Juventus and AC Milan could soon explore a defensive swap, with Massimiliano Allegri keen on reuniting with Federico Gatti, a situation that has begun to attract attention within Italian football circles. Gatti is currently playing for his favourite club and has been one of the most reliable performers at the Allianz Stadium over recent months, establishing himself as a key figure in the squad.

Gatti Importance to Juventus
The defender has continued to deliver consistent performances under several different coaches, highlighting his adaptability and professionalism. Juventus regard him as an important leader within the dressing room, someone whose influence extends beyond his on pitch contributions. His composure and commitment have made him a trusted option, and the club view him as part of their core group moving forward.

However, strong performances rarely go unnoticed. AC Milan are understood to be interested in adding Gatti to their squad under Allegri, who rates him highly and considers him one of the finest and most experienced defenders available. The manager believes Gatti could bring immediate stability and leadership to Milan’s back line. Despite this interest, Juventus are not actively looking to sell and remain reluctant to weaken their squad, particularly during a critical phase of the season.

Potential Swap and De Winter Factor
Juventus’ stance could be tested by their admiration for Koni de Winter, a player they previously groomed and continue to monitor closely. This mutual interest has opened the possibility of a swap deal, which could appeal to both clubs if structured carefully. The idea of exchanging the two defenders has reportedly emerged as a way to satisfy both sporting and financial considerations, according to Tuttomercatoweb.

There is still uncertainty regarding what Luciano Spalletti thinks about De Winter, although Juventus have tracked his progress since his time at Genoa. His development has kept him firmly on their radar, suggesting the club sees long-term value in his profile. Even so, any potential agreement would require careful evaluation of squad balance and timing.
Gatti remains a very important player in Turin, and Juventus may be unwilling to sanction his departure in January. While a swap could appear attractive on paper, the club are expected to proceed cautiously, aware that losing such a dependable defender mid-season could disrupt stability and momentum.

On Saturday, Milan fans woke up to the positive news of the perfect New Year’s Gift. La Gazzetta reported that the Rossoneri management has offered a bumper new contract to Mike Maignan, putting forward €7 million per season for the goalkeeper.

This comes close to the Frenchman’s demand of €7.5 million per season, with optimism growing at Casa Milan about keeping the 29-year-old.

While this should ideally come as fantastic news for the Diavolo faithfuls, it can easily go the other way and there is significant risk of that happening.

Maignan’s injury record

It is fair to say that Maignan has been crucial for Milan this season, silencing critics that doubted him in the previous campaign. In general, his abilities have done the club a great deal of service since he joined from Lille to replace Gianluigi Donnarumma.

But it is also fair to say that Maignan has always had the big question mark of injuries as an asterix next to his name. Since the 2021/22 season, he has missed as many as 55 games for club and country and a vast majority of them have been muscle injuries. Earlier this season, he scraped through another such muscle issue.

And Maignan is not getting any younger with every passing day either. There is every chance that his issues could multiply as he he grows older. If that happens, he would turn into a massive burden on the wage budget.

Younger options out there?

With due respect to Maignan’s achievements at the San Siro, it is fair to say that there are younger and cheaper options than him in the market. They might not be certain upgrades but they are very much in the good to very category.

Cagliari’s Elia Caprile, for example has had quite a journey in the game and has grown as a leader and as a shot-stopper in the last two seasons. He is Italian and can grow further at the right club.

He has a clean fitness record and would demand much less wages than Maignan, handing guarantees that some funds can be used for other areas of the squad. This approach would be more in line with the Rossoneri’s recruitment style, knowing how they do not go beyond certain points when it comes to paying wages.

The Paris Saint-Germain team bus was pelted with stones outside the team hotel in Bilbao during the night after their Champions League game with Athletic, a source close to the club told AFP on Thursday.
The bus was parked and had no passengers, the source said.

Media reports said two cracks were visible on the coach and two people were arrested.

The PSG players and staff were able to travel to the city’s airport for their Thursday morning flight back to Paris.

The club is considering filing a complaint over the incident, said the source.

