Serie A news

Will he or won't he? Lionel Messi has a massive decision to make and, just eight months before the start of the 2026 World Cup, we still don't know whether he'll lead Argentina's title defence. "At my age, it's only logical to think I might not," the 38-year-old told TyC Sports just last month. But, let's face it, there's never really anything logical about Messi's career.

Chelsea have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Bologna striker Santiago Castro, sending scouts to assess the 21-year-old’s performances in Serie A ahead of a potential January move. The Argentine, who is already on the fringes of the senior national team, has emerged as a player of interest for Enzo Maresca as the Blues continue their long-running search for a consistent and clinical No. 9.

Spain and Como midfielder Jesus Rodriguez praised Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal as “the best player in the world” after joining the national team setup. Speaking about his development under Cesc Fabregas and adapting between Serie A and La Liga, the 19-year-old said Yamal’s talent in training surprised him and called him a “role model” for young players.

Although Sandro Tonali has found his "balance" in the Premier League with Newcastle, the Italy international is not ruling out a return to Serie A in his homeland. An AC Milan fan since childhood, the midfielder spent four seasons in the Italian top-flight, playing for a year with Brescia before having a three-year spell with the Rossoneri. He joined the Magpies in a then-record deal in 2023.

Victor Osimhen has revealed that he was pressured into signing for Napoli in 2020 while his father was dying, claiming agents and club officials forced the transfer without his consent. The Nigerian striker said he had no access to a draft of his contract and felt ignored during negotiations led by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis and Lille officials. He recounted the story to authorities amid an ongoing capital gains probe.

Inter midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has advised the club’s younger players to limit their phone usage, warning that it can negatively impact their performances. The Armenian midfielder believes that spending time on phones in the gym or locker room affects players’ awareness and connection with their teammates on the pitch. He also pointed out that this issue extends beyond football, describing it as a wider problem affecting the younger generation as a whole.

Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan are reportedly interested in Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva, who is set to become a free agent in 2026. While neither club has entered formal negotiations, both have held exploratory talks with Silva’s agent, Jorge Mendes. The Portuguese midfielder is also attracting lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian clubs, as well as interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong voiced his dissatisfaction with the plan to host their upcoming La Liga fixture against Villarreal in the United States. The Dutch midfielder believes that it is unfair to make the players travel so far for a match in order to boost the commercial profile of Spanish clubs and La Liga.

Mario Balotelli has been his using his time away from the pitch to give back to the community, as the former Manchester City and Liverpool forward recently completed a six-month community service program in Brescia, Italy. Balotelli revealed that the experience of volunteering for children allowed him "to get to know myself better and improve as a person."

Cremonese head coach Davide Nicola remains unwavering in his trust in "fighter" Jamie Vardy as the striker prepares for his first start since joining the Serie A club in the summer. He came off the bench as Inter claimed a dominant 4-1 victory last week, but his coach was positive about his impact and feels he makes the team more threatening even though he is yet to find the net across two substitute appearances.

Gennaro Gattuso addressed his decision of not selecting young midfielder Samuele Ricci in Italy's squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers, citing his lack of regular playing time at AC Milan as the reason. The Italy head coach, however, urged the 24-year-old to "watch" and learn from the iconic ex-Real Madrid midfielder, who has made an immediate impact since arriving at the San Siro.

Rafael Leao’s inconsistent return for AC Milan has sparked tensions behind the scenes, including a fiery exchange with coach Massimiliano Allegri. The Portuguese winger was reportedly scolded in front of his team-mates following missed chances against Juventus, with his starting role now under threat as Milan’s boss demands greater intensity and maturity.

Adrien Rabiot didn't hold back while speaking about his AC Milan team-mate Rafael Leao, stating that "it would be a shame if he were to remain just a potentially great player" amid the Portuguese's middling performances for the Rossoneri. After spending more than a month on the sidelines due to an injury he picked up in August, Leao missed golden opportunities to help Milan clinch all three points against Juventus last weekend.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hailed Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Capello as the coaches who “changed football,” while admitting he always wanted to play under Jurgen Klopp and Sir Alex Ferguson. The AC Milan advisor also backed Ancelotti to lead Brazil to 2026 World Cup glory, saying "everything he touches turns to gold".

Adrien Rabiot’s strong criticism of Serie A’s decision to stage AC Milan’s clash with Como in Australia has sparked a fiery response from league CEO Luigi De Siervo. The executive hit back, urging the French midfielder to “respect the money he earns” and “just play football,” defending the move as necessary to promote Italian football globally.

Real Madrid are preparing two key bargain signings for 2026 as part of a long-term squad rejuvenation plan. The Spanish giants are monitoring Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andres, viewed as a potential successor to Aurelien Tchouameni, while also finalising plans to bring back Nico Paz from Como. Both moves could cost under €20 million combined.

Former Juventus and Netherlands winger Eljero Elia explained after he survived a terrifying car crash on the A4 motorway in Netherlands after wrecking his €300,000 Lamborghini. The 38-year-old’s luxury car collided with two others near Leiden, leaving the vehicles badly damaged. Fortunately, no one suffered serious injuries as police launched an investigation into the incident.