Serie A

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has talked up the interest in Inter star Lautaro Martinez, saying the "whole world" wants to sign him amid persistent links to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Scaloni spoke to AS (h/t Football Italia) about the future of the young forward: "Lautaro Martinez is the player, after Kylian Mbappe, who the whole world wants to sign for his age and quality. However, he plays for a big club already and it won’t be easy to prise him away from Inter."

Per the report, both Barcelona and Real are keeping a close eye on the 22-year-old, who has a €111 release clause in his contract. Manchester United have also been linked with the Argentinian, but per ESPN FC's Mark Ogden, he has no interest in joining the Red Devils:

Per the Times' Paul Hirst, the Premier League giants don't want to pay his full release clause:

Barcelona have been linked with the forward the most, identifying him as an ideal long-term replacement for Luis Suarez. Like the Uruguayan, Martinez excels at linking the play and creating space for his team-mates, as well as scoring goals himself.

He has bagged 11 goals in Serie A already this season and also netted five times in six UEFA Champions League outings—one of those goals came at the Camp Nou:

Martinez has struck a fine partnership with Romelu Lukaku, and the two have fired Inter into their first real Serie A title challenge in years. They're currently tied on points with eight-time defending champions Juventus.

The Nerazzurri are unlikely to sell their prized forward for anything less than the clause in his contract, although they do have a potential replacement already in the squad. Star prospect Sebastiano Esposito is regarded as one of the best talents in Italy, and the 17-year-old has already scored his first Serie A goal.

The Italian isn't ready for a full-time role yet, but he is expected to push for a starting role in the near future. That could open the door for a Martinez exit, although he will still come at a massive cost.

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri believes the development of his team has "stalled" in recent weeks. 

Following their shock 2-1 loss to Hellas Verona in Serie A on Saturday, the Bianconeri played AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final on Thursday. They needed a stoppage-time penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo to earn a 1-1 draw.

After the contest, Sarri was asked about the struggles being endured by the team and conceded they hadn't been at their best, per Rai Sport (h/t Football Italia):

"I am not worried, as the only real worries in life are your health. It seems a normal phase to be going through; it's unthinkable for a team to be a continual ascent. This is a sport, so much depends on the physical and psychological conditions of so many players.

"Our growth has stalled a little in the last three weeks, we concede avoidable goals. Having said that, we've conceded only two more than the best defence in Serie A, so it's not that much of an issue."

Milan took the lead in the first leg of the clash through Ante Rebic, although 10 minutes later they were reduced to 10 men at the San Siro when Theo Hernandez was given his marching orders.

When the Rossoneri had seemingly withstood all Juventus had to throw at them late on, the visitors were awarded a contentious penalty following a VAR review, and Ronaldo was able to convert.

Here is the controversial late decision and the subsequent strike from the Portuguese:

The penalty kept up Ronaldo's excellent record in front of goal in the 2019-20 season:

While they were able to ensure parity ahead of the second leg in Turin, Juventus were a long way from their best in the match at the San Siro. That will be a concern for Sarri heading into a crucial spell of fixtures.

There's a lack of fluidity and attacking invention in the team, meaning they are often dependent on moments of brilliance from the likes of Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala to haul them to results.

Sarri recently said he's not concerned about the mounting scrutiny at Juventus, adding if he wanted a position without pressure he "would've taken a job at the post office." Perhaps the players also deserve criticism:

Although there's a low mood at Juventus, the team are still in contention for all major honours.

In Serie A, they are level at the summit of the table with Inter Milan, with Lazio just a point further back, meaning there's a thrilling finish to the campaign in store in the Italian top flight. Juventus continue their push for the UEFA Champions League on February 26, when they face Lyon in the first leg of their last-16 clash.

Juventus director Fabio Paratici is hopeful the club's star forward Paulo Dybala can go on to have a similar influence in Turin to the one Lionel Messi has had at Barcelona. 

Dybala is one of the most gifted players in world football, although his long-term future at Juventus appeared to be in serious doubt in the summer, when he was linked with a move away from the Italian champions.

This season he's enjoyed a renaissance under the guidance of manager Maurizio Sarri and is in talks over a possible contract extension. Paratici said to Rai Sport (h/t Football Italia) he has high hopes for the Argentina international.

