful national teams in the history of the game. Yet the question of which specific squad stands above the rest is one that divides opinion and demands a proper look at each era. 

Three generations are worth considering in particular: the 1982 side that redefined what it meant to peak at a major tournament, the 1994 squad that pushed Brazil to the absolute limit in one of the most dramatic finals ever staged, and the 2006 champions who did it against all the odds. 

1982: The Team That Nobody Expected to Win

Enzo Bearzot’s squad arrived in Spain that summer under serious pressure. Italy had scraped through the group stage without winning a single match, drawing all three games against Poland, Peru, and Cameroon. The media back home had turned on the team, and striker Paolo Rossi had been scoreless throughout. The atmosphere was one of crisis.

What happened next changed everything. Rossi scored a hat-trick against a Brazil side that many still consider the finest team never to win the World Cup. That match, on 5 July in Barcelona’s Sarrià stadium, is one of the most celebrated in Italian football history. Italy won 3-2, and Rossi went from being a liability to a national hero in the space of 90 minutes. 

Beyond Rossi, the squad had real substance. Dino Zoff kept goal with the authority of a man who had been at the very top of the game for two decades. The defensive unit was disciplined and difficult to break down. 

What makes 1982 so compelling from a historical standpoint is the psychological dimension. This was a group of players who performed under enormous scrutiny, had their backs turned on them by their own press, and still managed to win the tournament. That kind of mental resilience, combined with genuine tactical organisation and individual quality, is what sets a great team apart from a merely good one.

1994: A Defensive Masterclass 

Arrigo Sacchi brought a completely different philosophy to the 1994 tournament in the United States. Where 1982 was pragmatic and reactive, Sacchi’s Italy was built around shape, pressing, and collective movement. 

The squad included some of the finest defensive players in the world at that time (Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, and Alessandro Costacurta), all products of the Milan side that had dominated European football in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Italy’s route to the final was not without difficulty. They needed Roberto Baggio to rescue them on more than one occasion, most notably against Nigeria in the last 16, where he scored an equaliser in injury time before adding a winner in extra time. That ability to find a result when everything was going wrong became the defining characteristic of this squad.

The final itself, played on 17 July at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, will remain one of the most memorable occasions in the tournament’s long history. Italy faced Brazil in a game that finished 0-0 after 120 minutes of tense, controlled football. Both sides had chances, both goalkeepers made important saves, and both defences held firm.

When it went to penalties, the drama reached a level that few sporting events ever match. Baresi stepped up first for Italy and missed. 

Baggio, who had carried the team through the tournament almost single-handedly, was the last man to take a kick. He needed to score to keep Italy in it. He did not. The ball sailed over the crossbar, and Brazil were world champions. The image of Baggio standing with his head bowed as the Brazilian players celebrated around him is one of the most recognisable in football.

2006: World Champions Against All the Odds

Marcello Lippi’s squad arrived in Germany that summer in arguably the worst possible circumstances for any Italian team. The Calciopoli scandal, a match-fixing investigation that had engulfed several major Serie A clubs, had broken weeks before the tournament began. 

Players from Juventus, Milan, and Fiorentina were representing a country whose football system was under criminal investigation. The pressure was immense, and the distraction was real.

Despite all of that, Italy produced a tournament performance that was both technically impressive and tactically astute. The defence, led by Fabio Cannavaro, was exceptional throughout. 

Andrea Pirlo dictated play from deep with the kind of calm authority that only a handful of midfielders in the world’s game have ever managed. Up front, Luca Toni was direct and physically dominant. The final against France, decided on penalties after a 1-1 draw, was tight and nervy, but Italy held their composure when it mattered and emerged victorious.

Comparing Three Different Versions of Italy

The honest answer to any comparison among these three teams is that each was built for its moment. Football in 1982 was different from football in 1994, which was different again from football in 2006. Tactical systems evolved, the physical demands on players changed, and the quality and depth of competition at the World Cup increased over those decades.

With that in mind, 1982 probably produced the most dramatic story. The scale of the turnaround, from a team mocked at home to world champions, is almost without parallel.

The 2006 side, however, was arguably the most complete in purely tactical terms. Their defensive record was exceptional. Their ability to manage games, absorb pressure, and take their opportunities when they arose was consistent throughout the tournament. Cannavaro’s performance alone was enough to change how the game recognised and valued the role of the central defender.

The 1994 squad sits slightly differently in this comparison. They did not win the trophy, and that matters when discussing the greatest Italian World Cup team. But the quality of the individuals in that group cannot be dismissed. In terms of pure tactical development and the quality of the football being played across Serie A at that time, 1994 might represent the peak of Italian football as a broader ecosystem.

What Modern Italian Football Must Take From These Generations

Since their victory in 2006, Italy’s international record has deteriorated sharply. Three consecutive World Cup absences are not a minor slump. It points to structural issues that go beyond any one manager or generation of players. 

The quality of Italian youth development has fallen behind that of countries that have consistently invested in coaching education and talent pathways. The relationship between Serie A clubs and the national team has become more complicated as foreign ownership, increased squad sizes, and the weight of the Champions League have taken priority. 

Looking back at 1982, 1994, and 2006, a few things stand out as relevant to the present. All three teams had a clear identity, a way of playing that every player understood and executed. They all had leadership concentrated among players experienced at the very highest club level. And all three squads were built around a structured, reliable defensive foundation, not just on individually talented players.

None of those characteristics is beyond Italian football’s reach today. But they require deliberate choices at every level of the game: in academies, in the league, in the coaching culture, and in how the national team is managed between major tournaments. The history is there. The question is whether the current generation of administrators and coaches is willing to use it.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Juventus will make contact with Brahim Diaz’s representatives during the World Cup, while new director Giovanni Carnevali is eager to restore a high-level scouting department following the brief tenure of Damien Comolli.

Juventus are eager to begin informal talks with Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz during the World Cup, according to Gazzetta.

Brahim Diaz a priority for Spalletti

New Bianconeri director Carnevali will send club representatives and scouts to the USA, Canada and Mexico to monitor transfer targets and potential rising stars during the World Cup.

Among them is surely Brahim Diaz, who faces an uncertain future at Real Madrid, but is in no hurry to decide his next steps.

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has made the Morocco international one of his priority targets for the summer as the Tuscan tactician aims to add unpredictability in the final third.

It’s reported that Juventus will open informal talks with Brahim Diaz’s camp during the World Cup.

Juventus set to change scouting system

Gazzetta notes that the first major change Carnevali will make is to reorganise the scouting department.

Under Comolli, in fact, Juventus’ scouting system was built around algorithms, with scouting operations partially outsourced to an external consulting service.

Carnevali aims to bring Matteo Tognozzi back to the club and hopes to bring Davide Cangini from Sassuolo as the Head of Scouting.

Milan are set to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as their new coach, as the Portuguese has signed a two-year contract with the Rossoneri.

Former Manchester United boss Amorim has signed his contract with Milan, according to Italian sources, including Gazzetta.

Ruben Amorim signs two-year contract with Milan

The Portuguese hasn’t physically arrived in Milan, so he signed the documents remotely.

He has signed a two-year contract until June 2028 with an option for a further campaign.

Amorim will earn €3.5m per season at San Siro with a further €500,000 bonus if he leads Milan to Champions League qualification.

Milan have also reached an agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt director Markus Krösche, who has backed Amorim’s appointment.

The Rossoneri, however, have yet to reach an agreement with the German club but are confident that both Krösche and Timmo Hardung, Milan’s designated sporting director, will leave Eintracht in the coming days.

Milan sacked their coach, Massimiliano Allegri, and their prominent executives, Geoffrey Moncada, Igli Tare, and Giorgio Furlani, after finishing fifth in the 2025-26 campaign and failing to qualify for the Champions League.

Brazilian legend Romario says Franco Baresi was the ‘most difficult’ opponent he faced during his playing career but is ‘grateful’ to Roberto Baggio for missing a penalty kick in the 1994 World Cup Final, even if the Divin Codino ‘still carries the frustration within him.’

Former Brazilian star Romario, a 1994 World Cup winner, gave an interview to Gazzetta following the Seleçao’s 1-1 draw against Morocco in their 2026 World Cup debut over the weekend.

Romario comments on Brazil, Baggio, Baresi and…Pelé

“Brazil played very poorly and the draw was very significant. Morocco deserved to win; they were clearly superior in the first half,” Romario admitted.

“We were fortunate not to concede more goals… Fortunately, the game balanced out afterwards.”

Neymar is part of the Brazil squad for the World Cup but is still injured.

“I met Neymar by chance before the match; he told me he’s recovering well and is ready to play, if not in the next game, then the one after,” Romario said.

“I believe that Neymar, even if not 100% fit, would perform better than the other forwards did on their debut.”

Following Brazil’s debut at the 2026 World Cup, Romario is not too optimistic about their chances of lifting the trophy.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Inter are determined to sign Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and have made an opening offer worth €20m.

Serie A giants Inter have made an opening €20m bid for Liverpool midfielder Jones, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Jones’ Inter transfer: latest updates

Jones is a long-time Inter target, and the Nerazzurri already tried to sign him this past January.

His contract at Anfield expires in June 2027, but the English midfielder, a product of the Liverpool Academy, seems keen to move to Milan, as his teammate Federico Chiesa appeared to suggest just a few days ago.

According to Gazzetta, Inter’s initial offer still falls short of Liverpool’s asking price, as the Reds require €30m for the 25-year-old this summer.

