Former Inter defender Marco Materazzi feels José Mourinho wouldn't have subbed Rasmus Hojlund off, as Massimiliano Allegri did against Inter last weekend, but Federico Dimarco's absence will be 'significant' at the Bernabéu tonight.
Inter and Mourinho reunite at the Bernabéu tonight in the opening round of the 2026-27 Champions League, at the same venue where the Special One lifted the Champions League as the Nerazzurri coach in 2010.
Materazzi built a strong bond with Mourinho during the Portuguese's two-year spell at San Siro and recently met the Special One in Italy: "José took a plane specifically to record that footage, and he told me again: 'You and John Terry, the most important centre-backs of my career'," Materazzi told Gazzetta.
The former Italy defender, a 2006 Italy World Cup winner, is certainly not surprised that Real Madrid hired Mou last summer.
"No, because I know the relationship he has with Florentino, how much he trusts José," he said.

#Inter #mourinho #league #defender

The Serie A weekend is now over, and with today's two matches, the third round of the league will be as well. We are still only in the very early stages of this season, but a few verdicts have already come in.
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We know, for example, that as predicted, Inter are still the team to beat. It was already clear on paper, but the pitch has confirmed it. Three wins from three matches - nothing extraordinary so far - plus the icing on the cake of that crazy comeback against Napoli: an exciting run, top of the table alongside Roma, and the feeling, this time for real, of having not quite two full teams but at least plenty of quality alternatives available.
Against the Azzurri, Chivu called on Thuram, Curtis Jones, Carlos Augusto, Çalhanoglu and Bonny from the bench, managing to turn around the 0-2 lead Allegri had built. Just a few days before their Champions League opener, the Romanian coach allowed himself the luxury of rotation against the runners-up of Italy, and still came away with three points (however hard-fought they were).
This opening stretch of Serie A has also told us that the two genuine challengers to Inter in the Scudetto race seem to be Roma and Como, with Juve and Milan still in the midst of a full revamp and a Napoli side that is changing its identity and already sits 6 points off the top.

#three #Inter #napoli #league

Lautaro Martinez scored a stoppage-time winner as Inter Milan came from behind to beat Napoli 3-2 and maintain their perfect start to the new Serie A season.
Napoli, with former AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri back at San Siro, had looked in control after two goals in the ******* e of five minutes early in the second half from Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund.
Martinez, though, started the fightback before Marcus Thuram headed an equaliser with eight minutes left and the Inter captain then ******* ed victory in added time after Napoli failed to clear a corner.
It was a lively opening, with Andy Diouf's low shot from the edge of the area forcing Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret into an early save.
The visitors, missing Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay after it was revealed he needs a minor heart procedure, saw Hojlund's stabbed effort at the far post blocked by Martinez in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

#martinez #time #stoppage #half

Inter produced an epic comeback to beat bitter rivals Napoli 3-2 in a breathless Serie A showdown at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Despite trailing by two goals at the 55-minute mark, Cristian Chivu's side summoned their champions' mentality to overturn the deficit and preserve their perfect start to the Scudetto defense.
There was nothing to separate Inter and Napoli at halftime, with both teams squandering several promising chances to open the scoring. Massimiliano Allegri's team enjoyed a dream start to the second half as Matteo Politano broke the deadlock against his former club only five minutes into the second half.
Buoyed by the Italian winger's opener, Napoli continued to push forward and quickly found what they may have considered a crucial second goal. Rasmus Hojlund launched a perfectly placed low shot into the bottom corner to put clear daylight between the sides, giving Inter a mountain to climb in the final 40 minutes of the game.
However, Lautaro Martinez couldn't have picked a better time for his first goal of the season. El Toro cut Napoli's lead in half only three minutes after Hojlund's goal to initiate the comeback. Still, Inter had to wait until the 82nd minute and Marcus Thuram's thumping header to level the score.
When it looked like they would share the spoils with Napoli, just like they did at this venue last season, Lautaro latched onto the loose ball inside the six-yard box and completed the turnaround. As a result, Inter maintained their 100% start to the season, while Napoli suffered their second consecutive defeat after losing to Como last week.