"We are very happy with Dybala, he is our No. 10; we invested heavily in him and of course hope he can be Juve's Messi," he noted.

Paratici was also asked if there was any uncertainty over Cristiano Ronaldo's long-term future in Turin. "There are no doubts," he said.

At the end of the 2019 summer transfer window, Dybala was strongly linked with transfers to both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. After neither switch materialised, it was always going to be fascinating to see how he would fare under the tutelage of Sarri.

Overall, it's been a positive season for the 26-year-old, with nine goals in all competitions this season. One of his best strikes came in the UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid, when he slammed in this swirling free-kick:

Football analyst Craig Moniz commented on how effective Dybala has been in all-round play this season:

When he arrived at Juventus in 2015, it was anticipated that Dybala would go on to become one of the world's best players.

While he's scored some memorable goals and enjoyed regular success with the Bianconeri, he's never quite been able to showcase the consistency needed to be considered alongside his international team-mate Messi and his club team-mate Ronaldo.

Given Paratici's comments, it would appear there is still faith in Turin he can reach those levels. Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio recently spoke highly of the forward:

It's testament to Dybala's quality and mental fortitude that he's been able to bounce back after a summer where Juventus seemingly wanted him off the books. If he was to sign a new deal soon, it would be a major boost for the club.

Dybala will now be looking to make a decisive impact on the field in the coming months, with Juventus in a serious battle with Inter Milan and Lazio for the Serie A title, not to mention in pursuit of their first Champions League title since 1996.

Gianluigi Buffon had plenty of reasons to return for a second spell with Juventus last summer. Yet chief among them may have been the chance to play in the same team with Cristiano Ronaldo.  

Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot to earn a 1-1 draw with AC Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg on Thursday. His contribution earned high praise from Buffon, per Juve's official website: "Ronaldo? He is an incredible champion, playing with him is one of the reasons I came back."

Buffon is right to revel in what Ronaldo is doing for the Bianconeri. Holding his nerve from 12 yards helped the 35-year-old continue a terrific scoring run despite this calendar year still being in its infancy:

For the season, Ronaldo has found the net 26 times across all competitions. His latest finish came in controversial fashion, with the spot-kick only awarded after VAR had deemed Davide Calabria guilty of a handball.

It was a close decision that may have been harsh on the Rossoneri:

Even so, the draw at the San Siro has put Juve in an excellent position to reach the final for the first time since winning the cup in 2018. Last season's defence of the trophy didn't go well, with Juve losing 3-0 to eventual winners Atalanta in the last eight.

Having already gone one better in this campaign, Ronaldo and Co. look primed to add to the Bianconeri's record 13 trophies in the competition. It would be another notable achievement for Buffon, but perhaps not the one he is truly seeking after ending his brief spell with Paris Saint-Germain following just a single season.

The UEFA Champions League trophy still eludes one of the best goalkeepers of his era. By contrast, Ronaldo has won the competition five times, once with Manchester United and on four occasions with Real Madrid.

His arrival in 2018 was supposed to be the final piece in the jigsaw for Juventus, but the club was eliminated by Ajax in last season's quarter-final. Meanwhile, Buffon and PSG were famously sent packing by Manchester United in the last 16.

A tie against Ligue 1 side Lyon in the Round of 16, set to begin on February 26, will see Juve as firm favourites to progress.

Buffon is no longer first choice for the Bianconeri, with former Arsenal stopper Wojciech Szczesny usurping him. Szczesny's performances were rewarded with a new contract on Tuesday, per Juve's official website:

Nonetheless, Buffon knows this can still be a memorable season. Finally adding the Champions League trophy to his resume would erase past hurt in the competition, notably his public spat with referee Michael Oliver. Buffon has lost in three finals: 2003, 2015, and 2017.

He can also add yet another Serie A title to his haul of nine, with Juve only trailing leaders Inter Milan on goal difference. Buffon has already set a new appearance record for the Italian top flight on his comeback tour:

Surpassing Milan great Paolo Maldini was a worthy achievement. Buffon's longevity was further underlined by a moment shared after Thursday's game with the Rossoneri:

Buffon will want to end his career the right way, namely by winning further trophies with Juventus. His experience and influence allied with Ronaldo's goals will make it happen.