Inter are aware that they might need to raise their offer to secure the signature of the English midfielder, but according to Gazzetta, the Nerazzurri are keen to continue talks with the Reds over the next few days to beat competition and give Cristian Chivu his first summer reinforcement.

Sky Sport Italia reports that Chelsea have joined the race to sign Marco Palestra by opening preliminary talks with the defender’s agent.

Chelsea are among the clubs interested in Atalanta-owned right-back Palestra, according to Sky Sport Italia.

Palestra spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan at Cagliari, resulting in one of the most promising defenders in Italy’s top flight, and attracting interest from other top clubs such as Inter and Manchester City.

Chelsea open talks with Palestra

It is believed that Atalanta’s asking price exceeds €50m, and according to Sky, Chelsea have now made contact with the defender’s agent, Alessandro Lucci, who is also the representative of Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori.

According to Sky, Palestra is keen to remain in Serie A, so his priority remains to wait for Inter and Atalanta to reach an agreement over his transfer fee.

Palestra made his senior Italy debut in March 2026 and has two international appearances to his name.

Atalanta are prepared to sell him, but Inter still haven’t reached an agreement with La Dea.

Matteo Moretto reports that Tottenham Hotspur wants to give Sandro Tonali the ‘keys to their project’, so Spurs have entered the race to sign the Italian midfielder, with Roberto De Zerbi pushing for a summer move.

Premier League side Tottenham have “strongly” joined the race to sign Tonali, according to Italian transfer expert Matteo Moretto.

According to the report, the North Londoners want to make Tonali the cornerstone of their project and are already working to finalise a deal with Newcastle.

Tonali transfer latest: Tottenham join the race

Moretto claims that Manchester City and Manchester United have also shown interest, while Fabrizio Romano reported last week that Arsenal had resumed talks for the ex-Milan star.

Tonali would reunite with De Zerbi at Tottenham, with the Italian tactician very keen to welcome his compatriot in North London.

Both De Zerbi and Tonali are from Lombardy; Tonali was born in Lodi but was raised in Brescia, where he made his Serie A debut in 2019. De Zerbi was born in Brescia and played in the Milan Youth Sector.

Moretto reports that De Zerbi is pushing for Tonali’s transfer and that the 26-year-old midfielder is open to joining Spurs this summer.

La Gazzetta dello Sport

The New Devil

It’s Up to Amorim to Revive Milan

The Portuguese coach is hired. Three-man defence and attacking playing style to return to the Champions League. Capello: ‘An hazard.’ Now Cardinale wants the Eintracht directors

An island chain and a hero goalkeeper hold Yamal

Cape Verde celebrate, 0-0 against Spain. Vozinha’s fairytale (40 years)

The challenge of 10s: Messi and a double for Maradona

France and Senegal’s trap, Mbappé aims for the record of goals

Corriere dello Sport

Spain, bitter cape. Belgium: blessed Lukaku

Big Roma enters and contributes to Hany’s own goal against Egypt: 1-1. De Bruyne hits the post. At 21:00, France against Senegal. Argentina debut with Algeria at 3 am

Milan: Doing Things Differently

Cardinale and Ibra

A Portuguese coach, a German sporting director, in a club shaped by American and Swedish leadership.

Amorim Plus Krosche: A Club Without Borders

The former Manchester United coach is Allegri’s heir. Total agreement until 2028 for 3.2m per season. From Germany the sporting director Hardung. The English Gardiner as Chief Scout.

Carnevali, Sorloth right away

First day of work at Continassa for the Bianconeri CEO who wants to gift Spalletti the Norwegian of Atletico Madrid. The key is Nico Gonzalez. Boga’s move permanent: 5m to OGC Nice.

Ciak, Gila: Napoli in action

Roma open the auction for Soulé

Lotito has decided: he’ll buy Reggina

Tuttosport

One Portuguese, Two Germans… The New Milan

The coach and the new directors incoming: what a bedlam with Cardinale, the American and Ibra the Swedish

Cairo confident that Simeone will return and stay at Toro

The President is certain that the Argentine won’t push to leave. Abate will open the Fila to the fans before the pre-season

Interview with Dino Zoff:

Juventus and Berardi — it’s not too late.

“The Sassuolo attacker can still have his say. Martinez excites me. Eccentric? As long as he saves decently, it doesn’t matter whether he’s Italian or a foreigner.’ Aston Villa target Suzuki and release Dibu. First Carnevali move: Boga’s move permanent. Now the Comolli signings will leave. Waiting for Vlahovic.

Stunning Cape Verde, Spain controversy

What an impact Lukaku! But the Belgium of big players disappoint

Here are France and Argentina, the 2022 Finalists

Incredible! Tunisia flop, Lamouchi sacked already

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay takes place in Miami this evening, with two sides who will be eager to pick up the three points, given the shocking draw earlier today between tournament favourites Spain and debutants Cape Verde.

Either side can move top of Group H today with a win.

Saudi Arabia only have one Serie A connections in their team, with right-back Saud Abdulhamid, formerly of Roma, in the lineup.

Uruguay, meanwhile, have more connections than their opposition.

Defender Mathías Olivera currently plays for Napoli, whilst Rodrigo Bentancur, Matias Vina and Fernando Muslera also spent time in Italy’s top flight.

World Cup 2026 – Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay Lineups

Saudi Arabia: Alowais; Alamri, Altambakti, Alharbi, Abu Alshamat, Abdulhamid; Ajuwayr, Alkhaibari, Kanno; Albrikan, Al Dawsari

Uruguay: Fernando Muslera; Caceres, Valera, Olivera, Vina; Ugarte, Bentancur, Valverde, Araujo; Nunez, Vinas

Fulvio Collovati has launched a fierce attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the expanded 48-team World Cup format, with the 1982 World Cup winner accusing the governing body’s chief of prioritising business over sporting merit and calling on him to show greater respect to Italian football.

The former Inter and Milan defender was scathing about both Infantino’s recent comments regarding Italy’s absence from the tournament and the quality of some of the nations taking part.

“He should be ashamed, Infantino,” Collovati said, with quotes via FCInter1908.

“First he acts as a friend of Italian footballers, then he delivers these low blows. If he wants to criticise Italian football, let him do so openly.”

Collovati questions Infantino & format after watching South Africa and Germany vs Curacao

On Infantino’s suggestion that Italy might qualify if the tournament expanded to 64 teams, Collovati was dismissive.

“Jokes that don’t make people laugh are not jokes,” he said. “Since he has Swiss citizenship, next time he should joke with the Swiss.”

His most damning verdict, however, was reserved for the format itself. “The real joke, if anything, is the 48-team World Cup, with national teams inside who do not play football,” he said.

“I commented on Mexico vs South Africa on the radio, and in South Africa I could play myself at my age. On Sunday I will comment on Germany vs Curacao and I expect a similar situation.”

Journalist Alessandro Alciato added further controversy by resurfacing an old quote from Collovati in which he claimed women cannot understand football tactics, a reminder that the former defender himself has not been without controversy in recent years.

Massimiliano Allegri’s appointment as Napoli head coach is expected to be confirmed this week, with all parties working to resolve the final contractual obstacle standing between the coach and his official unveiling at the Maradona.

The agreement between Allegri and Napoli has been in place for some time.

The delay, as has been well documented, stems entirely from the situation between Allegri and Milan; financial and contractual details from his dismissal that must be formally resolved before a clean break can be confirmed.

According to Il Roma, via NapoliCalcioLive, the coming days should finally bring those negotiations to a conclusion.

Allegri confirmation key to unlocking Napoli’s summer transfer plans

The announcement carries significance well beyond the symbolic.

Once Allegri is officially in place, Napoli’s sporting director Giovanni Manna can accelerate transfer planning with far greater precision, identifying the specific profiles the new coach requires and finalising preparations for pre-season. Every day of delay costs the club time in a competitive window.

For the Napoli fanbase, the atmosphere is described as one of quiet anticipation.

The outcome feels inevitable, it is simply a matter of when the paperwork catches up with what everyone already knows.

Udinese have until midnight tonight to exercise their purchase option for Nicolò Zaniolo from Galatasaray, and the club intend to do so, even though a full agreement on the player’s wages has not yet been reached.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the wage structure agreed at the time of the original loan deal was put together hastily, finalised only in the final hours of the January window, with both parties understanding that the financial terms would need to be revisited once the dust had settled.

Those conversations are ongoing, and Udinese are pushing to find a solution before the deadline.

Udinese to trigger Zaniolo option first and negotiate wages second in race against midnight deadline

The club’s approach is pragmatic, trigger the option to secure the player’s registration, then continue negotiating the contractual details in the days that follow.

It is an unusual sequence, but one dictated by the circumstances of the original rushed agreement.

For Zaniolo, the priority will be landing a salary that reflects his market value following an impressive season in Friuli.

For Udinese, the priority is simply making sure he remains their player beyond tonight.

As Milan’s leadership structure begins to take shape under Gerry Cardinale and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one name has emerged from the background to take on a pivotal role in the club’s new era, Bobby Gardiner, a British data analyst set to be promoted to head of scouting ahead of next season.

As noted by MilanNews, Gardiner has actually been part of the Milan furniture since 2019, when he was brought to the club by Hendrik Almstadt, himself recruited by former CEO Ivan Gazidis to oversee data operations.

A Philosophy, Economics and Politics graduate from Durham University, Gardiner had built his analytical reputation writing data-driven football content for British sports platforms, with a particular focus on Swansea City, the club he grew up supporting.