On Wednesday evening, European champions PSG drew 0-0 at Bilbao, a result which left PSG third in the 36-team qualifying league. Bilbao are 28th.

Dusan Vlahovic is set to be out of action until well into the new year after Juventus said on Monday that the Serbia striker had suffered a groin injury during the weekend’s 2-1 win over Cagliari.
Vlahovic was forced off the field in the first half of Saturday’s win in Turin, and Juve said that tests carried out on Monday had revealed “a high-grade injury” to a muscle in his left groin.

“Further medical consultations will be necessary to determine the most appropriate treatment,” added the club.

Italian media report that Vlahovic will not be back before February of next year.

Vlahovic has scored six times for Juve this season: three times in Serie A and three times in the Champions League.

The 25-year-old had reclaimed his spot as starting centre-forward in the last month after Juve tried to offload him in the summer as his contract is set to expire at the end of this season.

Now managed by former Italy coach Luciano Spalletti, Juve are seventh in Italy’s topflight, five points behind leading duo AC Milan and Napoli.

Atalanta extended their winning run with a composed 2–0 victory over Fiorentina on Sunday, as Ademola Lookman and Odilon Kossounou struck in each half to secure all three points at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo.
The forward, who was also on target in a 3-0 midweek win away to Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League, has now scored in back-to-back matches for the former Europa League champions.

Raffaele Palladino’s men arrived full of confidence after their European triumph, and they quickly settled into rhythm in the Serie A Enilive MD13 clash.

Fiorentina nearly grabbed an early opener in the 4th minute, but Marco Carnesecchi pulled off two decisive saves—first stopping Moise Kean’s cross-shot and then denying Roberto Piccoli from close range.

Atalanta responded with chances of their own, as Gianluca Scamacca’s effort in the 12th minute went straight at David de Gea before Charles De Ketelaere forced another firm stop just moments later. The pressure continued with Davide Zappacosta and De Ketelaere both kept out again by the experienced Spanish goalkeeper.


Carnesecchi remained sharp at the other end, blocking Piccoli once more in the 36th minute, while De Ketelaere continued to test De Gea. The breakthrough arrived in the 41st minute when Kossounou rifled his first goal for Atalanta into the top corner after a smart setup from De Ketelaere. Lookman then went close to doubling the lead before halftime, striking the post.

The second half began with more Atalanta pressure, and De Ketelaere again forced De Gea into action before Lookman reacted quickest to a loose ball in the 51st minute, smashing home the rebound to make it 2–0 following a corner.

Two minutes later, Lookman almost turned provider, swinging in a precise cross that Marten de Roon headed toward goal, only for De Gea to intervene once more. Scamacca later came up big defensively, making a near goal-line clearance to deny Kean’s header in the 65th minute.

Fiorentina’s hopes of a comeback were kept alive briefly when Kean’s glancing header struck the post in the 76th minute, but Atalanta held firm to seal a confident home win.

Palladino’s side closed out the match with authority, recording another clean sheet and building further momentum as their strong run of form continues.

Japan’s Takumi Minamino scored the only goal of the game as Monaco shocked reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 on Saturday, winning 1-0 in the principality.
The 30-year-old Japanese international star, once of Liverpool, struck just past the midway point in the second half at the Stade Louis II to inflict a second domestic defeat of the campaign on PSG.

Monaco held on through the closing stages, including seven minutes of stoppage time, after having former Paris defender Thilo Kehrer sent off in the 80th minute.

It is a surprise result with Monaco ending a run of three consecutive Ligue 1 losses which had seen them lose ground on PSG and the other sides at the top of the table.

They are now provisionally up to sixth, seven points behind the capital side whose only other reverse in Ligue 1 so far this season came away to Marseille in September.

PSG remain top of the standings for now with 30 points from 14 games, but last season’s Champions League winners are just two points clear of nearest rivals Marseille and Lens and could lose their place at the summit later on Saturday.

Marseille, fresh from winning 2-1 at home to Newcastle United in the Champions League in midweek, can go first with a win against Toulouse later at the Velodrome.

Lens will also have the opportunity to leapfrog PSG by taking three points at Angers on Sunday.