#season

Inter completed an extraordinary comeback from 2-0 down to beat Napoli 3-2 with a Lautaro Martinez double and Marcus Thuram, sealing a true thriller at San Siro.
The top two in each of the last two seasons faced off, though the Nerazzurri had started stronger with victories over Monza and Cagliari. Marcus Thuram was still not fully fit and Djed Spence working his way back from injury, with John Stones and Hakan Calhanoglu rested ahead of the Champions League trip to Real Madrid.
Max Allegri had a rough week, losing at home to Como, then Scott McTominay and Giovane both required surgery, with Alessandro Buongiorno and Luca Marianucci already long-term absentees. Antonio Vergara was preferred to Kevin De Bruyne due to match fitness.
Napoli were unbeaten against Inter since the Supercoppa Italiana Final in January 2024, managing one win and four draws going into this test.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

#marcus

Italian giants Napoli are in talks to sign FC Lorient midfielder Noah Cadiou (27), according to a report from Sacha Tavolieri.
Cadiou shone for Les Merlus last season. The France-born midfielder impressed with his physicality as well as his technicality on the ball. He has started both of Les Merlus' Ligue 1 games this season under new manager Alexandre Dujeux, however, it was during Saturday night's defeat to ESTAC Troyes that links with a move across the Alpine border emerged.
Tavolieri understands that Napoli are looking to sign Cadiou before the closure of the transfer window on Tuesday night. The Italian side have already made contact with their counterparts at Lorient. Talks are currently ongoing. It is Max Allegri who is leading the recruitment of the Guadeoupe international.
Les Merlus, under no obligation to sell the player, value the player at €9m. It is an attainable figure for a club with the wealth of Napoli.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle

#italian #lorient

An overflowing Juve
Nico and Koopmeiners surprise goals
Parma beaten by goals from players on the fringes. David booed. Spalletti defenders Kolo. Milan on Sunday in a top of the table clash
Kessie snub, he goes to La Dea. The Old Lady turn to Sarr
Cristian turns on the burners, Cesc test already for Allegri

#goals #parma #kolo #Milan

Rafael Leao will not be part of the Milan squad for their opening Serie A match of the season away against Torino at 19.45 BST on Sunday evening as Ruben Amorim gets his tenure as Rossoneri head coach underway.
Milan are looking to bounce back after a bitterly disappointing end to the 2025-26 campaign, which saw them finish outside of the Serie A top four despite spending much of the season in second place. Aside from their new players, the club also has a new head coach and an entire new senior management team after parting ways with Massimiliano Allegri, Igli Tare, Geoffrey Moncada and Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season ended.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA – AUGUST 08: Head coach Ruben Amorim of AC Milan looks on during the pre-season friendly between Chelsea FC and AC Milan at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on August 08, 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Peksi Cahyo/Getty Images)
The headline, club-record signing Goncalo Ramos is expected to lead the Rossoneri attack in Turin on Sunday evening, as is Mario Gila at centre-back, but this is likely to be one too soon for Diego Moreira.
Amorim confirmed on Saturday that Leao will not be part of the travelling squad, insisting that it is due to injury rather than transfer business, and with Christian Pulisic not yet back to full match fitness, there could be a starting opportunity for 19-year-old Alphadjo Cisse in attack.

#head #serie #ruben

Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge with the Blues. Chelsea and Napoli are in contact over a potential transfer for striker Nicolas Jackson, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Napoli manager Max Allegri has made signing a new striker his top priority for the final weeks of the transfer window. Following Romelu Lukaku's permanent move to Fenerbahce, Napoli are keen to add depth and competition for Rasmus Hojlund. Alongside exploratory enquiries for ***** nal's Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee, Jackson has emerged as a highly feasible and attractive option for the Partenopei.
Chelsea are open to selling the Senegal international, provided their steep valuation is met. Jackson spent the 2025/26 season on loan at German champions Bayern Munich, but they opted not to make the deal permanent. Since returning to West London, Jackson's place in Xabi Alonso's plans is uncertain, especially after being omitted from Chelsea's final pre-season fixtures.
With the Blues keen to trim their squad and generate funds, Chelsea have placed a £65 million price tag on the forward. Napoli's entry into the race could prove highly beneficial for the Blues, as it threatens to spark a genuine bidding war.
Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have all monitored Jackson's situation this summer, but so far, interested parties have been reluctant to meet Chelsea's asking price.