Gardiner’s data-driven philosophy to shape Milan transfer recruitment in new era

His work at Milan quickly attracted recognition beyond the club.

The Athletic credited Gardiner, alongside colleagues Ben Torvaney and Tiago Estevao, as key figures in the analytical backbone of the Rossoneri’s rebuild that culminated in the 2022 Scudetto triumph. He currently holds the title of Head of Performance Analytics.

Now, according to Matteo Moretto, Gardiner is being elevated to chief scout, a promotion that reflects a deliberate decision by Milan’s ownership to embed data analysis at the heart of their transfer recruitment.

Significantly, he was already sitting in on meetings between Cardinale, Ibrahimovic and reportedly incoming sporting director Marcus Krösche, suggesting his influence on the new structure will be considerable.

His own philosophy offers a clear vision of what comes next.

“I am on my knees begging someone to prove not only that coaches matter, but that they can matter more than players,” he said in a 2023 interview with StatsBomb. “And I can’t wait for spatial data to become more accessible for scouting and player recruitment.”

At Milan, that vision is now his to implement.

Ruben Amorim will be the new Milan head coach, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal is effectively done as lawyers from both parties exchange documents ahead of a formal announcement. The contract will run for two years with an option to extend until 2029.

The Portuguese coach, according to the reports via MilanNews.it, turned down an approach from Benfica to pursue the Milan project, a decision that underlines the genuine conviction with which he has approached this opportunity.

“Amorim is very convinced,” Romano said. “He said no to other offers such as the one from Benfica and strongly wanted Milan.”

Glasner and Jaissle left in the dark as Milan moved decisively for Amorim

Romano also clarified that reports of an agreement with Oliver Glasner were wide of the mark.

“Glasner has not spoken with Milan since the famous meeting in Munich, Milan disappeared and never made contact again,” he said.

Matthias Jaissle found himself in a similarly uncomfortable position, having received no update from the club as recently as this morning before the Amorim deal was concluded.

Amorim’s availability proved a decisive factor. Sacked by Manchester United in January, he required no compensation, whereas freeing Jaissle from Al-Ahli would have cost Milan a release clause of €10-11 million.

Belgium vs Egypt takes place this evening in the opening World Cup Group G fixture, with two of Serie A’s most recognisable names expected to start for the Red Devils.

Kevin De Bruyne, who joined Napoli last summer, lines up alongside Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere in what is a formidable Belgian attacking unit.

Romelu Lukaku, Koni De Winter and Alexis Saelemaekers all start on the bench for Belgium.

Former Atalanta full-back Timothy Castagne also starts, having spent three seasons in Bergamo between 2017 and 2020 before departing for the Premier League.

For Egypt, Mohamed Salah, who had two separate Serie A spells with Fiorentina and Roma between 2014 and 2017 before his famous move to Liverpool, leads the line as his nation’s talisman and one of the tournament’s most anticipated individual performers.

Belgium vs Egypt – World Cup 2026 Lineups

Belgium: Courtois, Meunier, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne, Onana, Tielemans, Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku, De Ketelaere
Egypt: Shobeir, Hany, Ibrahim, Fathy, Fatouh, Lashin, Attia, Ashour, Zico, Salah, Marmoush

Roma’s new sporting director Tony D’Amico faces an immediate set of contract decisions as the June 30 deadline approaches, with positive progress on the most pressing cases but one confirmed departure to manage.

Paulo Dybala’s renewal is the priority, and according to Tuttomercatoweb, the situation is close to being resolved.

The Argentine’s entourage held direct talks with the Friedkin family in recent days, with Roma’s renewal proposal met with a counter-offer from Dybala’s camp.

The two sides are understood to be very close to an agreement, with Dybala expected to sign a deal at a lower base salary with significantly higher bonus structures.

Celik set to stay despite Turkish interest as El Shaarawy ends long Roma chapter

Zeki Celik is also expected to remain, despite attracting considerable interest from clubs in Turkey.

Gasperini has pushed strongly for the Turkish right-back’s continuation after one of his most consistent seasons in a Roma shirt.

Lorenzo Pellegrini’s situation is slightly further behind, but the indications suggest both parties want to continue and a resolution is expected in the coming weeks.

The only confirmed departure from those out of contract is Stephan El Shaarawy, who brings to a close a long and storied relationship with the Giallorossi.

Genoa and Venezia are currently the clubs most interested in signing the winger on a free transfer.

Juventus have exercised their purchase option for Jeremie Boga, making the Ivorian winger’s move from Nice permanent in what represents new CEO Giovanni Carnevali’s first piece of business since taking charge at the Continassa.

The deal, confirmed by Gianluca Di Marzio, via CalcioMercato, sees Juventus trigger the €4.8 million option included in the January loan agreement, a remarkably modest fee for a player who contributed four goals in 16 appearances during the second half of the season.

Carnevali reunites with Boga after Sassuolo connection as Juventus secure bargain deal

The signing carries a personal dimension for Carnevali, who worked with Boga extensively during his time at Sassuolo between 2018 and January 2022, before the Ivorian was sold to Atalanta for a total of €22 million.

The fact that Juventus are now securing him permanently for less than a quarter of that fee underlines both the player’s difficult years since leaving Sassuolo and the shrewd nature of the original January loan structure.

Boga arrives as a permanent Juventus player with something to prove, and a new CEO who knows exactly what he is capable of at his best.

Bournemouth face a deadline today to decide whether to trigger their €17 million purchase option on Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas, with the Greek international’s future set to be resolved imminently in a decision that carries significant financial implications for the Roman club.

According to Il Tempo, via Radiosei, confirmation of the purchase would represent a major step towards Lazio meeting their economic targets for the summer, potentially sparing them from more painful player sales elsewhere in the squad.

Provedel’s expected Inter exit could convince Lazio to hold firm on Mandas valuation

The decision is complicated by circumstances at both clubs.

Bournemouth, despite their Europa League qualification under Marco Rose, saw Mandas fail to make a single Premier League appearance last season due to the outstanding form of Djordje Petrovic.

The English side are understood to be hoping to negotiate a reduced fee rather than pay the full option price.

For Lazio, however, selling Mandas becomes less attractive if Ivan Provedel departs, with Inter expected to complete a move for the Italian.

Should Provedel leave, Mandas would have a genuine opportunity to fight for the number one shirt at the Olimpico, giving Lazio every reason to drive a hard bargain.

Roma are casting their net widely in the search for right-sided reinforcements ahead of their Champions League return, with Nicolò Savona emerging as a potential target as Gian Piero Gasperini looks to strengthen the squad that finished third in Serie A last season.

According to Il Messaggero, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Savona could leave Nottingham Forest during this summer’s window, making him an attainable option for a Roma side that must also balance their financial obligations under UEFA’s settlement agreement before the end of June.

The former Juventus defender joined Forest last summer in a deal worth €13 million and has experience of playing in both Italy and England.

Zappacosta joins Savona on Roma radar but Atalanta move considered more complicated

Davide Zappacosta is another name Roma have considered for the right flank, but a move for the Atalanta wing-back is considered significantly more difficult to engineer.

Gasperini knows Zappacosta well from his time in Bergamo, which gives the pursuit a personal dimension, but Atalanta’s asking price and the player’s own situation make it a harder deal to structure than the Savona alternative.

Spain open their World Cup Group H campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta, with former Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz lining up in midfield for the reigning European champions.

For Cape Verde, former Lazio and Salernitana winger Jovane Cabral starts, giving the Blue Sharks a familiar face for Serie A followers as they look to cause an upset against one of the tournament favourites.

Hellas Verona forward Dailon Livramento starts, after spending the last season on loan with Casa Pia in Portugal.

Spain vs Cape Verde – 2026 World Cup Official Lineups

Spain: Simon; Llorente, Laporte, Cubarsi, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz, Gavi, Pedri; Torres, Oyarzabal
Cape Verde: Vozinha; Borges, Lopes, Cabral, Moreira; Pina, Monteiro, Duarte; Cabral, Livramento, Mendes

Maurizio Sarri has been officially appointed as Atalanta head coach, bringing one of Italian football’s most distinctive tactical minds to Bergamo as the club prepare for their first Conference League campaign.

The club welcomed the Italian with a statement published on their official website.

The 67-year-old arrives with a storied CV: over 800 professional matches managed, a UEFA Europa League title with Chelsea, a Serie A Scudetto with Juventus and three consecutive seasons of breaking Napoli’s points record under his belt.

Most recently he led Lazio to the Coppa Italia final, having previously guided the Biancocelesti to the Champions League Round of 16 in 2023/24, described in the statement as the second-best European result in the Roman club’s history.

Sarri reunites with Giuntoli at Atalanta after transformative Napoli partnership

The appointment also represents a reunion with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, with whom Sarri worked closely during his transformative years at Napoli between 2015 and 2018.

That partnership produced some of the most thrilling football Italian football has seen in the modern era, and Atalanta will be hoping lightning strikes twice.

Born in Naples but raised in Tuscany, with a childhood spell in the Bergamo area, Sarri’s connection to the region adds a personal dimension to one of the most intriguing coaching appointments of the summer.

Monday’s reports claim that Markus Krösche has ‘said yes’ to the idea of taking over as the new technical director of Milan, but who is the 45-year-old executive and who are his most notable signings to date? 

