SERIE A – Page 21 – Football Flame

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Rafael Leao: “I aim to win the Champions League with Milan”

 Rafael Leao of AC Milan scores their sides first goal during the Serie A TIM match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 16, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Rafael Leao has come out with some ambitious words that should delight Milan fans after his recent match-winning goal against Verona.As reported by Portugal GQ magazine (via Sky Italia), Leão said: “I’m sure Milan will soon return to win the Champions League, that’s our goal. I speak for myself. I am young, I am a player who wants to win great things. The Champions League I think is every player’s dream. I aim for it. We are working for this.”The Portuguese winger also spoke about Saudi Arabia, and mentioned that he has no thoughts about going there any time soon. He said that he still has a lot...
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Leao fires Milan level with leaders Inter, Juve fall at Sassuolo

 Rafael Leao of AC Milan on the ball whilst under pressure from Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between AC Milan and Newcastle United FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 19, 2023 in Milan, Italy.Rafael Leao ended a difficult week with the only goal in Saturday´s 1-0 win over Verona which drew AC Milan level with Serie A leaders Inter Milan, while Juventus fell to their first defeat of the season, 4-2 at Sassuolo.Portugal winger Leao netted his third goal in as many league matches in the eighth minute at a sodden San Siro to move Milan up to second on 12 points from five games. Inter defend their 100 percent start at rock-bottom Empoli on Sunday.Leao´s winner was one of the few highlights of a largely uninspiring performance from...
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Napoli set to reward Super Eagles’ Osimhen with new contract salary increment

 Victor Osimhen of SSC Napoli scores third goal during the Serie A Tim match between Frosinone Calcio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Benito Stirpe August 19, 2023 in Frosinone, Italy. Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is expected to sign a new deal with Napoli in the coming weeks and the new salary in the contract.The 24-year-old has been one of the most coveted strikers in world football in recent weeks after a breakthrough season with Napoli that saw him help the club win their first Serie A title in 33 years.He scored a career-high 31 goals in all competitions last campaign, achieving the feat as the first African player to win the Italian championship top scorer award with 26 goals.After a remarkable season, it was not surprising to see him linked with the biggest teams in Europe...
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Radonjic double earns Torino Serie A win at Salernitana

 Nemanja Radonjić of Torino FC after scoring a goal to make it 0-4 before the referee ruled it out for offside during the Serie A TIM match between US Salernitana and Torino FC at Stadio Arechi on September 18, 2023 in Salerno, Italy.Serbia forward Nemanja Radonjic has scored either side of halftime for Torino in a 3-0 Serie A win at Salernitana.The Turin club moved up to seventh place with seven points from their opening four matches.Alessandro Buongiorno, who took advantage of a scramble in the box to poke the ball past a diving Guillermo Ochoa, put them ahead in the 15th minute at the Stadio Arechi on Monday night.The hosts started to grow into the match but their momentum was scuppered in the 41st minute, when Radonjic pounced on a loose ball outside the penalty area and smartly p...
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Lukaku and Dybala play together for first time as AS Roma crush Empoli 7-0

 Romelu Lukaku of AS Roma during the Serie A  match between AS Roma and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on September 1, 2023 in Rome, Italy.Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala looked a powerful partnership in their first match together as they helped Roma crush newly promoted Empoli 7-0 in Serie A on Sunday. Dybala netted twice and Lukaku scored his first goal in his second match since joining from Chelsea. Renato Sanches, Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini and an own-goal from Alberto Grassi secured Roma’s first win of the season in style.Dybala had missed Roma’s last match against Milan — which was Lukaku’s debut — through injury. Empoli has now lost all four of its opening matches without scoring a goal.Jose Mourinho’s Roma got off to the best possible start when it was awarded ...
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Napoli salvage 2-2 draw at Genoa

 Giacomo Raspadori of Napoli (center) scores a goal during the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on September 16, 2023 in Genoa, Italy. Second-half goals by Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Politano helped champions Napoli come from behind to rescue a 2-2 draw at promoted Genoa in Serie A on Saturday.Napoli provisionally moved up to fifth in the standings with seven points from four games.Genoa, who returned to Serie A after being relegated in 2021-22, defended well against visiting champions and defender Mattia Bani earned the lead in the 40th minute, sending the ball into the roof of the net following a corner.Italy forward Mateo Retegui added the second for the hosts after the break with a first-time shot into the bottom left corner.Napoli...
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Allegri does not have much to say about Pogba’s failed drug test

 Paul Pogba of Juventus FC reacts during the Serie A Tim match between Empoli FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 3, 2023 in Empoli, Italy.Juventus manager Max Allegri does not have much to say about Paul Pogba’s ongoing drug test drama.The Frenchman tested positive for a banned substance a few days back and has asked for a counter-analysis of his samples.Juventus continues to cooperate with authorities and is preparing for the worst-case scenario, as Pogba could be banned for up to four years.Everyone at the club is shocked and saddened at the development, but the case is still being worked on and there is no verdict yet.Because of this, Allegri has decided not to talk too much. When asked in his latest pre-match presser, the Bianconeri gaffer said, as quoted b...
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Italy’s Bonucci takes legal action against Juventus

