Serie A

Romelu Lukaku took a dig at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after Inter Milan beat AC Milan 4-2 on Sunday, declaring "there's a new king in town."

According to Dominic Booth of the Manchester Evening News, Lukaku posted the quote on social media. Ibrahimovic and Milan had previously stated the Swede's recent signing marked the "return of the king" after the striker began his second spell with the Rossoneri.

Lukaku found the back of the net in the third minute of stoppage time to seal victory at the San Siro. Ibrahimovic had scored earlier to make it 2-0 to Milan at half-time, but Antonio Conte's title challengers reversed their fortunes in the second half.

The Nerazzurri sit top of Serie A after claiming the three points against their local rivals. Juventus slipped to a shock 2-1 loss at Verona on Saturday, allowing Inter the chance to climb to the summit.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia (h/t Booth), Lukaku explained how he and his team-mates took over the derby after falling behind:

"We did really well during the second half. They played well during the first half, as we left them too much space and we struggled.

"However, we came out well after the interval. We completed the comeback and we're delighted with the win.

"I think that everyone has seen this team's mentality, we never give up and we're always looking to win."

Milan remain mired in mid-table after suffering their ninth league defeat of the season, but Stefano Pioli's side are only two points outside of the European qualification spots. Ibrahimovic's return for Milan has provided them with a shot in the arm, with the Swedish icon scoring twice in five Serie A appearances since arriving back in Italian football.

However, Inter hold the bragging rights, and Conte's revolution has seen the Nerazzurri become champions Juventus' biggest threat.

Lukaku has 17 goals in 23 Serie A appearances since his transfer from Manchester United last summer, and Conte will believe his side have the firepower to win their first league title since 2009-10.

Ashley Young has described Inter Milan's derby triumph over rivals AC Milan on Sunday as an "unbelievable experience" after his side moved back to the top of the Serie A standings.

The Nerazzurri went in 2-0 down at half-time in the derby clash but raged back in the second half to win 4-2, with former Manchester United striker Lukaku rounding off their revival in injury time.

Young told TalkSport presenter Jim White: "I think it was an incredible feeling. You could see the way we celebrated after the game showed the character and strength we've got. To go 2-0 down in a derby like that then come back and win, that shows our character. It was an unbelievable experience."

Not even a month has passed since Young left Manchester United to join Inter on a six-month contract (with the option of another year), and it's immediately clear his title prospects look more hopeful in Milan.

Young agreed the derby win was among the best moments in his career to date, adding: "It definitely is [up there]. I came here to play football and win games, and when you come and win in the Milan derby in the way we did, it's just an incredible feeling. I don't think it gets any better than that."

Inter's victory was made all the sweeter by the fact Antonio Conte's side had to respond in the face of such adversity following a poor first half, and Young's celebrations carried on to social media:

Ante Rebic and Zlatan Ibrahimovic each scored for the Rossoneri to put them on course for what seemed like an almost routine win. Marcelo Brozovic and Matias Vecino scored within three minutes of one another to draw level before Stefan de Vrij stooped to head Inter in front on the 70-minute mark.

Young's previous club, United, are in the midst of their first midseason break but are set to resume the Premier League campaign away to Chelsea on Monday, February 17.

The Red Devils are eighth in the standings, six points outside the top four and 38 points off the pace being set by leaders Liverpool, who have more than doubled United's points tally after 25 games.

Conte recruited heavily from England in January by also signing Christian Eriksen from Tottenham Hotspur and Victor Moses on loan from Chelsea. Young's former United team-mates Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez (on loan at Inter) moved to the San Siro last summer.

Si Lloyd of JOE.co.uk praised former Chelsea chief Conte for the job he's done squeezing the most out of assets who otherwise seemed past their primes:

Fox Sports presenter Daniel Garb saw Young's transition into a successful project as more of an indictment of United:

The 34-year-old was considered dead weight by many at Old Trafford, but Young's move to Italy may prove more rejuvenating than many might have expected following three straight 90-minute outings in Serie A.

His next challenge will be to extend Inter's three-win streak at home to Napoli on Saturday in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte "becomes a devil" if his side loses a match, but he can make players "play better than you think you can," according to Andrea Pirlo.

Conte took over as Inter manager in the summer and has masterminded their first genuine Serie A title challenge in almost a decade in 2019-20.

The Nerazzurri finished fourth in the Italian top flight last term, 21 points behind champions Juventus.

If they beat AC Milan on Sunday, they will go back to the top of the table with 15 games of the season remaining.

Pirlo, who played under Conte at Juve between 2011 and 2014, said he is not surprised by the impact Conte has had at the San Siro, per Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Sam France of Goal):

"[I am] not at all [surprised], because I know him too well. I knew Inter would be at this level, fighting for the league title until the end. He always leads you to give your best, to play better than you think you can. He is addicted to winning, if he loses you can't talk to him. He becomes a devil."