Krösche is a former holding midfielder who came through the youth and reserve ranks at Werder Bremen before joining SC Padderborn in 2001, where he would go on to spend the rest of his playing career. His 356 league outings for the German outfit makes him the club’s all-time record appearance holder.   

Upon his retirement in 2014, Krösche has a brief stint in charge of SC Padderborn II, the club’s reserve side before going on to serve as an assistant coach to Roger Schmidt at Bayer Leverkusen between 2015 and 2017. 

Krösche left Leverkusen when Schmidt was sacked towards the end of the 2016-17 season and decided to return to Padderborn in the role of managing director. 

While in charge of Padderborn, Krösche oversaw back-to-back promotions from the third tier of German football to the top flight, which was only the second time in the club’s history that the club had featured in the Bundesliga. 

This success earned Krösche a move to RB Leipzig to take over as sporting director, where he would serve for two seasons between 2019 and 2021. 

Since 2021, he has been with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he remains under contract until 2028, and is currently a member of the club’s board under the title ‘board member for sport’. 

Krösche has overseen the transfers of a number of high-profile players across his time with Leipzig and Frankfurt, including the likes of Dani Olmo, Josko Gvardiol, Randal Kolo Muani and Hugo Ekitike. 

Below is a list of his most prominent and most profitable signings to date. 

Krösche’s most prominent signings with RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt

Ademola Lookman: Everton → RB Leipzig (€18m)

Christopher Nkunku: PSG → RB Leipzig (€19.5m, later sold to Chelsea for €60m)

Dani Olmo: Dinamo Zagreb → RB Leipzig (€34m, later sold to Barcelona for €61m)

Josko Gvardiol: Dinamo Zagreb → RB Leipzig (€36m, later sold to Manchester City for €90m)

Lazar Samardzic: Hertha BSC → RB Leipzig (€500,000)

Josep Martinez: Las Palmas → RB Leipzig (€2.5m)

Randal Kolo Muani: FC Nantes → Eintracht Frankfurt (free, later sold to PSG for €95m)

Mario Götze: PSV → Eintracht Frankfurt (€4.5m)

Omar Marmoush: Wolfsbury → Eintracht Frankfurt (free, later sold to Manchester City for €75m)

Willian Pacho: Royal Antwerp → Eintracht Frankfurt (€13.5m, later sold to PSG for €40m)

Nathaniel Brown: 1.FC Nuremberg → Eintracht Frankfurt (€5.5m)

Hugo Ekitike: PSG → Eintracht Frankfurt (€31.5m, later sold to Liverpool for €95m)

The debut episode of the Football Italia Summer Show is now live on YouTube, featuring TNT Sports and SiriusXM commentator and presenter Adam Summerton.

Together, we discuss the future of the Italy national team and the possibility of Roberto Mancini returning as head coach, a prospect that raises an important question: Are the Azzurri looking in the wrong places?

Mancini back as Italy coach: yes or no?

Should Italy bring Roberto Mancini back as the head coach? We asked our readers this question a few days ago, and the answer confirmed how split opinions are regarding the 2020 Euro winner, who, at the same time, failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup before stepping down a year later.

Mancini has just left Al-Sadd, and according to various sources, including Fabrizio Romano and Sky Sport Italia, he’s the favourite to take over the Azzurri after June 22, 2026, when the FIGC Presidential elections take place.

Football Italia editor Lorenzo Bettoni has discussed Mancini’s potential return and the tasks ahead for the new coach in our first summer show.

Watch the full episode below:

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport criticised the new World Cup format, suggesting that it has affected the overall quality of the play and that ‘Europe has come out disadvantaged.’

The new World Cup format, which has been expanded to include 48 teams for the first time, does not appear to have generated much enthusiasm among the Italian media, not because the Azzurri will be absent from the tournament for the third consecutive time.

‘Europe has come out disadvantaged’ with new World Cup format

“With the expansion of the tournament to 48 nations, some matchups have become noticeably unbalanced. Bigger is not always better. In the allocation of participating teams by confederation, Europe has come out disadvantaged, and we are not saying this out of resentment over Italy’s absence,” wrote Gazzetta.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino already drew criticism from Italian media and politicians last week when he joked that the World Cup could be expanded to 208 teams to allow Italy to qualify.

“Beyond the FIFA president’s jokes, the Italian national team had a duty to qualify and be here,” Gazzetta wrote.

“But it is clear that the competition’s XXL size increases the number of modest teams and lowers the overall quality of play.”

There’s one more reason for concern coming from the World Cup, according to the most popular Italian sports paper: “The time-outs, or hydration breaks, have already been exposed for what they are by observers around the world: a way to split matches into four quarters and allow for lucrative advertising slots for broadcasters who have paid equally lucrative sums for the television rights, rather than genuine support for coaches and teams except in exceptional circumstances.”

Ruben Amorim is all set to take over from Massimiliano Allegri as head coach of Milan, and the latest updates claim that he is already in contact with Markus Krösche, who has reportedly said ‘yes’ to the idea of becoming the new Rossoneri technical director. 

Changes on the horizon in Milan with Amorim and Krösche

Change is finally on the horizon for Milan, who have been without a head coach, sporting director, technical director or CEO for close to a month of the off-season. Amorim is set to join on an initial two-year contract and is expected to put pen to paper on his Rossoneri contract by the end of Tuesday. 

Monday’s reports also indicate that Milan are making progress in their hunt for a new technical director. The club had originally been in talks with Ralf Rangnick, which have since definitively broken down. 

It now appears that Milan have settled on another German in Krösche, currently with Eintracht Frankfurt, to take over as technical director or ‘head of football’. 

According to updates from Milan expert Antonio Vitello, Krösche has ‘said yes’ to the idea of joining Milan and now Frankfurt are expecting a call from Gerry Cardinale and/or Zlatan Ibrahimovic to formally negotiate a deal for the director. 

The latest update claims that Amorim and Krösche have already been in contact with one another. 

If Milan are able to pull off a deal for Krösche, which may prove to be expensive, it is expected that Frankfurt’s current sporting director, Timmo Hardung will follow.

Reports in Italy continue to link Inter with a potential move for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga but the Frenchman is not expected to come cheaply for the Nerazzurri. 

How much would it cost Inter to sign Camavinga?

According to reports over the last week, Camavinga is increasingly likely to be let go by Madrid during the summer transfer window. 

It is expected that Inter will be in the market for a new midfielder this summer: Cristian Chivu is hoping to add several reinforcements to his squad, including at cenre-back, at wing-back and in midfield. 

For several months it has been reported that Roma’s Manu Kone is a potential option for the Nerazzurri this summer, but the Corriere della Sera and Calciomercato.com report that Camavinga is emerging as a potential alternative. 

Real Madrid’s valuation of Camavinga is similar to Roma’s price tag for Kone, both expected to cost somewhere in the region of €50m. Calciomercato claims that it will take a fee of €40m-€45m to convince Madrid into selling the Frenchman, while reports elsewhere claim it will be €50m. 

Camavinga will also command a significant wage packet as well, as he currently earns a gross salary of €12.5m per season at the Bernabeu (Estimated to be around €7.5m net with all bonuses included). 

This would reportedly put Camavinga in the same wage bracket as the likes of Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu in San Siro, but would still be below the club’s highest earner, captain Lautaro Martinez. 

There are also several other sides in the Premier League reported to be interested in a potential deal for Camavinga including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Juventus had also briefly been mentioned as a possible option for the Frenchman, albeit only on loan.

Giovanni Carnevali officially started in his role as the new CEO of Juventus on Monday morning, and the latest updates claim that he has already decided to place all but one of his predecessor’s signings up for sale. 

Only one of Comolli’s Juventus signings ‘guaranteed’ to stay in 2026-27

Carnevalli took over from Damien Comolli at the top of the Juventus hierarchy. Comolli had only been in the role for one season, but left amidst reports of a falling-out with head coach Luciano Spalletti due to failed transfer approaches and a disagreement over their future visions for the club. 

While supporters eagerly anticipate the arrivals of new signings in the summer transfer market, Carnevali must first get to the bottom of the club’s budget and will have to move a few players on first in order to accommodate new acquisitions, especially without access to the Champions League in 2026-27. 

According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Jeremie Boga is the only player that Comolli brought to the club that is currently considered ‘safe’ from being sold during the summer transfer window. 

The French-born Ivory Coast international joined the club on loan with a low-cost option to buy for just €4.8m during the January transfer window and has since gone on to prove himself as a solid option to rotate with Kenan Yildiz and has enonugh versatility to cover a number of roles across the Bianconeri attack when required. 

As for the rest of the signings that Comolli made at Juventus, nobody is guaranteed to stay. 

Juventus will listen to offers for both Jonathan David and Lois Openda. David joined on a free transfer, which means that Juventus are guaranteed to make a capital gain if they sell him this summer, but a significant salary of €6m and after an underwhelming first campaign in Italy, finding a willing buyer could still be relatively complicated. 

Selling Openda might be even more tricky given that Juventus signed him on loan with an obligation to buy clause in excess of €44m.  

Edon Zhegrova is also considered surplus to requirements after failing to make a single appearance in the Bianconeri starting line-up in Serie A this season. There have been reports that Turkish outfit Trabzonspor could be interested. 

There is also Joao Mario, who was bought permanently in the summer but was then sent out on loan to Bologna in a sort-of exchange deal involving Emil Holm moving in the opposite direction. The Portuguese is also not expected to play a major role in the Juve first team next season as things stand.