 Leonardo Bonucci of 1. FC Union Berlin looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and RB Leipzig at An der Alten Foersterei on September 3, 2023 in Berlin, Germany.Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci is taking legal action against his former club Juventus after claiming he was left feeling "humiliated".Bonucci joined Union Berlin for free in August after being frozen out of the Juve squad following a reported fallout with manager Massimiliano Allegri."I have decided, after great suffering, to pursue a lawsuit against Juventus," said Bonucci, 36."I felt drained of everything, humiliated."Bonucci spent 12 years in Turin over two spells and won Serie A eight times with Juventus in addition to helping Italy win Euro 2020.He was left out of Allegri's squad for the Unite...
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Pogba provisionally suspended after drugs test

 Paul Pogba of Juventus FC looks on during the Serie A Tim match between Empoli FC and Juventus FC at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 3, 2023 in Empoli, Italy. Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended from playing after a drugs test found elevated levels of testosterone in his system.Italy's national anti-doping tribunal (Nado) said Pogba was tested after Juve's 3-0 win at Udinese on 20 AugusThe 30-year-old France international, an unused substitute, was randomly selected for post-match drug testing.If found guilty of doping, he could face a ban of between two and four years.Juventus said in a statement: "Juventus Football Club announces that today, 11 September, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the ...
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Jenny Requirez joins Hellas Verona on loan

 The Roma player Romelu Lukaku during the match Roma v Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), September 01st, 2023.Inter legend Javier Zanetti hopes they will be back in the Champions League Final soon, noting Simone Inzaghi and Lautaro Martinez bring a sense of ‘stability’ to the project, something Romelu Lukaku did not.The Nerazzurri had not been up for the trophy since winning the Treble under Jose Mourinho in 2010, but gave Manchester City a very tough game in Istanbul, decided only by a single goal.They have started the new season strong too, winning all three Serie A matches and sitting joint top of the table with rivals Milan.“We are happy, because although strong players have left that we will always thank, we brought in new players who are eager to get things done and do...
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Roma Europa League squad missing Azmoun and Kristensen

The Roma players Romelu Lukaku and Lorenzo Pellegrini during the match Roma v Milan at the Stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), September 01st, 2023.Roma have left new signings Sardar Azmoun and Rasmus Kristensen out of their Europa League squad, but included injured Tammy Abraham and Marash Kumbulla, because of Romelu Lukaku.The Giallorossi reached the Final of this tournament last season, capitulating to Sevilla only after a penalty shoot-out, as they drew 1-1 over 120 minutes.This time around, they have been drawn in a group with Slavia Prague, Sheriff and Servette.For several years now, Roma have had to deal with the tight restrictions of the settlement agreement with UEFA over Financial Fair Play.That includes the ‘transfer balance’ – so the current squad must be worth the same or less than...
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Martinez scores twice as Inter thrash Fiorentina

 Lautaro Martinez (L) of FC Internazionale in action during the Italian Serie A football match between FC Internazionale and Fiorentina at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy on September 3, 2023.Lautaro Martinez scored twice as Inter Milan thrashed Fiorentina at the San Siro to move to the top of Serie A.France forward Marcus Thuram scored his first goal since a summer move from Borussia Monchengladbach, with a diving header to put the hosts in front.Argentina striker Martinez then swept home twice either side of Hakan Calhanoglu's penalty.The result maintains Inter's 100% start to the new campaign, lifting them above city rivals AC on goal difference.Meanwhile, goals from former Manchester City defender Danilo and Federico Chiesa helped Juventus to a comfortable 2-0 win at Empoli.Massi...
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Milan win again, Frosinone off the mark in Serie A

 Christian Pulisic of Milan (C) fight for the ball against Mergim Vojvoda of Torino (R) during the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and Torino FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 26, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Former Chelsea stars Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud have helped make it two from two as AC Milan maintained their 100 per cent start to the season in Italy’s Serie A. There was more disappointment for Roma, though, as Jose Mourinho’s side lost 2-1 at Hellas Verona, while Serie B champions Frosinone upset Atalanta 2-1 and Monza beat Empoli 2-0. After making a goalscoring debut last weekend, US international Pulisic found the net again in his first match at San Siro to set the Rossoneri on their way to a 4-1 win over Torino on Saturday. His former Stamford Bridge teammate Gi...
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Pulisic’s solid debut at Bologna boosts confidence in Milan prospects

