Italy news

Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso revealed the details of his phone call with former World Cup-winning team-mate Fabio Cannavaro, who was appointed as the new head coach of the Uzbekistan national team earlier this week. The former midfielder had a cheeky dig at the Ballon d'Or winner for taking over a side that has already qualified for the World Cup while the Azzurri are "stuck in the trenches" in the battle to secure a place.

Inter’s 20-year-old Italian striker Pio Esposito has won widespread praise from fans and pundits for his performances this season. However, his agent, Mario Giuffredi, has tried to temper the hype, urging fans and media to keep expectations realistic while ensuring Esposito stays grounded. Giuffredi also emphasises that Esposito must continue proving himself to secure a spot in the Italian national team.

From Stamford Bridge to the fairways of New York, Gianfranco Zola has lived a life of sporting triumphs, with his latest joy coming far from football. The Chelsea and Italy legend joined Europe’s Ryder Cup team as Francesco Molinari’s buggy driver, contributing to Europe's 15–13 victory over Team USA at Bethpage Black last week.

Elon Musk’s favourite cryptocurrency has completed a takeover of Serie C side Triestina as House of Doge becomes the majority shareholder. Jubilation has been tempered, however, as a new 13-point sanction on top of an earlier seven-point deduction leaves the club facing a 20-point deficit. The "revolutionary" project promises global Dogecoin integration and local investment.

Describing Roberto Baggio to those who did not experience him is a sort of generational challenge, an arduous attempt at conveying something that is too difficult to explain in words. But we will try - because Roberto Baggio was, especially for Italians, a symbol, a standard-bearer, an icon and an emotion.