Minamino controlled an Aleksandr Golovin cross before finishing past Lucas Chevalier to open the scoring and Monaco maintained their advantage even after German centre-back Kehrer saw red following a VAR check for a foul on Ibrahim Mbaye.

Paul Pogba made another brief cameo appearance off the bench for the hosts, a week after coming on for his first competitive appearance in over two years following a doping ban.

PSG, having beaten Tottenham Hotspur 5-3 in the Champions League on Wednesday, were themselves far from full strength with Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes and Desire Doue all missing.

In addition, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele only managed just over half an hour as a substitute as he continues to build up fitness in what has been an injury-hit season so far.
The France forward was unable to have a decisive impact on proceedings and PSG have now already suffered as many Ligue 1 defeats as in the whole of each of the last two campaigns.

Galatasaray forward, Victor Osimhen has revealed the impact of the facial injury he sustained in 2021, explaining why he continues to wear a protective mask four years after the incident.
In a recent conversation with MMA champion Kerim Engizek, the 26-year-old said that nerve damage from the injury still affects his ability to eat.

“Now, I only eat on the right side of my face,” he said. “I can’t eat through the other side. The left side doesn’t function properly anymore.”

Osimhen suffered the injury in November 2021 during a Serie A match between Napoli and Inter Milan after a collision with Milan Škriniar.

The accident left him with multiple facial fractures, including a broken cheekbone and eye socket, and he required 18 screws and a titanium plate during reconstructive surgery.

Doctors initially feared he could lose vision in his left eye. Although he recovered, Osimhen said he continues to experience numbness and limited movement on the left side of his face.

Recalling the incident, he said, “A cross came in from the wing. I went up for the header, and he pulled his head back. It wasn’t intentional, but I hit his skull with my chin and the bone shattered everywhere.

“They took me to a hospital in Milan. First, they checked with X-ray, then they ordered an MRI. The doctor said, ‘You need surgery.’ I refused at first — ‘There’s no way I’m having surgery.’ But it was the only way to continue playing football. I had no choice.”

He added, “I still feel numbness and sometimes pain. When I smile, only one side of my mouth moves fully. Eating is the biggest daily reminder; food falls out if I try to use the left side.”

Currently at Galatasaray after his move from Napoli, Osimhen has scored 12 goals and provided five assists in 15 appearances across competitions this season.

The protective mask, originally prescribed after surgery, remains part of his equipment due to the lasting effects of the injury.

Atalanta have confirmed the appointment of Raffaele Palladino as their new head coach, handing the Italian a deal that runs until June 2027.

The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the club dismissed Ivan Juric following a poor run of results.

Raffaelle Palladino, aged 41, steps in to lead La Dea at a crucial point in the season. His arrival was first reported on Tuesday by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. Juric’s exit was sealed after Atalanta fell 3-0 at home to newly-promoted Sassuolo over the weekend – a result that left club management frustrated after just 11 Serie A matches into the 2025/26 campaign.

The new coach, who previously worked in Florence, was known for implementing a progressive attacking style and placing strong emphasis on developing young talent. Although his spell with Fiorentina ended amid internal tensions, his overall approach earned him considerable respect in Italian football circles.

Atalanta CEO Luca Percassi expressed optimism about the direction the club is heading under Palladino, highlighting his vision, energy, and commitment to long-term development.

Palladino’s immediate challenge will be to steady the team’s domestic form while also managing their ongoing European obligations. His first training session is expected to take place later this week as preparations begin for the club’s next league fixture.

Inter Milan and AC Milan moved one step closer to a new stadium of their own on Wednesday after completing the purchase of the iconic San Siro, which is set for demolition.

The two Serie A clubs announced “the signing of the deed of sale with the Municipality of Milan”, little more than a month after city approval for the acquisition of the land on which the stadium sits.

Nicknamed football’s La Scala, San Siro is one of the world’s most recognisable stadiums and the longtime home of Inter and AC Milan, who between them have been crowned European champions 10 times.

Inter and AC Milan obtained approval to purchase the land for 197 million euros ($231 million) after over 11 hours of debate and a knife-edge vote at Milan city hall in the early hours of September 30.