#napoli #final #keen

Napoli are waiting for Chelsea to give the all-clear for Benoit Badiashile on loan with option to buy, but meanwhile Costantino Favasuli arrives from Catanzaro for €7.5m.
The Partenopei were already short on defenders this season, a situation that only worsened with a new injury to Luca Marianucci.
NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: New SSC Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
A medial collateral ligament tear in his left knee means Marianucci is on the treatment table along with Alessandro Buongiorno and Sam Beukema, while Juan Jesus was released as a free agent.
COBHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 20: Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea looks on during a Chelsea FC Training Session at Chelsea Training Ground on January 20, 2026 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Jasper Wax/Getty Images)

#Chelsea #getty

Napoli are prepared to cash in on Rafa Marín, with two foreign clubs monitoring the Spanish defender as the reigning champions reshape their backline.
According to AreaNapoli, relaying transfer journalist Nicolò Schira, Marín is "edging closer" to an exit, with a pair of overseas sides having already registered their interest.
The willingness to sell is tied directly to Napoli's incoming business: the club have reached a broad agreement with Chelsea to sign Benoît Badiashile on a loan with an option to buy, handing Massimiliano Allegri a centre-back of international pedigree.
CREMONA, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Arayik Eloyan of Armenia fights with Cher Ndour and Luca Marianucci of Italy during the UEFA Euro U21 Qualification match between Italy and Armenia at Stadio Giovanni Zini on October 14, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
On the face of it, letting Marín go looks a gamble given Napoli's crowded treatment room. Alessandro Buongiorno is sidelined until January, while Sam Beukema is racing to be fit for the second league match, against Como. Yet the emergence of another option has changed the calculation.

#october #armenia

Napoli are pressing hard to sign Benoît Badiashile, with the Chelsea defender established as their leading target to shore up a backline hit by injury.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Badiashile has become the man Napoli want after Alessandro Buongiorno was struck down by a knee problem and Sam Beukema was left battling fitness issues of his own.
The Frenchman, a towering left-footed centre-back, appeals to Massimiliano Allegri as a natural stand-in for Buongiorno, and sporting director Giovanni Manna has been working on the deal since the club's training camp in Dimaro.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 31: Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea and West Ham United at Stamford Bridge on January 31, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
The operation has, however, been placed briefly on hold. Chelsea are in the middle of a pre-season tour of Australia, with friendlies against Juventus and Milan on the schedule, and the move could accelerate on their return. The bigger obstacle is the structure.

#badiashile #beno

Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to be part of the Napoli project under new head coach Massimiliano Allegri and the latest reports indicate that MLS side Atlanta United are interested in picking up Belgium's all-time record goalscorer.
Lukaku is into the final year of his contract with Napoli having joined on a three-year deal from Chelsea during the summer of 2024. He went on to play a major role on Napoli's route to the 2024-25 Scudetto but was limited to just five league appearances in an injury-ridden campaign in 2025-26.
The 33-year-old is no longer a guaranteed starter at the Stadio Maradona, particularly with Rasmus Hojlund in the equation, and his agent has recently made it clear that the Belgian "isn't the kind of person who stays where he's not wanted."
Now, according to reports from Belgian expert Sacha Tavolieri, MLS side Atlanta United are 'pushing hard' in an attempt to sign Lukaku from Napoli this summer.
Talks between the relevant parties are reportedly already underway and Lukaku has supposedly given his approval to a move away from Napoli this summer, but at this stage, negotiations are still at an 'early stage'.

#summer #atlanta #united #stage

Max Allegri is eager to reunite with Federico Gatti, as it's reported Napoli asked Juventus to let the defender leave on loan with option to buy.
It is no secret that the Partenopei need reinforcements in defence, as Juan Jesus left at the end of his contract, while Alessandro Buongiorno will be out for at least two to three months following knee surgery.
A more expensive alternative is Benoit Badiashile of Chelsea, but the €30m asking price and reticence to let him go on loan with an option to buy make that difficult.
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Federico Gatti of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus and Galatasaray A.S. at Juventus Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Instead, Sky Sport Italia transfer pundit Gianluca Di Marzio claims this evening that Napoli have stepped up talks with Juventus for Gatti.