Inter last won the Scudetto in 2009-10 at the end of a run of five consecutive titles.

Juve are on an eight-season winning run at the moment, but they have both Inter and Lazio challenging them this season.

The Old Lady's campaign for a ninth consecutive league triumph has stuttered in recent weeks.

First they lost away to Napoli on January 26, and then they were shocked by Hellas Verona on Saturday.

In Cristiano Ronaldo, though, they have one of the most in-form strikers in Europe, and Inter need to ensure they take advantage of Juve's slight blip as it is unlikely to last much longer:

Next up for Juve in the league is a home clash with relegation-battling Brescia, which is likely to return them three points.

Inter, meanwhile, visit Lazio next in the league. The Rome club last lost a Serie A game when they visited Inter on September 25, a run of 18 games unbeaten that has propelled them into title contention. 

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has said the team made "soft errors" in their surprise 2-1 loss to Hellas Verona on Saturday. 

The Bianconeri opened the scoring through Cristiano Ronaldo in the second period and appeared on course for a routine victory in Serie A. However, the home side rallied, with goals from Fabio Borini and Giampaolo Pazzini handing Verona a memorable win.

Afterward, Sarri said he was unhappy with various facets of his team's play, noting the lack of focus from his players at critical points and the difference between the home and away form of the team, per Football Italia:

"Evidently we have different performances and results when comparing home form to away. It was a difficult game, we knew it would be and that Verona would make us suffer early on.

"We held out well, hit the woodwork twice, took the lead, but cannot drop points with such soft errors. The first goal was inexplicable, if we want Juventus to win games, we cannot keep making errors caused by a superficial attitude."

"... The mind is the most important thing, because if that is detached then you won't be on the mark tactically. If your mind is also not at 100 per cent, then the physique won't follow."

Ronaldo did brilliantly to give Juventus the lead, leading a counter-attack and finishing with precision:

However, Juventus allowed the home side to get back into the game and Pazzini was able to convert the winner from the spot with four minutes left on the clock:

The defeat for the defending champions keeps the fight for this season's Scudetto fascinating, with Juventus under pressure from Inter Milan and Lazio.

Inter can go level on points with Sarri's side with a win over their local rivals AC Milan on Sunday, while Lazio can close to within a point of the leaders if they win at Parma on the same day.

Sarri's frustration with his players is understandable, as they made some basic mistakes after taking the lead. Miralem Pjanic lost possession cheaply for Verona's equaliser, while Leonardo Bonucci handled in the area to concede the penalty.

Juventus' longstanding dominance of Serie A now appears to be under serious threat. EiF Soccer said the team has performed poorly for long spells of the season:

Broadcaster Mina Rzouki said important lessons should be taken from the defeat:

Following their late collapse at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Juventus will now have to watch on nervously as Inter and Lazio seek to close the gap.

For Sarri and his team, the big challenges keep on coming, as they are in action on Thursday at the San Siro against AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final. That encounter would be an ideal time for the Bianconeri to start improving their form away from Turin.

Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici said on Saturday that the Italian champions have begun talks with forward Paulo Dybala over a new contract. 

Paratici told DAZN (h/t Football Italia) that the club spoke with the Argentina international in January and agreed to continue negotiations later in 2020:

"He is a fundamental player, the Juventus Number 10, we know what he represents for us and his value. We've already had some initial discussions before January, agreed to talk further nearer to the end of the season, but having said that, we have a large squad with a great deal of competition for places."

Dybala's current deal with the Turin giants expires in June 2022. He told Sid Lowe at the Guardian that he "was close to leaving" Juve in summer 2019 after receiving approaches from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur:

The 26-year-old ended up staying in Turin and has enjoyed a strong season under new manager Maurizio Sarri. He has 11 goals in 28 appearances for the club, his most recent goals coming in a 4-0 win over Udinese:

Dybala's form has prompted speculation Juventus will look to secure his long-term future with a new and improved contract.

Tuttosport (h/t Nathan Salt for MailOnline) have reported that Juve have offered Dybala a new five-year deal and are willing to meet his wage demands of €10 million (£8.5 million) per season.

Dybala certainly seems to be enjoying life under Sarri after struggling for form under previous manager Massimiliano Allegri. He told El Pais (h/t Football Italia) that "it's more fun" to play under Sarri and that he now feels "like an important player."

Sarri has started Dybala on the bench for games against Fiorentina and Hellas Verona but has still made it clear how highly he rates the forward. He told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) that "leaving Paulo Dybala out is practically blasphemy" but explained he can not play all his attackers at once.