AC Milan are prepared to let Zlatan Ibrahimovic decide exactly when he will walk away from the club. The 38-year-old joined the Rossoneri for a second spell back in December on a short-term contract after his tenure with Major League Soccer side L.A. Galaxy had ended.

Milan director of sport Ricky Massara talked up the impact Ibrahimovic has made in the short time he's been back at the San Siro during an interview with Rai Sport (h/t Goal's Peter Hanson): "It'll ultimately be up to him, how he feels and how long he wants to continue. He truly is a phenomenon, and we are very happy with his performance."

Massara was referring to what comes next for Ibrahimovic, with Hanson detailing how the Swede is initially contracted until June. However, there is an option to extend the deal by 12 months.

It's something Milan sound open to judging by Massara's praise for Ibrahimovic's performances. Keeping a proven goalscorer who still feels he has a lot to offer at the highest level makes sense for a goal-shy Milan team.

The Rossoneri's profligacy in front of goal is best summed up by left-back Theo Hernandez being the club's leading scorer so far this season. Hernandez has a mere six goals to his credit, and he was unable to add to his tally after being booked twice and sent off during Thursday's 1-1 draw at home to Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg.

Milan's goal against the Bianconeri came from Croatia international forward Ante Rebic, but Ibrahimovic proved he can still pose a threat against the dominant team in Italy:

Ibrahimovic couldn't find the net on Thursday, but he has scored three goals since making his Milan comeback. There is still a fear factor about a striker who can bully defenders in the air and possesses the technique and improv skills to produce the truly spectacular.

Any doubts about Ibrahimovic's ability to still cut it against top teams were dispelled by his first-half performance during Sunday's 4-2 defeat to Inter in the Milan derby:

There is still value in a player who gives Stefano Pioli a battle-tested and natural striker. There are few of those in the Milan squad, with 20-year-old Rafael Leao and Daniel Maldini, 18, inexperienced.

Ibrahimovic relishes proving he can still revive the fortunes of a club struggling for direction.

Milan represent a fallen giant starved of success, not having won Serie A since 2011, Ibrahimovic's first spell at the club. Getting the Rossoneri back to winning ways would be a fitting legacy for one of the most decorated players of the modern era.

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has spoken about the pressure he is facing at Juventus after consecutive Serie A away defeats.

The Italian champions have been knocked off top spot in the league by Inter Milan after losing to Hellas Verona on Sunday, which came two weeks on from a 2-1 defeat to Napoli, but Sarri is not surprised to see his team's results in the spotlight. He told reporters on Wednesday that Juventus remain on course in all competitions and that his team are in good shape on the training pitch:

"It is normal that my work is always under scrutiny. We are in February and we are fighting for every competition, which is in line with the initial goals. It is clear that we come from a bad game, but with external rather than internal repercussions.

"This team is training well, with intensity and application. The level of training has been elevated and the group has made themselves available. There is depth in the team which allowed for multiple formations that can be selected when needed."

Sarri only took charge of Juventus in summer 2019 after leaving Chelsea, but defeats at Napoli and Verona have fuelled speculation his time in Turin could be short-lived.

Bleacher Report's Gianni Verschueren has offered his thoughts on Juve under Sarri during the Verona game:

La Repubblica (h/t Football Italia) reported on Monday that some at Juventus want to bring back former boss Massimiliano Allegri as Sarri has not improved results or the club's playing style.

Italian Football TV highlighted how Sarri's record compares unfavourably with Allegri's after 23 matches in charge:

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has also been linked with replacing Sarri. President Andrea Agnelli is "convinced" the Spaniard can deliver Juve the UEFA Champions League, according to Martin Lipton at The Sun.

Sarri also spoke about summer signing Ramsey in Wednesday's press conference. The midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Arsenal but has failed to make much of an impact in Turin.

"Aaron Ramsey is growing both in his physical condition and with his confidence," he said. "It was not easy for him to adapt, coming from the Premier League and from a bad injury."

The Wales international's season has been disrupted by injury, and he's made just six Serie A starts for his new club. Tuttosport (h/t Tony Mogan at the Evening Standard) reported on Monday that Juve are considering selling the 29-year-old in the summer.