#juventus #gatti #napoli #february

Romelu Lukaku is about to return from his post-World Cup vacations, and the conversations to sort out his Napoli future, involving also Massimiliano Allegri, will ramp up. The parties are distant from finding a solution, Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The striker has no plans to spend a campaign backing up Rasmus Hojlund, who was recently bought out for over €40M. The new Partenopei gaffer has exclusively rehearsed schemes featuring just one striker so far. The gaffer has frequently utilized 3-5-2 in his career, but they have a few wingers to employ.
Napoli can't give Lukaku the prominent role he aspires to. At the same time, they have no interest in keeping a reserve with a €11M gross salary. The center-forward seemed surely destined to leave after last season's events, but he had changed his tune earlier in the summer.
The Azzurri suggested extending his contract to dilute his wages to make them more manageable, but they were rebuffed. His exit isn't easy to orchestrate, considering his age, demands, injury history, and €10/12M valuation. The side aims to avoid a loss on its balance sheet. The team is hoping his performances across the pond will help in that regard. He wasn't a full-time starter for Belgium, but still made his presence felt with three goals and one ******* ist.
He's proven he can be dangerous in small doses, but the club also has to weigh other stuff, especially the economic side. Everything points toward an exit, with perhaps Saudi Arabia or the MLS coming to the rescue, if the Azzurri aren't too rigid on his price tag. But, as often happens with him, it'll get messy first.

#striker #time #exit #side

As suggested by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ardon Jashari may yet have a future at Milan.
The 23-year-old midfielder was on his way out of San Siro after an unfortunate debut campaign that saw him suffer a broken fibula early into the season, after which he struggled to get minutes under Max Allegri, managing just 17 appearances.
But Allegri is long gone now. With Ruben Amorim preparing for the new season Down Under, the Swiss international has a chance to revitalise his nascent Milan career. His ball-playing and tackling capabilities in tandem will be in high demand for the 3-4-2-1 Amorim is widely expected to deploy, a formation that demands a lot of its midfield pivot.
Moreover, Luka Modrić may be continuing for another year, but the quadragenarian can hardly be expected to feature week in, week out, especially on the back of a World Cup campaign and in a season that will see Milan feature in the Europa League.
So Modrić will start next season with limited minutes, if any, and grow into the campaign. In him, a young player like Jashari could find a senior operator to help him hone his craft and become a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Rossoneri by the end of the season. A clean slate under Amorim means Jashari will not have to worry about past perceptions and start impressing on day one.

#campaign

Thursday’s reports claim that Luka Modric has already put pen to paper on his new Milan contract, and now all that is missing is a formal confirmation from the club.
Modric, who will turn 41 in September, has already put his signature on a one-year contract extension with wages reported to be worth €3.5m (net) plus bonuses according to TMW. An official announcement from the club could even arrive by the end of the afternoon.
Modric originally joined Milan in the summer of 2025, signing an initial one-year contract with an option to extend.
Though he surpassed expectations on an individual level during his first year in San Siro, it was an ultimately disappointing end to the season on a collective level, as Milan stumbled out of the top four, finished in fifth on the final week of the season and missed out on Champions League football.
This led to the departures of head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the season ended.

#Milan

New coach Max Allegri was meant to be presented to the Napoli fans this evening, but was forced to abandon the event due to illness.
The former Milan and Juventus boss had been all set to take the stage at the pre-season training camp in Dimaro, where he'd answer questions along with his staff.
However, the question and answer session was cancelled because Allegri is suffering from flu symptoms.
NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: New SSC Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri and Aurelio De Laurentiis SSC Napoli President as Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled as the new SSC Napoli head coach at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
He was also nowhere to be seen at today's training session, so his **** istant took over putting the players through their paces.

#allegri #training #answer

Massimiliano Allegri insists he was never in talks for the Italy job before accepting the Napoli offer, refuses to reply to Milan owner Gerry Cardinale, but notes: ‘I’m happy to coach Rasmus Hojlund.” Last season, I dodged him…’
New Napoli coach Allegri was unveiled at a big event at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples on Tuesday.
The Tuscan tactician has signed a three-year contract at the Stadio Maradona.
Allegri was joined by President Aurelio De Laurentiis and directors Giovanni Manna and Andrea Chiavelli, answering questions from reporters.
“For me, this unveiling is too much. It’s the first time it has happened to me, and I thank the president,” Allegri said, smiling (via TuttoNapoli).