The sale needed to be completed by next Monday, otherwise a public building protection order for the San Siro’s second tier would have come into effect.

Now the two clubs can now push ahead with a project worth around 1.2 billion euros which will radically change an area of just over 28 hectares (70 acres) in a densely-populated neighbourhood on the western outskirts of Milan.

A modern 71,500-capacity arena will be built on land currently occupied by matchday car parking and a public park to the immediate west of the current stadium which will continue to be used until the new one is completed.

Once the new ground is constructed, the San Siro will be almost entirely demolished to make way for new parkland, office space and entertainment facilities with everything to be designed by architectural firms Foster and Partners and MANICA.

The clubs are hoping to have the new stadium ready in time for Euro 2032, which is set to be jointly hosted by Italy and Turkey.

Italy’s football federation needs to communicate to European governing body UEFA its five official picks for stadiums for that tournament by October next year, when it can present new venues or ones which need to be redeveloped as long as works begin by March 2027.

The current San Siro will host the opening ceremony of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 6.

Inter Milan and AC Milan moved one step closer to a new stadium of their own on Wednesday after completing the purchase of the iconic San Siro, which is set for demolition.

The two Serie A clubs announced “the signing of the deed of sale with the Municipality of Milan”, little more than a month after city approval for the acquisition of the land on which the stadium sits.

Nicknamed football’s La Scala, San Siro is one of the world’s most recognisable stadiums and the longtime home of Inter and AC Milan, who between them have been crowned European champions 10 times.

Inter and AC Milan obtained approval to purchase the land for 197 million euros ($231 million) after over 11 hours of debate and a knife-edge vote at Milan city hall in the early hours of September 30.

The sale needed to be completed by next Monday, otherwise a public building protection order for the San Siro’s second tier would have come into effect.

Now the two clubs can now push ahead with a project worth around 1.2 billion euros which will radically change an area of just over 28 hectares (70 acres) in a densely-populated neighbourhood on the western outskirts of Milan.

A modern 71,500-capacity arena will be built on land currently occupied by matchday car parking and a public park to the immediate west of the current stadium which will continue to be used until the new one is completed.

Once the new ground is constructed, the San Siro will be almost entirely demolished to make way for new parkland, office space and entertainment facilities with everything to be designed by architectural firms Foster and Partners and MANICA.

The clubs are hoping to have the new stadium ready in time for Euro 2032, which is set to be jointly hosted by Italy and Turkey.

Italy’s football federation needs to communicate to European governing body UEFA its five official picks for stadiums for that tournament by October next year, when it can present new venues or ones which need to be redeveloped as long as works begin by March 2027.

The current San Siro will host the opening ceremony of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 6.

Inter Milan and AC Milan moved one step closer to a new stadium of their own on Wednesday after completing the purchase of the iconic San Siro, which is set for demolition.

The two Serie A clubs announced “the signing of the deed of sale with the Municipality of Milan”, little more than a month after city approval for the acquisition of the land on which the stadium sits.

Nicknamed football’s La Scala, San Siro is one of the world’s most recognisable stadiums and the longtime home of Inter and AC Milan, who between them have been crowned European champions 10 times.

Inter and AC Milan obtained approval to purchase the land for 197 million euros ($231 million) after over 11 hours of debate and a knife-edge vote at Milan city hall in the early hours of September 30.

The sale needed to be completed by next Monday, otherwise a public building protection order for the San Siro’s second tier would have come into effect.

Now the two clubs can now push ahead with a project worth around 1.2 billion euros which will radically change an area of just over 28 hectares (70 acres) in a densely-populated neighbourhood on the western outskirts of Milan.

A modern 71,500-capacity arena will be built on land currently occupied by matchday car parking and a public park to the immediate west of the current stadium which will continue to be used until the new one is completed.

Once the new ground is constructed, the San Siro will be almost entirely demolished to make way for new parkland, office space and entertainment facilities with everything to be designed by architectural firms Foster and Partners and MANICA.

The clubs are hoping to have the new stadium ready in time for Euro 2032, which is set to be jointly hosted by Italy and Turkey.