Multiple sources confirm that Ruben Amorim is set to take over from Massimiliano Allegri as the new head coach of Milan, and we want to know: Is the former Manchester United gaffer the right choice for the Rossoneri in the circumstances?

Is Amorim the right candidate to take over as Milan head coach?

Amorim is expected to join Milan on an initial two-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months, with wages reported to be in the region of €3.5m-€4m per season. 

There have also been suggestions that the Rossoneri are moving closer to agreements with Eintracht Frankfurt duo Markus Krösche and Timmo Hardung to take over as the club’s new technical and sporting directors. 

Milan had originally been in talks with another former Manchester United manager in Ralf Rangnick, who had been poised to take over as technical director. However, Rangnick did not receive the assurances he wanted before the start of the 2026 World Cup, and he has since decided to extend his contract with the Austria national team instead. 

Before the breakdown in talks with Rangnick, it had been reported that departing Crystal Palace coach Oliver Glasner would have been the most likely candidate to take over as head coach given his pre-existing relationship with the former Manchester United and Red Bull executive. 

Ultimately, with no Rangnick, there will be no Glasner for Milan either. 

Other coaches that have been linked with a move to Milan over the last few weeks include current USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle and recently-dismissed Liverpool tactician Arne Slot. 

So, we want to know: Who do you think would have been the best coach for Milan in the current circumstances? Have your say in the poll below and let us know more in the comments. 

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

 

Un post condiviso da Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

Monday’s reports claim that Milan are now closing in on deals to appoint Eintracht Frankfurt duo Markus Krösche and Timmo Hardung as the club’s new technical and sporting directors following their agreement with Ruben Amorim to become the next head coach. 

Milan seal Amorim deal, closing in on Krösche

It has been a summer of uncertainty for Milan since the end of the 2025-26 season following the departures of head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani, but it appears that the Rossoneri are close to making a series of significant appointments. 

Reports on Monday confirm that former Manchester United head coach Amorim has an agreement to take over as head coach on an initial two-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months. He will reportedly earn a salary of around €3.5m per season plus bonuses. 

Additionally, reports from various outlets in Italy claim that Milan are closing in on agreements to appoint Krösche as the club’s new technical director and his Eintracht Frankfurt colleague Hardung as the next sporting director. 

Reports vary depending on the source: Sky claims that Milan ‘like’ Krösche, while Matteo Moretto and Fabrizio Romano claim that talks are advanced and that the Rossoneri are closing in on an agreement. Calciomercato.com claims that there is already a verbal agreement in place with the German. 

It is expected that if Krösche is appointed as technical director, or as ‘head of football’, then he will seek to bring his Frankfurt colleague Hardung with him to take over as sporting director. 

Monday’s reports confirm that Milan have a full agreement in place with Ruben Amorim to take over as the club’s new coach, and it appears that the former Manchester United and Sporting CP tactician will be in Italy within the coming days to put his signature on his contract. 

Amorim expected to complete Milan move by Tuesday

According to reports from various outlets on Monday, Amorim is set to take over from Massimiliano Allegri as head coach of Milan on an initial two-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months. 

Amorim is reportedly set to earn a guaranteed salary of €3.5m per season in San Siro. 

A deal has progressed quickly, and according to the latest updates from Sky Sport Italia, the coach is expected to fly to Italy within the next few hours in order to complete his move. It is likely that he will be in Milan by Tuesday and that he will have signed off on his contract by the end of tomorrow. 

Milan are still on the lookout for a new sporting director and technical director, and the latest reports claim that Eintracht Frankfurt duo Timmo Hardung and Markus Krösche are the preferred options for the Rossoneri. 

Monday’s reports claim that it is now a ‘done deal’ for former Manchester United head coach to replace Massimiliano Allegri at the helm of Milan. 

Report: Amorim to Milan is a done deal

According to reports from Sky Sport Italia, transfer expert Matteo Moretto and various other outlets, Amorim will sign an initial two-year contract with Milan, running until the summer of 2028, with an option to extend for a further 12 months until the summer of 2029.

Moretto adds that the documents will be formalised within the next few hours. 

Reports earlier on Monday claimed that Milan had offered Amorim a salary of €3.5m per season plus bonuses linked to Champions League qualification. 

Milan have been without a head coach since parting ways with Allegri the day after the 2025-26 season came to an end. The Rossoneri are also without a sporting director, technical director and CEO after dismissing Igli Tare, Geoffrey Moncada and Giorgio Furlani on the same day as Allegri. 

Milan had originally been in discussions with another former Manchester United head coach in Ralf Rangnick, who had looked poised to take over as sporting director. There were also reports from various outlets in Italy that Rangnick would look to appoint Oliver Glasner as head coach. 

However, talks between Milan and Rangnick have since broken down and the German has gone on to extend his contract with the Austria national team instead, which means that the Glasner option for Milan faded away as well. 

With just a few weeks remaining until the start of pre-season, it appears that Milan have finally settled on a new head coach to take over for the 2026-27 campaign. 

Mauricio Pochettino and Arne Slot had also been mentioned as possible candidates for the Rossoneri before the deal with Amorim came to fruition.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has revealed that Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero was the man behind the idea to change the walk-outs at the World Cup to involve all 26 members of the squad rather than just the starting 11. 

How Del Piero convinced Infantino to change in World Cup walk-outs

A number of changes to the laws of the game have been implemented at the 2026 World Cup in North America, some of which have been well received, others less so. 

One of the changes that has gone down fairly well across the board is the decision for all 26 squad members to walk out onto the pitch before matches and take part in the singing of the national anthems, rather than just the starting 11. 

This is a change that allows all members of the squad to ‘have their moment’, to feel part of the team, especially for those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to play. 

Infantino, speaking at a recent press conference, has revealed that this change in procedure was originally suggested to him by former Juventus and Italy star Del Piero. 

“For the first time, all of the players, a total of 26 players, will be on the pitch. There will be huge flags and the national anthems will be heard with enormous flags and with the whole team out on the pitch,” Infantino began.  

“Where did that come from? Well, as you know, we always want to do new things, and we thought it had to be something American, business, I don’t know, showtime. No. This was born out of a conversation I had with Alessandro Del Piero. 

“Alessandro Del Piero a few months ago told me: ‘Why don’t you start bringing all of the players out onto the pitch during the anthem?’. I said ‘Why?’. ‘Because we’re all part of the same team’.” 

Infantino continued: “I don’t know if it’s because the goal he scored, one of the most beautiful World Cup goals, Italy’s goal for 2-0 against Germany in Dortmund in the 2006 World Cup, he came off the bench and scored this incredible goal. I don’t know if that’s the reason why he said it, but he said we’re all part of the same team. 

“I thought he was right, so we started to discuss it all together and during a World Cup, all the players might not play, so it’s about making them feel part of this very emotional moment during the national anthems. I believe this is something positive for all of the players, for the supporters.” 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gianni Infantino – FIFA President (@gianni_infantino)

Monday’s reports claim that Gian Piero Gasperini is in direct contact with Marseille forward Mason Greenwood and that he has asked the Englishman ‘to wait’ while Roma prepare to formally open negotiations with the Ligue 1 side. 

Gasperini in direct contact with Greenwood, Roma expected to open negotiations with Marseille

Gasperini is hoping to reconstruct his attacking department ahead of the 2026-27 season, an area of the pitch he often complained about during the 2025-26 campaign, and Marseille’s Greenwood has emerged as the first choice for the Giallorossi. 

The Manchester United academy graduate is expected to be available for transfer this summer as Marseille are expected to sell a big-name star in order to comply with FFP regulations. This means that Roma are hoping to secure a deal within the coming weeks. 

While Roma remain confident of striking a deal for Greenwood, they have not yet tabled a formal offer for Marseille, who value their attacker in the region of €55m. Manchester United will also be entitled to a significant sell-on clause if their former player is to move this summer. 

And so, according to reports from the Corriere dello Sport, Gasperini has been on the phone to Greenwood to ask him to wait while the clubs conduct their negotiations. 

Monday’s report claims that Ryan Friedkin is also in direct contact with the player’s agent and that he has already mapped out the club’s plans and the role that Greenwood would have within the Giallorossi set-up. 

Despite Marseille’s €55m valuation, the Corriere dello Sport suggests that Roma’s opening offer will be worth €40m including bonuses, as well as a significant sell-on clause that will be higher than 10%. 

In an ideal world, Roma would like to sign Greenwood on an initial loan deal with an obligation to buy, but it remains to be seen whether Marseille will be willing to accept this formula.

It is set to be a crucial few days for Milan, who remain in talks with several candidates over their vacant head coach, sporting and technical director roles, but owner Gerry Cardinale and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic were all smiles as they attended the ‘UFC Freedom 250’ event on the White House lawn over the weekend. 

Where Milan stand in search for new head coach and directors

Milan need to appoint a brand new senior management team after dismissing head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season ended. 

Several candidates have been linked with various management positions at San Siro, but midway through June, no appointments have yet been made. 

Milan had been in talks with Ralf Rangnick to take over as the club’s technical director, and it was reported that if the German did take over, he would seek to appoint departing Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner to replace Allegri. 

Rangnick, however, wanted full control over decision making and wanted to bring in his own staff across the club. Importantly, Rangnick also wanted his deal with Milan to be wrapped up before the start of the 2026 World Cup, which did not happen, and now, the former Red Bull and Manchester United chief has extended his contract with the Austria national team instead. 

With Rangnick now out of the equation for Milan, Glasner is also considered to be out of the running for the Rossoneri head coach position. 