Napoli's new season is ready to get underway. Ahead of a special campaign, the club’s centenary season, the Azzurri will begin preparations between the training camps in Dimaro and Castel di Sangro, where they will play five friendly matches to get minutes into their legs and start taking on board Massimiliano Allegri’s first tactical instructions.
This summer too, Napoli fans will be able to watch every match live on OneFootball on a Pay-Per-View basis, at a price of €9.99 per match.
Here are the Azzurri’s pre-season fixtures:
22 July, 6:00 PM – Napoli vs Arezzo
26 July, 6:00 PM – Napoli vs Carrarese

Massimiliano Allegri has been officially confirmed as the new head coach of Napoli, with Lega Serie A announcing the appointment on 3 July 2026 – placing the former Bianconeri boss directly in the opposing dugout for the ****** le race ahead.
According to supplementary reporting, Allegri has signed a contract running until 30 June 2029, with reports suggesting this would cover up to three seasons at the club. He is reported to replace Antonio Conte, who, according to supplementary reporting, departed at the end of the 2025–26 season after two years in charge, with Napoli said to have finished as Serie A runners-up in 2025–26.
The significance for Juventus is hard to overstate. Allegri's intimate knowledge of the Bianconeri – their squad profiles, tactical tendencies, and the psychological pressures of a ****** le challenge – now sits in the hands of one of their primary Scudetto rivals. Across his two spells at Juventus, he won five league ****** les and reached two Champions League finals; the expectation at Napoli will be for that level of consistency to resume.
His second stint at Juventus, which ended in May 2024 after 149 matches at an average of 1.84 points per game, produced two Coppa Italia ****** les but no Serie A crown. Whether he can close that gap now – with Napoli's resources behind him – is the central question of the new season.
The appointment also sharpens the lens on ongoing transfer activity between the two clubs. Italian media reports have previously linked Juventus with Elijf Elmas, while Stanislav Lobotka has reportedly been discussed as a potential midfield addition for the Bianconeri. Allegri's arrival at Napoli only complicates any such negotiations further.

After barging into the race last week, Milan needed just a small rise to come to terms with Lazio and conclude the acquisition of Mario Gila. They’ll disburse €30M, add-ons included, Corriere dello Sport informs.
The bonus portion of the package will be minimal. Lazio repelled the opening offer, but they didn’t have much negotiating power. The defender had just one year left on his contract and wanted to go. Lazio will give about half of the income to Real Madrid as per the terms of his previous transfer.
Milan coronate a long pursuit, as Massimiliano Allegri had already indicated Gila to the brass last summer and in January. The center-back will ink a five-year contract and earn €4.5M annually.
The boss suggested the center-back to Napoli as well, which had been in the lead to capture him for a while, but they never offered as much as the Biancocelesti requested. The 25-year-old recorded 120 appearances during his three-year run in the Italian capital, scoring twice. He had played just twice with Real Madrid’s first team before leaving.
The Rossoneri intend to sign another defender, especially should they sell Fikayo Tomori, as rumored. Gonçalo Inacio remains very high on their priority list.

Ruben Amorim has said the challenge of reviving AC Milan is “even bigger” than the job at former club Manchester United.
Amorim has taken charge at the Italian side this summer, with the 41-year-old replacing Max Allegri at the San Siro.
Allegri was sacked after Milan endured a poor run-in in Serie A to miss out on Champions League qualification.
Milan have won only one Scudetto in the last 15 years and Amorim has admitted he has inherited another huge challenge.
The Portuguese coach struggled during his 14 months at Manchester United, in which the club endured their lowest-ever Premier League finish of 15th in 2024/25.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Napoli are prepared to make Scott McTominay one of the team’s highest earners despite a disappointing World Cup with the Scotland national team.
Napoli are ready to offer their star midfielder McTominay a new deal until 2030 and make him one of the team’s highest earners, reports Gazzetta.
It is no secret that the Partenopei want to extend the Scottish midfielder’s stay at the Stadio Maradona beyond 2028, and the club’s plans have not changed after the appointment of Massimiliano Allegri as their new coach.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 19: Scott McTominay #4 of Scotland reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Scotland and Morocco at Boston Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reports today that Allegri wants to make the former Manchester United midfielder one of the cornerstones of his project, so Napoli are ready to enter formal talks with the midfielder’s entourage.