Juventus' stranglehold on Serie A in recent years has slipped, according to former Old Lady star Fabio Cannavaro.

The eight-time defending champions were pushed down to second in Serie A last weekend after their shock 2-1 loss to Hellas Verona:

After being the undisputed dominant force in Italian football for the best part of the last decade, Juve are now being challenged for the Scudetto by both Inter Milan and Lazio. Inter top Serie A on 54 points—the same total as Juve—while Lazio are just a point behind both in third.

Italy's 2006 FIFA World Cup-winning captain Cannavaro, who had two spells at Juve during his career and now manages Guangzhou Evergrande in the Chinese Super League, advised Old Lady manager Maurizio Sarri to find the right balance for the team in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia):

"They are no longer as dominant as they were last season, but they are still top, though. ...

"I can only speak from the outside, as a spectator. The coach sees them every day and knows the condition and every detail. It tickles me to see [Paulo] Dybala play with Cristiano [Ronaldo] and [Gonzalo] Higuain. Maybe it sometimes happens—like in Naples—that things don't work out and the trident becomes a burden for the team.

"In addition to confirming himself, Ronaldo is devastating up front. But lately, he's the only one scoring. They need balance."

Ronaldo has indeed taken much of the goalscoring burden recently, setting a new club record by netting in 10 consecutive Serie A appearances:

In contrast, Higuain and Dybala have five league goals apiece and have not found the back of the net in any competition since both doing so in January 15's Coppa Italia victory over Udinese.

At 35, it is essential the Portuguese superstar is well-managed, especially given his remarkable record in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League:

Juve spent £100 million to sign Ronaldo from Real Madrid in the summer of 2018 largely so he could help them win Europe's most iconic trophy once again. They have lost five finals since their last triumph in 1996, and their attempt to reclaim that crown continues on February 26 when they play the first leg of their last-16 tie against Lyon.

Chiellini expressed confidence Juve can overcome the Ligue 1 side, but he stressed the importance of having key players at their best toward the end of the season:

"They need to have their best players in the best condition possible when we arrive in April and May. The club has invested a lot for to win the Champions League and you need to be patient and improve you overall condition."

If they were running away with the league title, Juve could rest the five-time Ballon d'Or winner as often as possible in a bid to have him at his best for European matches.

Given how tight it is at the top of the Serie A table, that is not possible.

But Ronaldo cannot win both the Scudetto and the Champions League for Juve on his own, and he will need his team-mates to find their own top form in future weeks if the Old Lady are to remain in the running for both trophies. 

Juventus will have to shell out a transfer fee of at least €70 million (£59 million) if they want to re-sign Riccardo Orsolini, according to Bologna sporting director Walter Sabatini. 

Orsolini, 23, signed for Juve from Italian second-tier side Ascoli in 2017 but never made a first-team appearance for the Old Lady.

Instead, he spent six months on loan at Atalanta before another 18-month loan at Bologna, a move which became permanent last June.

The winger has thrived with the Rossoblu, most recently netting the opener for Bologna in their 3-2 victory at Roma on Friday:

As a result, talk has surfaced that Juve could be interested in re-signing him and may have a €25 million (£21 million) buyback clause, but Sabatini has now said nothing of the sort was negotiated, per ETV (h/t Goal's Dejan Kalinic):

"In the negotiation process, we talked to Juventus about a possible buyback option, but it was never written down, so it remained only verbal.

"At the moment, it is unthinkable that he could be sold for the figures that have been mentioned in the media. We would discuss it with Juventus to ensure that everyone was happy with the situation. We are a strong club and, if the player were to leave, we would require compensation. In any case, we're not thinking about his departure at the moment and he is not on the market.

"I give Orsolini a value of not less than €70 million. I repeat that he will not leave. He is followed by the national team like so many others, and I think good news is coming to Coverciano [Italy's headquarters]. I hope he can go to the European Championship, but [Italy coach Roberto] Mancini doesn't need my advice."

Orsolini was handed his senior Italy debut in November when he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 9-1 drubbing of Armenia after coming on as a half-time substitute.

That was Italy's last international fixture of 2019, and Orsolini will hope to be in the running for their first game of 2020, a friendly against England at Wembley Stadium on March 27.