Instead, the new leading candidate to take over the Rossoneri dugout is former Manchester United and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim. 

According to Monday’s reports, Milan owner Gerry Cardinale has directly offered a two-year contract worth €3.5m per season in wages to the Portuguese tactician. That offer would also include bonuses linked to Champions League qualification. 

Meanwhile, Milan are also seeking to appoint Markus Krösche as the club’s new technical director. The German is currently employed by Eintracht Frankfurt, who are not expected to make life easy for the Rossoneri if they do attempt to lure the 45-year-old away from the Deutsche Bank Park. 

If Krösche is appointed, he is expected to bring Frankfurt’s sporting director Timmo Hardung with him. 

It is a busy time for the Rossoneri, who have very few representatives left on the ground back in Italy. Meanwhile, owner Gerry Cardinale remains in the USA, as does prominent senior advisor Ibrahimovic. 

There has often been confusion over the extent of Ibrahimovic’s powers at Milan, given his close relationship with the owner while not being directly employed by the club itself. Much has also been made about the Swede’s decision to take on a punditry role with Fox Sports for the duration of the 2026 World Cup while also continuing on a number of personal endeavours at such a crucial time for Milan. 

The latest outing for Ibrahimovic and Cardinale was at the UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn on Sunday, organised ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States declaration of independence. 

All smiles Stateside, but work to be done back home in Milan. 

Gerry Cardinale e Zlatan Ibrahimovic presenti all’evento UFC della notte italiana alla Casa Bianca.

Qualche fila dietro di loro il Presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump.

DAZN#milanpress pic.twitter.com/iahPLi9rKo

— MilanPress.it (@MilanPress_it) June 15, 2026

Football Italia is proud to announce the launch of a brand-new YouTube project that brings you even closer to the biggest stories in Italian football.

As part of our expanded coverage of Serie A and the wider Italian game, we’ll deliver the latest news, transfer updates, analysis and debate in a new video format designed for fans who want to stay on top of every development.

Follow Football Italia on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook

From Monday to Friday, we’ll publish two videos a day, covering the hottest talking points in Italian football and all the key transfer news throughout the summer.

You can subscribe to Football Italia’s YouTube channel here and join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and opinions in the comments.

While Italy’s failure to qualify for another World Cup has been a disappointment, passion for Italian football remains as strong as ever. Every day, thousands of supporters visit Football Italia to follow the latest news from the Bel Paese, and we’re excited to offer even more ways to stay connected.

From today, Football Italia will bring you additional content, deeper analysis and more discussion, following every twist and turn across Serie A and beyond.

Follow us on YouTube, as well as Instagram and Facebook, so you never miss a moment.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Watch our first summer video below:

Giovanni Carnevali officially begins his journey as the new CEO of Juventus on Monday and will immediately hold meetings with the club’s accounting team in order to establish the club’s budget and potential for summer transfers according to reports in Italy. 

What’s on the agenda for Carnevali on his first day at Juventus?

Carnevali has spent the last 12 years as CEO of Sassuolo, but has made the move to Turin following the departure of Damien Comolli, who has recently left his position at the top of the Juventus hierarchy after one year in charge. 

Carnevali officially begins his new job today and it is understood that he will immediately hold a series of meetings to get a full understanding of the club’s accounts. 

According to Tuttosport, one of the immediate priorities for Carnevali is to get a full understanding of the club’s settlement agreement with UEFA, which will determine exactly how much Juventus are able to spend, and more importantly, how much they will need to bring in from outgoing transfers this summer. 

It is anticipated that Juventus will have to sell players in order to comply with UEFA’s financial rules, and in order to make up for the expected drop in revenues from the club’s failure to qualify for the 2026-27 edition of the Champions League. 

There have been suggestions that Juventus may have to sell a big-name first-team star in order to settle the budgets, such as defender Gleison Bremer who has a €58m release clause in his contract. However, Tuttosport claims that Carnevali is determined to study all potential solutions and that keeping hold of the Brazilian could still be a possibility. 

Sunday’s reports also suggest that Carnevali will attempt to reignite talks with striker Dusan Vlahovic over a potential new contract upon the request of head coach Luciano Spalletti.

The feeling is that keeping hold of the Serbian will make life easier from a financial point of view, especially if the club can avoid going into the market to sign one, potentially two new centre-forwards this summer. 

From there, Juventus will continue to look at potential incoming transfers: Talks with Atletico’s Alexander Sorloth and Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez have already been established and updates on both of those fronts are expected in due course.

La Gazzetta dello Sport 

‘I’m back’ 

Hamilton and the Ferrari dream 

His first victory and tears in red at the age of 41: ‘See? I’m still the best Lewis’. Mercedes betray Antonelli in Barcelona. The champion challenges the kid in the World Championship race

Curacao take 7, Italy aren’t there 

Infantino’s formula under attack 

Too many games, squads not at the level, little spectacle and Germany are having fun

Ancelotti, Montella and the tough lives of our CTs

Visualizza questo post su Instagram

 

Un post condiviso da Football Italia (@gazzettafootballitalia)

Criticism in Brazil and Turkiye

Corriere dello Sport 

Mondialewis 

Ferrari triumph | Hamilton wins in Barcelona, his first victory with La Rossa

‘A dream fulfilled, thank you’

‘Forever grateful, I hope it’s only the beginning’. Antonelli let down by Mercedes, 41 points in the lead, but the race for the title is now open: ‘Our problem is reliability’. Another zero from Leclerc: ‘Now we need to reset’

Enter the prince 

Yamal, World Cup attraction: Could become the heir to Messi and CR7 

Spain, Champions of Europe, against Cape Verde at 18.00. Lamine dreams of the Ballon d’Or. Cucurella to Mou’s Real Madrid. The Belgium of KDB and Lukaku take on Salah’s Egypt (20.00). Germany beat Curacao 7-1: Havertz double 

Tuttosport 

LEWIS: Rosso delirium 

Fabulous Hamilton: Dominates in Barcelona and Ferrari return to World Championship dreams 

First triumph with Ferrari after almost two years of nothing for both: ‘Winning in this car and with these fans is something else, I almost fainted. You made me remember who I am’. Tears and 41 points behind Antonelli, who retires after the duel with Russell (second, ahead of Norris’. Mercedes fury. Leclerc nightmare 

Juve, did you see Diaz? 

Carnevali’s first day today: Meeting to settle the accounts 

The attacking midfielder, Spalletti’s favourite for that role, shines against Brazil: The Bianconeri still putting the pressure on Real Madrid for the Moroccan. The sporting director search: Tognozzi takes a step forwards. Vlahovic yes, Vlahovic no: All the reasons why. Juve-Inter for the U16 Scudetto

Stadium nerves: The Turin council urges Cairo 

‘We’re still waiting for the partnership proposal’

The councillor for sport: ‘Respond to us as soon as possible, the future of the Granata is at stake’. The links with the club’s potential sale is unsettling the fans. Auction for Esposito

Ancelotti’s Brazil immediately in a storm, How about Morocco!

Selecao, just a draw (1-1). Bouaddi impresses everyone 

Turkey flop, Yildiz sad and Calhanoglu shoots for 0

Australia surprise: 2-0 

Curacao go home happy even after conceding seven: Historic first goal 

Germany dominate after the initial fears

Sweden face Tunisia in their World Cup Group F opener in Monterrey, Mexico, with the group already underway after Netherlands and Japan played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the day.

Sweden vs Tunisia is the final kick-off in a day that was packed full of games; with the competition in full swing now.

The match takes place in a spectacular arena, with mountain views in the background, setting the stage for a must-win game for both sides in a tricky group.

Atalanta defender Isak Hien starts in central defence for Sweden, while Udinese midfielder Jesper Karlstrom lines up in the middle of the park.

Tunisia, meanwhile, field no players with current Serie A connections in their starting eleven, but benched centre-back Dylan Bronn spent several years with Salernitana in Serie A and B, meaning there is, overall, only a modest amount of Calcio involvement this evening.

Sweden vs Tunisia – World Cup Lineups

Sweden: Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Hien, Bernhardsson, Gudmundsson, Nygren, Karlstrom, Ayari, Isak, Gyokeres
Tunisia: Chamakh, Abdi, Talbi, Rekik, Valery, Ben Hmida, Hannibal, Khedira, Skhiri, Slimane, Saad

Ivory Coast vs Ecuador meet in their World Cup Group E opener in Philadelphia, with Germany having already set the early pace in the group by thrashing Curacao 7-1 earlier today.

Atalanta defender Odilon Kossounou is named among the Ivory Coast substitutes, while Roma’s Evan Ndicka features on the bench also due to a fitness concern.

Inter’s Ange-Yoan Bonny, who switched international allegiances from France ahead of the tournament, is also among the substitutes.

Former Milan midfielder Franck Kessie starts in midfield alongside Seko Fofana, with Elye Wahi and Nicolas Pepe in attack.

Ex Atalanta forward Amad Diallo is also among the substitutes for the African side.

For Ecuador, Venezia forward John Yeboah starts up front, while Milan full-back Pervis Estupinan is named among the substitutes. Juventus and Inter defensive target Joel Ordonez starts in central defence.

Ivory Coast vs Ecuador – Official Lineups

Ivory Coast: Fofana; Konan, Singo, Doue, Agbadou; S.Fofana, Kessie; Diomande, Wahi, Pepe; Toure.