Milan mean business this summer under Ruben Amorim, who has already contacted Luka Modric to convince him to stay put. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the 40-year-old could make an unexpected U-turn on his initial decision and commit to one more year at San Siro.
Modric joined Milan as a free agent from Real Madrid last summer and quickly became the cornerstone of Massimiliano Allegri’s midfield in 2025/26. However, after the Rossoneri failed to secure Champions League qualification, the veteran playmaker bid farewell to the club.
Indeed, Modric signed a one-year contract with the 19-time Serie A winners with an option to extend for a further year. Despite passing the deadline, Milan could still persuade the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner to stay for another season. That’s largely thanks to Amorim, who reportedly views Modric as an indispensable figure in his rebuild.
Age is just a number in Modric’s case. Last season, he emerged as Milan’s driving force in the engine room, making as many as 34 Serie A appearances. The diminutive midfielder also amassed two goals and three ***** ists, forging a formidable partnership with Adrien Rabiot.
However, the Frenchman could leave San Siro in the coming months, with Allegri eager to reunite with his protege at Napoli. On the other hand, Milan will seemingly do everything to secure Modric’s services for another season.

Roma appears intent on investing in a right-back, without moving Wesley from the left flank, an area where he has made an impact this season.
The Giallorossi have their eyes on Fiorentina’s Dodo and Atlético Madrid’s Molina.
Napoli, however, are also interested in both players: a transfer duel between two central-southern clubs aiming to compete for the top spot in Serie A.
Manna has made moves to please Allegri and has gathered information about Molina, a player the Tuscan coach already wanted at Juventus.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, during their exploratory chat, the Azzurri sporting director discovered that Roma have also recently made moves for the Argentine winger.

Luciano Spalletti and new Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali spent an evening together at the renowned Il Fortino restaurant in Forte dei Marmi this week, sharing a table with Adriano Galliani, Massimiliano Allegri and Giovanni Rossi in what has become one of Italian football’s most well-known informal networking spots.
The dinner was social in nature, full of anecdotes, laughter and wine, though in a gathering of this calibre, transfer business is never entirely off the menu, as noted by Tuttosport.
Forte dei Marmi is a traditional summer meeting point for football’s movers and shakers, with Spalletti, Allegri and Galliani having previously shared tables there alongside figures including Gianluca Zambrotta and former Genoa president Enrico Preziosi.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Giovanni Carnevali CEO of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The most intriguing presence at the table was Giovanni Rossi, the 60-year-old sporting director who left Olympique Marseille in February and previously worked under Carnevali at Sassuolo.

It’s a near-certainty that Milan will sign a new striker this summer after Santiago Gimenez failed to meet expectations at San Siro. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Serhou Guirassy has emerged as bookmakers’ favorite to join the Rossoneri.
With the arrival of Ruben Amorim, Milan are expected to undergo a significant tactical and personnel overhaul, especially after missing out on Champions League qualification last season. Led by Massimiliano Allegri, the San Siro giants scored just 53 goals in Serie A, finishing fifth in the table, a point adrift of Como.
In addition, they were the lowest-scoring team among the top six, prompting the club to scour the market for attacking reinforcements. Meanwhile, several forwards could leave after the World Cup. Gimenez is not the only name on the chopping block.
There’s also a veil of uncertainty surrounding the futures of Rafael Leao, Christian Pulisic, and Christopher Nkunku. In the meantime, several elite strikers, including Robert Lewandowski, have been linked with a move to Milan.
However, the outgoing Barcelona veteran is reportedly on the verge of joining Major League Soccer franchise Chicago Fire. Therefore, Milan must expand their search.

Juventus could reportedly profit from Massimiliano Allegri’s arrival at Napoli as they aim to bring Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to the Allianz Stadium this summer. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Milan boss is not keen to keep the Serbian goalkeeper at the Diego Maradona Stadium.
Milinkovic-Savic joined Napoli from Torino on a season-long loan last summer. Though he started the season as Alex Meret’s backup, the 29-year-old quickly leapfrogged his Italian counterpart in the pecking order, establishing himself as Antonio Conte’s first choice between the sticks.
However, with Conte gone, Milinkovic-Savic’s career in Naples could be over. Nevertheless, the Partenopei must pay around €21 million to trigger the Serb’s buyout clause, having made it mandatory 12 months ago. Meanwhile, Allegri is reportedly ready to put the towering shot-stopper up for sale.
PSV Eindhoven star Matej Kovar remains the leading candidate to replace Milinkovic-Savic, yet Napoli must offload the former Torino man first. And Juventus could offer him an escape route.
It’s no secret that Juventus are eager to replace the underperforming Michele Di Gregorio. Head coach Luciano Spalletti has deemed the ex-Monza keeper surplus to requirements and will be looking to cash in on him in the coming months.

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.
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.