+18 | Commercial Content | T&C's Apply | Play Responsibly | Publishing Principles
Italy

Italy news

Genoa v Como - Serie A

Why ex-City & Liverpool star Balotelli still has ‘itch’ to play

Mario Balotelli is representing the 14th club of what has been an eventful career, with a former Italy international team-mate telling GOAL why the enigmatic striker still has “that itch” to play. Giuseppe Rossi knows what ‘Super Mario’ is all about as a performer and person, and has pointed out that - amid all of the headlines - the charismatic forward has always just wanted to play.

Francesco Pio Esposito Inter Milan GFX 16:9

Pio Esposito: Why Arsenal are tracking Inter's young star

The Gazzetta dello Sport claimed earlier this week that Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing Inter prospect Francesco Pio Esposito. However, the Nerazzurri's CEO, Beppe Marotta, moved quickly to quell the transfer talk by insisting that there had not been any contact between the two clubs. "Arsenal did not ask for Pio," the Italian told Sport Mediaset before Inter's Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against Como on Tuesday. "But also Inter are not a selling club. We don't make player trading our main activity.

FBL-FRA-LIGUE1-PSG-CAMPUS

Ex-PSG star set for shock Italy return

In a move that has caught the footballing world off guard, former Paris Saint-Germain maestro Marco Verratti is reportedly on the verge of a sensational return to the Italy national team. The veteran midfielder, who was once the heartbeat of the Azzurri engine room, has been largely forgotten by the international mainstream since his high-profile move to Qatar. However, with the high-stakes pressure of the World Cup play-offs looming on the horizon, new head coach Gennaro Gattuso appears ready to roll the dice on one of the most technically gifted players of his generation.

GFX Icons 2006

ICONS: Fabio Grosso - Italy's unlikely World Cup hero

Back in the summer of 2006, a few nights transformed Fabio Grosso from an outsider to an Italian national hero. From his decisive left-footed strike against Germany to his perfect penalty in Berlin, Grosso’s is an incredible story of humility, courage, and destiny that took him from the fields of Serie C2 to the World Cup final. This is ICONS - a GOAL podcast and feature series that revisits the last 10 World Cups through the moments, characters, and controversies that defined them, bringing the spirit of each tournament back to life.

KidSuper: Runway - Paris Fashion Week - Menswear Spring/Summer 2026

Balotelli set to complete transfer to unlikely 13th club

Mario Balotelli is set to complete a transfer to the 14th club of his career as he closes in on a switch to Al-Ittifaq FC of Dubai. The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker has been a free agent since he left Italian side Genoa over the summer. Balotelli signed for the Serie A outfit on a season-long deal last October but did not stay there long.

Legacy Italy World Cup GFX 16:9

LEGACY: How four-time World Cup winners Italy lost their way

This is Legacy, GOAL's feature and podcast series following the road to the 2026 World Cup. Every week, we dive into the stories and the legacies that shaped football’s greatest nations. This time it's a look at Italy’s long and painful fall from grace. From Berlin 2006 to the heartbreaks that followed, this is the story of a four-time world champion lost in footballing exile.

Canada WC

Canada WC draw: Lucky on paper - but Italy could flip the script

Canada got the rub of the green as preparations for the 2026 World Cup kicked into full gear. Les Rouges will face Switzerland, Qatar and the winner of a European playoff to open the tournament next summer. On paper, it’s a winnable group - but if the playoff unfolds as expected, Jesse Marsch’s team could be staring down global giants Italy in the early stages.

Italy v Norway - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier

'He's a great man' - Italy boss Gattuso told to make shock Rangers move

Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso has been touted to make a shock move back to his former club Rangers, where he played for a single but memorable season as a player. The 47-year-old has been manager of the Italian national side since June 2025 and is hoping to lead the Azzurri to the World Cup when they take part in March's play-offs. Rangers recently appointed Danny Rohl as their new boss, following the sacking of Russell Martin.

Frequently asked questions

Chelsea were founded on March 10, 1905, following Gus Mears' acquisition of the Stamford Bridge in 1904. Several names were put up for consideration: Kensington FC, Stamford Bridge FC, and London FC. However, all these names were rejected and the name Chelsea F.C. was finally selected.

Chelsea are co-owned by an American consortium consisting of Todd Boehly, Mark Walter. Hansjorg Wyss, and Behdad Eghbali-led Clearlake Capital. Boehly, Walter, and Wyss each own a 12.8% stake in the club, while Clearlake Capital are the majority shareholder with a 61.5% stake.

Chelsea's stadium is known as the Stamford Bridge and has been the club's home venue ever since their inception in 1905. Interestingly, the Stamford Bridge was owned by a separate company after businessman Ken Bates bought the club in the 1980s, when they were on the verge of bankruptcy and stuck in the second division. In 1992, however, after a long-fought legal battle and a 'Save The Bridge' campaign from the fans, Chelsea regained ownership of the stadium.

The Stamford Bridge has a capacity of around 40,000.

Chelsea have won an impressive 32 trophies throughout their history, including two Champions League titles and six English top-flight titles.

Chelsea have won the English top flight on six occasions, with their most recent title coming at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Legendary defender Ron Harris holds the record for making the most appearances for Chelsea, featuring for the club in 795 games, ahead of Peter Bonetti and John Terry. The latter two are the only other players along with Harris to make over 700 appearances for the club.

Frank Lampard, arguably the greatest Chelsea player ever, is the club's leading goalscorer of all-time, netting the ball into the net 211 times in 648 games. The fact that he was a midfielder makes the feat all the more impressive.

Didier Drogba, John Terry, Eden Hazard, Claude Makelele, Arjen Robben, Petr Cech, Michael Ballack, and David Luiz are some of the most famous players to have represented Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Maurizio Sarri are among the biggest managerial names to have been a part of Chelsea's eminent history.

Chelsea are called The Blues, which is a reference to the colour of their kit since the early 20th century.