Italy have four friendlies organised—the others are against Germany, San Marino and Czech Republic—before their opening group-stage game of UEFA Euro 2020 against Turkey in Rome on June 12.

If Orsolini can break into Roberto Mancini's squad and impress on the international stage, Juve are unlikely to be the only club interested in him come the summer.

As a left-footed player who prefers to play on the right flank, he is an archetypal modern wide player who can contribute both goals and assists.

Orsolini also has huge potential for improvement, so it is no surprise Sabatini is making it clear he will not be allowed to leave for cheap. 

Miralem Pjanic "seems to be as soft as mozzarella" in Juventus' midfield, according to the Old Lady's former chairman, Giovanni Cobolli Gigli. 

Juve dropped down to second in the Serie A table after Week 23 of the 2019-20 season following their shock 2-1 defeat away at Hellas Verona and Inter Milan's stunning comeback win over AC Milan:

This is the #SerieATIM standings after Matchday 23! #WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/qgEl6kZ2Li

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 9, 2020

They will still fancy themselves to go on and win a ninth consecutive Scudetto this term, however.

But Cobolli Gigli, who was chairman of the Turin giants in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal between 2006 and 2009, has identified Pjanic as a weak link in Maurizio Sarri's side, per Radio Sportiva (h/t Goal):

"The difficulty of the midfield is psychological. Pjanic seems to be as soft as mozzarella. He looks tired, and perhaps in need of a rest. The midfield problem has to be solved."

Pjanic, 29, signed for Juventus in 2016 on the back of a 2015-16 campaign with Roma in which he netted 10 goals and provided 12 assists in 33 Serie A appearances.

Purely on a statistical basis, he has never been able to match those numbers with Juve. In 2019-20, he has three goals and two assists in 21 outings in the Italian top flight, with his last contribution to a goal coming in November's win at Atalanta.

Given that he largely operates in a deep-lying playmaker role, his lack of goals and assists would be acceptable if he was pulling the strings from the middle of the park.

But a passing accuracy of just 75 per cent against Verona, the lowest in Juve's starting XI outside of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, is indicative of a player lacking in confidence:

Sarri does have options in his squad if he wants to give Pjanic some time to rest, but it would mean putting his faith in the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Defeats in Juve's last two away games have seen them dragged back into a fierce title race that also includes Lazio.

They are back in league action at home on Sunday against relegation-battling Brescia, who are without a win in eight games. 

Juventus confirmed Monday that Douglas Costa has been sidelined with a hamstring injury picked up in their 2-1 Serie A defeat at Hellas Verona on Saturday.

The Brazilian was replaced on 72 minutes by Aaron Ramsey during the match at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, and Juventus have now offered an update on his condition: "The diagnostic tests that he underwent this morning revealed a low-grade lesion of the biceps femoris of the left thigh. The timing for complete recovery is around 15-20 days."

The injury means Costa will miss some key games for Maurizio Sarri's side. He will sit out Thursday's Coppa Italia semi-final first leg against AC Milan as well as league matches against Brescia and SPAL.

He also looks set to miss the first leg of Juventus' UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Ligue 1 side Lyon in France on February 26, although he may be back for the top-of-the-table clash with Inter Milan that takes place four days later.

Costa joined Juventus from Bayern Munich in 2017 and has been no stranger to the treatment table in that time. 

Football writer Zach Lowy offered some detail:

Douglas Costa in the past 12 months:

-Misses 62 days with a hamstring injury

-Misses 109 days with a calf injury

-Misses 43 days with a muscle injury

-Misses 19 days with a hamstring injury

And he was force to come off today with a hamstring injury. Such an unlucky player.

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) February 8, 2020

The 29-year-old has made 13 appearances in Serie A for Juve in 2019-20 but only five of those have been as a starter. 

Football writer Carlo Garganese expects Costa to be sold in the summer because of his injury problems:

Costa was linked with a return to former club Bayern in the January transfer window. The Bundesliga giants were keen to bring him in on loan, according to Sport Bild (h/t James Dutton for MailOnline).

The Brazilian's injury is a blow, but Sarri hardly lacks for attacking options with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala all fit and available.