Italy’s football federation needs to communicate to European governing body UEFA its five official picks for stadiums for that tournament by October next year, when it can present new venues or ones which need to be redeveloped as long as works begin by March 2027.

The current San Siro will host the opening ceremony of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on February 6.

A revamped Ademola Lookman will lead his Atalanta team mates to Udinese in northeastern Italy where they will come face to face with Super Eagles safe hands, Maduka Okoye who will be in goal for the host team.

Still the only unbeaten team left in Serie A this season, Atalanta are also Italy’s stalemate specialists, taking a single point from seven of their nine league games.

Across all competitions, the Bergamaschi have only suffered one loss so far away to European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League but they are struggling to convert their chances.

Last weekend, La Dea drew 1-1 with regional rivals Cremonese, and they hosted another Lombardy side on Tuesday evening, when Milan made the short trip to Bergamo.

Despite falling behind early on, Atalanta pulled themselves level through Ademola Lookman’s fierce finish his first goal since an unseemly summer transfer saga.

Ivan Juric later lamented that his team failed to win, having produced 17 attempts and had more of the ball, and they have now drawn all of their last five domestic fixtures plus one in the Champions League. That frustrating run leaves them trailing their fellow European hopefuls in Serie A, one point above 10th-placed Udinese.

Rasmus Hojlund struck again for Napoli with the winning goal in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over struggling Genoa, a strike which alongside AC Milan drawing 0-0 at Juventus lifted the Serie A champions into top spot.

Fresh from his midweek double against Sporting Lisbon, Hojlund was on hand to score on the rebound with 15 minutes remaining as Napoli came from behind to claim three points in Naples.

The 22-year-old pounced after Andre-Frank Anguissa’s powerful shot was pushed out by Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali, taking his club tally to four goals since moving to Napoli from Manchester United.

Napoli have 15 points from their six league matches and lead Roma, 2-1 winners at Fiorentina, on goal difference.

“It’s my job and the team’s job to win as many games as possible so it’s just important to keep working hard, recovering and focussing on the next match,” Hojlund told DAZN.

Coach Antonio Conte had been considering taking off Hojlund before the Denmark striker netted the winner, due to his midweek exertions in the Champions League.

“I think he asked me if I was tired and if I could keep playing and I just said that I had good energy and I was still fresh, and I said ‘yeah, just let me play’,” added Hojlund.

But Antonio Conte’s team had to do it the hard way, with Anguissa bundling in the leveller in the 57th minute after teenager Jeff Ekhator had given Genoa a half-time lead with just his second Serie A goal.

Napoli will stay top through the international break thanks to Christian Pulisic blasting a penalty over the bar as Milan were held by fifth-placed Juve in Sunday’s drab headline clash.

Pulisic howler

Pulisic wasted a golden opportunity to put Milan ahead in Turin after Santiago Gimenez was clumsily brought down by Lloyd Kelly seven minutes after half-time.

The USA forward had his head in his hands following his awful effort which ended Milan’s winning run at five games and allowed Napoli to reclaim first place.

Substitute Rafael Leao fluffed an opportunity to snatch the points in stoppage time after being put through by Luka Modric, and Milan drop down to third, two points from the leading pair.

“We should have won, we had chances but something was missing. We have to do more,” said Adrien Rabiot, who returned to the Allianz Stadium with Milan after five years at Juve.

“It’s only the start of the season but winning here would’ve been significant.”

Earlier, Matias Soule and Bryan Cristante struck in the first half in Florence as Roma claimed a third straight win in Italy’s top flight, which came after going behind to a Moise Kean rocket in the 14th minute.

Kean almost added to his first goal of the season when he smashed another powerful effort off the post in the 38th minute, not long after Cristante had headed Roma into the lead.

Roberto Piccoli was also unlucky not to level with a volley, which rattled the crossbar in the 74th minute, but Fiorentina remain winless on three points and one place above the relegation zone.

For Roma, it was a fine end to the week following a frustrating Europa League defeat to Lille in which Gian Piero Gasperini’s team wasted three chances to equalise late on from the penalty spot.