Ecuador: Galindez; Hincapie, Ordonez, Pacho; Minda, Vite, Franco, Caicedo; Yeboah, Valencia, Plata.

The Netherlands face Japan with a strong Serie A contingent in their starting eleven for their World Cup opener.

Roma striker Donyell Malen leads the line, Inter’s Denzel Dumfries, whose Real Madrid move is imminent, starts at right back, and former Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders lines up in the middle of the park.

Juventus’ Teun Koopmeiners, Atalanta’s Marten De Roon and Napoli’s Noa Lang, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Galatasaray, are all among the substitutes.

For Japan, Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki starts in goal, while former Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada lines up in the centre of midfield.

Ex-Inter full-back Yuto Nagatomo is named among the substitutes at 39 years old, alongside former Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Netherlands vs Japan – World Cup 2026 Lineups

Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; De Jong, Gravenberch; Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo; Malen.

Japan: Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, H.Ito; Doan, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Maeda, Kubo; Ueda.

Reports in Italy claim that Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s agents have asked Napoli for their valuation of the midfielder, as the Cameroon international ponders his options with one year remaining on his contract at the Stadio Maradona. 

How much do Napoli want for expiring Anguissa?

Anguissa has been linked with a potential move away from Napoli this summer. The 30-year-old has played a pivotal role in Napoli’s last two Serie A titles in 2022-23 and 2024-25, but is now approaching the final 12 months of his contract and feels that this might be his final opportunity to explore a move away to a different, competitive side in Europe. 

According to reports from Il Mattino (via Calciomercato.com), Anguissa’s agents have asked Napoli for their valuation of the midfielder, which is an indication that the former Fulham man is still considering a transfer away from Serie A this summer. 

According to Sunday’s reports, Napoli will seek a fee of €20m to sell Anguissa with one year remaining on his contract this summer. 

Anguissa was only fit enough to make 18 appearances in Serie A this season after suffering a serious hamstring injury in November, which would keep him sidelined until the beginning of March.

Reports in Italy claim that Markus Krösche is back among the frontrunners to take over as the new technical director of Milan, but the German and his current employers at Eintracht Frankfurt have significant demands according to the latest updates. 

Reports Eintracht Frankfurt want €10m to release Krösche for Milan

Milan are still without a senior management team after parting ways with head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season came to an end. 

For several weeks, it had been reported that former Red Bull executive Ralf Rangnick was poised to take over as the new technical director in San Siro, but the German has since made it clear that he will not be joining the Rossoneri and has instead put pen to paper on a new contract with the Austria national team instead. 

It is believed that Milan’s failure to make a final decision on the appointment of Rangnick before the start of the 2026 World Cup was the final nail in the coffin that led to the definitive breakdown in negotiations between the two parties. 

Now, according to reports from various outlets, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Krösche, who had been linked with a move to Milan earlier this season as well, is back among the frontrunners to take the sporting sector in San Siro. 

However, according to reports from Calciomercato.com, Krösche wants full control in Milan, including the power to bring in his own staff, which is also what Rangnick had demanded from the Rossoneri. 

If Krösche were to take over in Milan, he would like to bring Frankfurt’s Timmo Hardung along with him to take over as sporting director. 

Eintracht Frankfurt may make life difficult for Milan as well, as Calciomercato reports that they want a fee in the region of €7.5m-€10m if they are to part company with their current technical director.

Julian Nagelsmann is able to call upon veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for Germany’s opening game of the 2026 World Cup, as Die Mannschaft open their campaign against the smallest nation in the tournament’s history, Curacao. 

Germany vs. Curacao is the first match to take place in Group E, and will be followed by Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador at midnight later this evening. 

There are no Serie A representatives in either squad: Inter’s Yann Bisseck was the most likely Italian-based player to be called up to the Germany squad, but he was not included in Nagelsmann’s 26-man roster despite winning the Serie A and Coppa Italia double in 2025-26. 

Former Milan defender Malick Thiaw is named among the German substitutes, as are a number of players who have been linked with a move to the Rossoneri over the last few seasons, including Leon Goretzka and Assan Ouedraogo and the Juventus-linked Antonio Rudiger. 

Kick-off is due at 18.00 BST.

Germany vs. Curacao: Confirmed line-ups 

Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Brown; Pavlovic, Nmecha; Sane, Musiala, Wirtz; Havertz. 

Subs: Baumann, Neubel, Rudiger, Anton, Raum, Thiaw, Goretzka, Leweling, Gross, Stiller, Amiri, Ouedraogo, Beier, Undav. 

Curacao (4-4-2): Room, Floranus, Obispo, Bazoer, Fonville; J.Bacuna, Comencia, L.Bacuna, Chong; Locadia, Hansen

Subs: Bodak, Doornbusch, Sambo, Gaari, Van Eijma, Brenet, Roemeratoe, Martha, Felida, Antonisse, Noslin, Margaritha, Kuwas, Kastaneer.

Reports in Italy claim that Massimiliano Allegri could give up on the severance pay he is owed from Milan in order to take up the vacant head coach position at Napoli. 

Milan night not have to pay any severance pay to Allegri

Allegri was dismissed as head coach of Milan the day after the 2025-26 season came to an end. 

He is widely expected to take over as head coach of Napoli, replacing Antonio Conte on a two-year contract, however, he must first come to an agreement to terminate his contract with Milan before starting work in Naples. 

Despite discussions over the last few weeks, Allegri and Milan have not yet come to a mutual agreement. 

Allegri would have been due to earn €5m on the second year of his Milan contract, expiring next summer, and he is reportedly set to earn €4.5m per year on his new deal with Napoli. According to reports on Sunday, Milan have offered to pay €500,000 in severance, i.e. the difference between the coach’s Milan and Napoli salaries. 

Calciomercato.com claims that Allegri’s initial request was for €2m and a further €3m for his staff. 

However, with the start of pre-season quickly approaching and with no agreement in place between the coach and club, the latest reports claim that Allegri is considering walking away from Milan without severance pay, so that he can get to work with Napoli within the coming weeks, if not days.

Weston McKennie believes that hosting the 2026 World Cup will ‘change football in the United States’, says that Milan’s Christian Pulisic will always be ready in decisive moments, but says that he has not heard much from the developments taking place at Juventus. 

McKennie on a flying start to the 2026 World Cup with the USA

McKennie and his USMNT colleagues got their home World Cup campaign off to a flyer with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Los Angeles. Though it was Folarin Balogun who provided a brace, McKennie and Pulisic were widely praised for their individual performances on the night. 

“A victory like this was exactly what I was hoping for,” said McKennie in an in-depth interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“Obviously, you never know what’s going to happen on the pitch because there are so many different expectations. But we know what we’re capable of, and the world has taken notice. 

“Winning 4-1 in the opening match is great, of course, but it’s just the beginning. That’s why we don’t want to overdo the celebrations; this needs to become the norm for us. Now we still have two group stage matches: let’s continue with performances like this and try to improve even further.” 

A moment of individual brilliance from Pulisic led to Damian Bobadilla turning the ball into his own net for the USA’s opener against Paraguay. That was the moment that McKennie thought his nation would get off to a winning start. 

“Probably after the own goal. I thought: ‘Okay, luck is a bit on our side today…’ But the moment that truly gave me goosebumps was when we walked onto the pitch: we listened to the anthem and sang it all together, us and the fans. It’s hard to describe a feeling like that unless you experience it firsthand. 

“In that moment, I thought back to all the hard work put in by the team, the staff, the coach, and the life journeys everyone had taken to get there, all together.”

McKennie praises head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the mindset that he has been able to bring to his squad. 

“For now, let’s take the positives from this match and not get ahead of ourselves. It was fantastic, and do you know why? We wanted to go out there and play like childhood friends, and we succeeded. That’s the secret. 

“The coach often tells us that the hard work is what we do before the match. The sacrifices, the time invested, the commitment: that’s the real graft. Then you go out there and the fun begins, because opportunities like these don’t come around often in a career. 

“And if you make a mistake, never mind, there’s always a teammate ready to cover for you. I’ve never seen the kind of unity we have, both on and off the pitch, in any other team I’ve been a part of.”

It has only been one game, but McKennie is confident that the 2026 World Cup campaign will change the way that football is viewed in the United States. 

“There are many people who, perhaps, had never come to support us before: we hope that, thanks to this performance, they can get to know us and feel closer to us. We want to be a team that people can identify with. We want them to see the joy with which we play, the electricity in the stadium. 

“And for those who say football is boring, well, there were five goals in the first game, so maybe they’ll change their minds! Hosting this World Cup will definitely change football in the United States, it’s impossible not to be moved by this amount of passion.” 

Pulisic has not hit the back of the net for Milan in 2026, but McKennie feels that his compatriot is always ready to step up in the big moments. 

“Christian is always ready when it truly matters. In recent months, many people have criticised him, wondering if he would be fit for the World Cup, if he would be able to make a difference. 

“But I’ve always said it, and I’ll continue to say it: I’ll support him indefinitely, as will the whole team. Christian is one of those players who never falters in decisive moments, and now I hope he continues.”

McKennie was also full of praise for the performance that centre-forward Balogun put in against Paraguay. 

“Balogun did his job, what we expect from him and what he expects from himself. He’s decisive in important moments and an extremely clinical finisher. If someone didn’t know what kind of player he is, I think they’ll have understood now. But I also think Folarin showed another side of himself that perhaps many hadn’t noticed before. 