 Christian Pulisic of AC Milan scores his team's second goal during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and AC Milan at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on August 21, 2023 in Bologna, Italy.American Christian Pulisic, convinced that playing for AC Milan was the right career move, showcased his skills during their opening 2-0 victory at Bologna in Serie A on Monday. The 24-year-old arrived at San Siro in July following four seasons at Chelsea where he made 145 appearances and scored 26 goals but struggled to pin down a starting place and was deemed surplus to requirements under new manager Mauricio Pochettino. After his disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge, the United States forward made a strong debut in Italy on Monday, playing a pivotal role in Milan’s early goal courtesy of Olivier Gi...
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UEFA bans Juventus next season, Chelsea fined 10 million euros

 General view of the Allianz Stadium during the Serie A match between Juventus and US Cremonese at Allianz Stadium on May 14, 2023 in Turin, Italy. Juventus will not play in Europe next season after being banned over breaches of UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play rules, while Premier League side Chelsea will pay 10 million euros for submitting incomplete financial information, Europe’s football governing body the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said on Friday. “Juventus violated UEFA’s regulatory framework…and it was decided to exclude Juventus from the 2023/24 UEFA men’s club competition,” said a UEFA statement. UEFA said the 10-million-euro additional fine will only be applied if the 2023, 2024 and 2025 financial years do not meet their accounting requ...
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Rabiot: ‘Juventus was a choice that came from the heart’

 Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot (25) celebrates after scoring his goal to make it 1-0 during the Serie A football match n.22 JUVENTUS - FIORENTINA on February 12, 2023 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. After signing a contract renewal with Juventus on Tuesday afternoon, Adreiedn Rabiot has declared that he is ‘proud’ to be a Juventus player and that the decision to stay on with the Bianconeri is one that ‘came from the heart.’ Juve officially confirmed that the 28-year-old former World Cup winner has put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension, which ties him to the club until the end of the 2023-24 season. Rabiot could have walked away for free upon the expiry of his previous deal on June 30 and had concrete interest from a host of other clubs across E...
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Federico Chiesa Contemplates Juventus Exit

 Federico Chiesa of Italy looks on during the UEFA Nations League 2022/23 semifinal match between Spain and Italy at FC Twente Stadium on June 15, 2023 in Enschede, Netherlands. Juventus ace Federico Chiesa has grown increasingly impatient with under-fire manager Massimiliano Allegri and could soon issue a transfer request. Gazzetta dello Sport took stock of the Italian’s future in Turin on Saturday, underscoring his frustration for the lack of playing time under the ex-Milan boss. Even though the two have never had a falling out, Allegri has never exploited Chiesa’s full potential. While there’s no denying a series of injury setbacks plagued the winger’s progress last season, his limited first-team opportunities after regaining full fitness didn’t go unnoticed. Unfortunately, fa...
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Llorente agrees personal terms with Roma

 The Roma player Diego Llorente during the UEFA Europa League quarterfinal second leg match between AS Roma and Feyenoord at the Stadio Olimpico. Rome (Italy), April 20th, 2023.Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has announced that Diego Llorente is set to join Roma in an £8.5m move in the next few days.The 29 year old centre back, only signed a three and a half year contract extension last December, but spent the second half of last season in Italy’s capital, and before long, expressed his desire to make the move permanent. Romano claims Llorente has agreed personal terms at the Stadio Olimpico, and is set to pen a multi-year deal. Leeds will be pleased to get him off their books. The Spanish International (10 caps) has been earning £56,000 a week (or just over £240,000 a move before tax)...
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Claudio Ranieri guides Cagliari back into Serie A

 Claudio Ranieri Mister of Cagliari Calcio during the Italian soccer Serie B match Cagliari Calcio vs Benevento Calcio on February 11, 2023 at the Unipol Domus in Cagliari, Italy.Cagliari’s Leonardo Pavoletti scored in stoppage time to secure their return to Serie A with a 1-0 win at Bari on Sunday in their promotion playoff second leg, depriving their opponents of a place in the Italian top flight with a 2-1 aggregate victory. Cagliari were under pressure at a foggy Stadio San Nicola where only a victory would see them promoted. The first leg ended 1-1 on Thursday as an early goal from Gianluca Lapadula was cancelled out by a late penalty by Bari’s Mirco Antenucci and had the second leg also ended in a draw, Bari would have gone up after finishing higher in the table. Cagliari strugg...
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Chelsea transfer target reacts after AC Milan’s shock decision to sack Paolo Maldini

 Milan forward Rafael Leao (17) gestures during the Serie A football match n.37 JUVENTUS - MILAN on May 28, 2023 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Piedmont, Italy.Rafael Leao has reacted with shock amid widespread reports that AC Milan have sacked Paolo Maldini.The club legend has been an important figure in the Rossoneri’s renaissance in recent years which saw them win a first Serie A title in a decade last season and reach the semi-finals of this season’s Champions League. Maldini, who has served as Milan’s technical director since 2019, is understood to have been dismissed, along with director of football Ricky Massara, following a tumultuous meeting with owner Gerry Cardinale on Monday. Following talks over how best to take the club forwards, cracks in the relationship between the ...
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