Italian football writer Carlo Garganese highlighted Dybala's importance to Juve:

Dybala has looked back to his best under Sarri this season and at 26 still has plenty left to offer the club. It's no surprise to hear Juve are looking to secure his long-term future, particularly given the interest in his services from Premier League clubs last summer.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the 10th consecutive Serie A game for Juventus on Saturday but could not prevent the Italian champions from slipping to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Hellas Verona.

An eventful first half saw the visitors twice denied by the woodwork; Douglas Costa had a fierce shot tipped onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Marco Silvestri, and Ronaldo curled an effort against the post.

Verona were threatening, though, and they had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR when Miguel Veloso's free-kick was headed past Wojciech Szczesny by Marash Kumbulla.

Ronaldo struck the opening goal on 65 minutes. The Portugal international swapped passes with Rodrigo Bentancur and managed to fend off Amir Rrahmani before firing a low shot past Silvestri.

Yet Verona hit back with two goals in 10 minutes to snatch all three points. Fabio Borini took advantage of some poor defending to curl the equaliser before Giampaolo Pazzini won it from the penalty spot after a handball by Leonardo Bonucci.

Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri kept faith with the same team that beat Fiorentina 3-0 last time out in Serie A, meaning Paulo Dybala was again on the bench. Verona made just one change for the visit of the champions, bringing in Sofyan Amrabat for Valerio Verre.

Verona enjoyed a bright first half and caused the visitors problems. A full-stretch Szczesny tipped an effort from Davide Faraoni over the crossbar after just 10 minutes (UK video only):

Verona almost scored from the resulting corner when Matteo Pessina's volley hit an unmarked Amir Rrahmani at the far post and bounced just wide.

The hosts thought they had scored when Kumbulla's header beat Szczesny on 24 minutes. The Juve goalkeeper managed to parry the effort but could not prevent it from rolling into the back of the net.

However, the goalkeeper was granted a reprieve when the VAR check decided that Kumbulla had been just offside when Veloso played the ball into the box from a free-kick.

Juventus grew into the game and had plenty of chances to break the deadlock. Gonzalo Higuain saw an effort blocked in the opening minutes, while Costa's effort was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Silvestri.

Ronaldo was also denied by the woodwork after cutting in from the left and firing across Silvestri and onto the post 10 minutes before half-time. The Portugal international also headed another effort off-target as the visitors ended the opening 45 minutes on top.

Sarri sent on Dybala for Higuain just before the hour in search of a goal, and the visitors looked more of a threat with the lively Argentina international on the pitch.

The opening goal eventually came through a record-breaking strike from Ronaldo. The forward ran from the halfway line and slotted home to earn a new club record of scoring in 10 consecutive Serie A games:

Verona hit back 10 minutes later through Borini's second league goal of the season, though. A poor touch from Miralem Pjanic gifted the striker possession inside the penalty area, and he curled a brilliant finish past Szczesny for the equaliser.

The hosts then went ahead from the penalty spot after Bonucci was penalised for handball by VAR when trying to head clear from a corner.

Pazzini kept his composure to fire his penalty past Szczesny and claim a famous win for Ivan Juric's side while condemning Juve to a third defeat in their last five Serie A away matches (UK video only):

The result means Sarri's men miss the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points and offers Inter Milan the chance to move level on points at the top of the table if they beat AC Milan on Sunday.

What's Next?

Juventus play AC Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Thursday at the San Siro. Verona return to action on Sunday against Udinese in Serie A.

The agent of Chelsea's Jorginho has doubled down on his stance that the midfielder might leave Stamford Bridge this summer, saying "anything could happen" in regard to a transfer to Juventus.

The 28-year-old previously played under coach Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea and Napoli, and the tactician's move to Juve in 2019 has led to speculation of another reunion, this time in Turin.

Jorginho's representative, Joao Santos, told TuttoJuve.com (h/t Football Italia) they are ready to consider their options "from Italy, France and England," singling out Juventus as a desirable destination:

"Anything can happen in the transfer market. I said 'why not?' to Juventus because Jorginho has a three-year contract with Chelsea, so the priority is clearly to remain there, but we could also evaluate leaving the club in July.

"In that case, if this were to happen, we'd be ready to consider the various proposals that will arrive from Italy, France and England.

"Why shouldn't it be possible to join Juventus? They are the most important club in Italy, the one that has won the most in recent years. We wouldn't say no to the Bianconeri."

Santos spoke to TuttoMercatoWeb (h/t Football Italia) earlier in February and indicated Jorginho is ready to listen to offers, though his praise for the Bianconeri appeared clearer on this occasion.