“Against Paraguay, he got stuck into tackles, put his body on the line, and sacrificed himself for the team. In the past, perhaps some didn’t consider him a player willing to do the dirty work, but he’s shown everyone he’s ready to do it.”

McKennie was also asked for his thoughts about the change of CEO at Juventus, with Damien Comolli having been replaced by Giovanni Carnevali earlier this week. The Bianconeri midfielder says that he has no time to focus on anything other than the World Cup campaign at this point, though. 

“I haven’t heard anything about what’s happening in Turin, but I always have faith in Juve. I haven’t even spoken to my teammates about it. Right now, I’m focused on this tournament, which is too important for all of us. Once it’s over, then I can think about the rest and deal with Juve.” 

Sunday’s reports claim that sides in Turkiye are beginning to step forwards for unwanted Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova, who will be allowed to leave the club after just one season. 

Trabzonspor possibility for Juventus’s Zhegrova

Zhegrova joined Juventus on the final day of the summer transfer window in 2025, signing on a permanent deal at a cost of €15m plus up to €3m in bonuses. 

Reports claim that Zhegrova was a player wanted specifically by former Juventus CEO Damien Comolli, who has since been replaced by Giovanni Carnevali at the top of the Bianconeri hierarchy. 

Zhegrova had suffered a major adductor injury in the January before he joined Juventus, which kept him sidelined for the entirety of the second half of the 2024-25 season. 

That injury clearly had an impact on his start to life in Turin, and in the end, the Kosovar was only able to play for 366 minutes across 19 appearances in Serie A, all of which came off the bench. 

With Comolli now gone, Juventus are expected to listen to any offers that come in for Zhegrova during the summer transfer window. 

According to the latest updates from TMW, some clubs in Turkiye are beginning to show an interest in picking up the 27-year-old in a low-cost deal. Trabzonspor have reportedly been in contact with Juve to request information surrounding Zhegrova. 

No formal talks have taken place just yet, but Sunday’s report claims that there is a good chance that the two clubs decide to proceed with negotiations.

Reports in Italy claim that Juventnus are hoping to raise around €50m from outgoing transfers by the end of June, and that there is a list of five players that the Old Lady are actively trying to sell. 

Which players could Juventus sell in the coming weeks?

Juventus missed out on Champions League qualification in the final few weeks of the 2025-26 season and according to Tuttosport, the club are hoping to raise €50m from early transfers to make up for the expected drop in revenues without access to Europe’s premier competition. 

The club have recently appointed a new CEO in Giovanni Carnevali, replacing the outgoing Damien Comolli. Tuttosport claims that given the excellent relationship that Carnevali has with Beppe Marotta from his time at Sassuolo, there could potentially be a few moves between the great rivals of Juventus and Inter. 

There have been suggestions that Inter could sell both Davide Frattesi and Carlos Augusto to Juventus, or that they could offer those players as part of player-plus-cash deals. 

In terms of players that Juventus could sell to Inter, Sunday’s report claims that Andrea Cambiaso is an interesting profile that has always been of interest to the Nerazzurri. In fact, Inter had looked at signing Cambiaso before he joined Juventus, but the Nerazzurri ultimately decided to sign Raoul Bellanova instead. 

Cambiaso has interest from several other sides, and Tuttosport reports that Juventus are willing to listen to offers in the region of €40m. 

Elsewhere, Juve are still planning to sell Nico Gonzalez to Atletico Madrid in a permanent deal. The Argentine spent the 2025-26 season on loan in the Spanish capital, but did not play quite enough minutes for his obligation to buy clause to be activated. 

Atleti are still said to be keen on signing Nico Gonzalez permanently, but are hoping to negotiate a ‘discount’ with Juve: Figures in the region of €25m are being discussed. 

Juventus are also hoping to sell two Brazilian midfielders in Douglas Luiz and Arthur Melo. There have been suggestions that both are of interest to Vincenzo Italiano and Besiktas, while reports from Tuttosport claim that Gremio are interested in keeping hold of Arthur permanently after spending the last season on loan back in his homeland. 

Juventus would reportedly like to bring in around €10m from the sale of Arthur, which would avoid them registering a capital loss on his signing, but these figures are slightly too high for Gremio. 

Tuttosport claims that Juventus will also be willing to sell Fabio Miretti if offers in the region of €15m come in this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti has already faced backlash for his decision to leave teenage talent Endrick on the bench for the entirety of Brazil’s World Cup draw against Morocco on Saturday night, but the coach says that he will not discuss ‘individual players’, only the team’s collective performance. 

Brazil supporters frustrated by Ancelotti’s decision to leave Endrick on the bench against Morocco

Brazil opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco in New York: Ismael Saobari opened the scoring after 21 minutes, Vinicius Jr. provided the response 10 minutes later. 

Though Morocco had reached an historic World Cup semi-final in 2022, Brazil were still considered the favourites by many heading into Saturday’s showdown. A 1-1 draw was still considered slightly underwhelming by fans of the most successful nation in World Cup history. 

Ancelotti has faced criticism online for one particular decision he made during the 1-1 draw with Morocco, namely the choice to leave 19-year-old Endrick on the bench for the whole game while Brazil were going in search of a goal. 

Endrick came into the World Cup having scored five times and having provided seven assists for his teammates from 16 appearances while on loan with Lyon in Ligue 1, but the teenager had struggled to break into the Real Madrid first team under Ancelotti in 2024-25 and now some fans are concerned that the same thing is happening with the Brazil national side. 

“I am not going to comment on individual players, I am here to talk about the team,” said Ancelotti when quizzed about his decision to leave Endrick on the bench during his post-match press conference. 

Still, many fans across social media still disagree with Ancelotti’s decision: “Whenever you mention Endrick, this is usually his response, even from when he was managing Real Madrid. This is unfair,” one supporter wrote on X. 

“Endrick wins them that game. Vini, Endrick and Raphinha should be the starting attackers,” another added. 

One fan wrote: “I won’t comment on individual players is what coaches say when they don’t have a good answer. Endrick deserves more than silence.” 

Kevin De Bruyne has spoken about the differences in style of football in Italy compared to the Premier League and says that he is excited to be taking on Mohamed Salah when Belgium face Egypt at the 2026 World Cup on Monday evening: ‘Like old times’. 

De Bruyne on playing in Italy, learning how to play in a low block and facing Salah again

De Bruyne joined Napoli at the beginning of the 2025-26 season following a 10-year stint in the Premier League with Manchester City, during which time he won the league title six times and claimed the 2022-23 Champions League. 

The experienced Belgian hit the ground running after moving to Serie A over the summer, providing four goals from his first eight league appearances before suffering a hamstring injury against Inter towards the end of October. 

That would cause him to miss over four months of action and limit him to just 18 league appearances during his first season in Italy. 

“It’s difficult to say, obviously I’ve been out for four or five months,” De Bruyne said during his pre-match press conference with Belgium when discussing his own condition heading into the World Cup. 

De Bruyne also went on to discuss the differences he encountered playing in Italy compared to the Premier League. 

“I really felt like at the beginning of the season and even when I came back I was pretty good considering everything that happened. 

“I think I faced a very different style of playing in Italy than I was probably used to in England. In a way there are some things you can take about learning how to defend deep and all that kind of stuff. Sure, you take some things.” 

Belgium’s upcoming match against Egypt will bring a battle of two modern-day Premier League greats in De Bruyne and Salah. 

“You know, it’s going to be nice to see Mo (Salah) again,” said De Bruyne. “Omar (Marmoush) I know also. I played against Mo for 10 years. Our kids also went to the same school so I saw him from time to time and he’s a really nice guy, so it will be nice to see him, nice to compete again like old times.”

Linked with Inter and Arsenal in recent days, Roma and France midfielder Manu Koné insists that he will ‘talk’ about his future at the Stadio Olimpico only after the World Cup.

France and Roma midfielder Koné briefly spoke about his future with the Giallorossi in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Koné ‘only thinking about the World Cup’ amid Inter and Arsenal rumours

“Honestly, right now I’m only thinking about the World Cup. It’s my first major international competition, a tournament I’ve always dreamed of playing in,” Koné said.

“I want to remain exclusively focused on this. We’ll talk about the future after the World Cup and see what happens.”

Koné is a long-time Inter target as the Nerazzurri already tried to sign him last summer. A recent report from the French newspaper L’Equipe has also linked the Roma midfielder to Arsenal.

“My goal is always to be ready for the coach and the team. It’s true I played a lot in qualification, but today we have a squad full of great players,” continued the Roma midfielder.

“There will be many matches, and I naturally hope to play as much as possible, but the priority is to be useful.”

Koné has been a regular starter under Gian Piero Gasperini, playing a key role in Roma’s return to the Champions League for the first time since 2018.

However, he also had a couple of fitness issues during the 2026-27 campaign, which made him fear he could miss out on the World Cup.

“Yes, I had two hamstring problems that slowed down the end of my season with Roma, and when a competition like the World Cup approaches, it’s normal to worry,” he admitted.

“However, I maintained faith in myself and the work I was doing. I told myself that if I did everything correctly, I would be back in time. Fortunately, it all worked out in the end.”

Koné also answered a question on France superstar Kylian Mbappé and whether the Real Madrid ace might feel more pressure than his teammates in this season’s World Cup.

“I don’t think so. He’s a champion who has always delivered in the most important moments, both for the national team and his clubs,” Koné concluded.

“We know he’ll be ready. It’s a competition he loves and wants to win. We have full confidence in him. He’s our captain, and we are convinced he will do great things. I do not doubt that.”