Napoli striker Rasmus Hojlund has hailed teammate Kevin De Bruyne as a “special talent” after the Belgian midfielder provided both assists in the Italian side’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Sporting CP.

Højlund, who scored a brace to secure the win, credited De Bruyne’s vision and passing ability for making his job in front of goal easier.

“Playing with a talent like De Bruyne is special,” the Danish forward said. “Anytime he has the ball, all I have to do is attack the space and I know he’s going to get me the ball. I feel lucky to play alongside someone with his quality.”

De Bruyne’s trademark precision was on full display in Lisbon, threading a perfectly timed through ball for Hojlund’s opener before delivering a pinpoint cross that the striker headed home to restore Napoli’s lead in the second half. The combination evoked memories of De Bruyne’s fruitful partnership with Erling Haaland during his time at Manchester City.

“They’re quite similar,” De Bruyne said when asked to compare Haaland and Hojlund. “Erling is Erling, and what he’s done in his career is unbelievable. They both like to attack the space. Erling probably a little bit more, while Rasmus likes to come meet the ball sometimes.”

For Hojlund, the performance marked a welcome turnaround after a challenging spell at Manchester United, where he struggled to find consistency following a high-profile move from Atalanta. Since joining Napoli on loan, the 21-year-old has found form, netting three goals in five appearances across all competitions.

One of the world’s most famous stadiums is set for demolition after Milan city hall early Tuesday approved the sale of San Siro, nicknamed football’s La Scala, to the city’s two football giants.

Inter and AC Milan had both threatened to abandon the city had the sale not been approved after having looked at sites in nearby suburbs.

More than 11 hours of debate at city hall ended with 24 votes in favour of the sale for 197 million euros ($231 million) and 20 against — enough for Italy’s economic capital to decree that Inter Milan and AC Milan will become owners of both the iconic stadium and adjacent land.

Confirmation of a vote in favour of the resolution didn’t come until nearly 4:00am (0200 GMT) after a long night which included discussion of a raft of proposed amendments.

In the end Inter and AC Milan, both owned by US investment funds, and the mayor of Italy’s economic capital Giuseppe Sala got what they wanted after years of uncertainty over a 1.2-billion-euro project.

The clubs proposed purchasing the site in March after a previous project in which the land remained public was abandoned in 2023.

As long as the sale is completed by November 10 — when a public building protection order preventing the demolition of the San Siro comes into effect — Inter and AC Milan will take control of just over 28 hectares (70 acres) of public land in a densely populated area on the western outskirts of Milan.

It is on the land to the immediate west of the San Siro, currently occupied by matchday car parking and a local park, where a modern 71,500-capacity arena will be built.

Once the new ground is constructed, San Siro will be almost entirely demolished to make way for new parkland, office space and entertainment facilities with everything to be designed by architectural firms Foster and Partners and MANICA.

It will still be some years before the bulldozers come for the current San Siro, where Inter and AC Milan will continue to play their matches to crowds of up to 75,000 until 2031 when the clubs hope to have the new stadium finished.

Political anger

The clubs and Sala were helped by the abstention of councillors from the right-wing Forza Italian party founded by deceased former prime minister and ex-AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.

The other opposition parties, the hard-right League and Brothers of Italy, both voted against the proposal, as did a number of councillors from the left-leaning majority which backs Sala’s local government.

There has been anger across the political spectrum in Milan at what councillors see as a bypassing of local democracy with Sala trying to avoid being the mayor who allowed two of the world’s biggest football clubs to leave Milan.

The proposal was criticised by some members of the council for not containing any details of the development of the new stadium and surrounding area, while the price was also blasted as being too low for a prime area of real estate.

The vote will please Italy’s football federation (FIGC) as Milan is one of the potential candidates to hold matches at Euro 2032, which is set to be jointly hosted by Italy and Turkey.

The FIGC needs to communicate to UEFA its five official picks for stadiums for the tournament by October next year, when it can present new venues or ones which need to be redeveloped as long as works begin by March 2027.

Only one of Italy’s 14 potential candidates Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin is currently in line with the criteria set by European football’s governing body.