Sarri was key to Jorginho's development at the Stadio San Paolo and gifted the player a more prominent place than his predecessor and the manager who signed him, Rafa Benitez.

Juventus signed central midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot on free transfers last summer following their respective exits from Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. Their midfield already looks somewhat crowded with Miralem Pjanic, Rodrigo Bentancur, Blaise Matuidi and Sami Khedira also among his selection.

Emre Can could free up space should he join Borussia Dortmund on a permanent deal in the summer after he agreed a loan move to the German giants.

Jorginho joined Chelsea in July 2018 for £50 million, although some might argue the Italy metronome hasn't justified such a hefty expense after almost two years in west London.

His signing was considered critical by Sarri soon after his move to Chelsea, who beat Arsenal to lift the UEFA Europa League title in Jorginho's first (and the manager's only) season with the Blues.

Frank Lampard's midfield makeup has been a hot topic of debate this season, with N'Golo Kante playing in a less familiar role while the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley have contested for starts.

Jorginho has at the very least received plaudits for his quirky-but-effective penalty technique:

Both Juventus and Chelsea will feature in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 this term—against Lyon and Bayern Munich, respectively—but there's little doubting the Bianconeri's immediate prospects look brighter.

The opportunity to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. as perennial major trophy contenders is an obvious allure, although Jorginho appears open to considering his options across Europe's top divisions.

Former Inter Milan and Chile star Ivan Zamorano believes Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal will join the Nerazzurri in the summer, and he hopes compatriot Alexis Sanchez will stay in the Italian fashion capital as well. 

The Chilean told Radio Cooperativa (h/t Football Italia) he has "privileged information" regarding Vidal's switch to Inter:

"The most important thing is that Alexis enjoy his football, because when he was finding form, he got injured. He didn't play much at Manchester and that meant he arrived not fully fit.

"I would like Sanchez to remain in Milan, especially as in June he'll get the chance to play alongside another Chilean, who will very probably come to the club.

"Let's just say I am optimistic we'll see two Chileans at Inter next season and I have some privileged information on that score. We all know what Vidal means for Antonio Conte and I am sure in June the club will intensify its efforts to sign him from Barcelona. Inter fans would be very happy to have Arturo."

The former Juventus man was strongly linked with the Nerazzurri in the January transfer window, and according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Italia), the Catalans even accused him of trying to force a transfer by bringing a lawsuit against his current club.

A move never materialised, and Vidal has remained a regular part of the rotation at the Camp Nou, seeing playing time in five matches in January.

The 32-year-old played some of the best football of his career under Antonio Conte at Juventus. The Italian is now the coach at Inter, explaining why both parties were reportedly interested in a reunion. The Nerazzurri were desperate for midseason reinforcements to help their first Serie A title push in years.

Inter invested heavily in the summer as well, signing Romelu Lukaku and taking a chance on team-mate and United flop Sanchez. The winger returned to Italy on loan, but injuries have sidelined him for large stretches of the 2019-20 season.

His only Serie A goal came in the 3-1 win over Sampdoria, where he also saw his first red card of the season:

Sanchez's poor form so far makes it unlikely Inter will try to sign him on a permanent deal once the loan expires. Per the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano and Marcus Christenson, there was no option included in the deal.

Zamorano spent half a decade at Inter, winning the UEFA Cup in 1998. He finished his career back in Chile with Colo-Colo and also had stints in Spain with Real Madrid and Sevilla.

Cristiano Ronaldo has said he believed he would be a "fisherman in Madeira" when he turned 35, rather than the footballer he became. 

The Juventus forward celebrated his birthday on Wednesday, and the Portugal international told Canal 11 (h/t Peter Hanson of Goal) he didn't believe he would experience the illustrious career he's had.

"At 35? I thought I was going to be a fisherman in Madeira," Ronaldo said. "This never came into my mind. I wanted to be a professional footballer, but I didn't think I was going to win everything I've won."

Ronaldo made his debut in 2002 for Sporting CP before joining Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United the following year.

Six years at Old Trafford saw Ronaldo become a global superstar, with United winning three Premier League titles, two EFL Cups, one FA Cup and the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League.

Ronaldo was also named the 2008 Ballon d'Or winner before joining Real Madrid for a world-record fee in 2009.

More success was to follow, with four Champions League crowns for Ronaldo in Spain, and two La Liga title victories. Ronaldo collected four more Ballon d'Or awards during this incredible period.

International success with his country also blossomed when Portugal won Euro 2016 and last season's inaugural UEFA Nations League. 

Ronaldo added he believes he can win Europe's biggest club trophy for a sixth time after his 2018 transfer to Juve.

"To play at Juventus gives me the chance to win it again," Ronaldo said. "We know it's difficult, it depends on many factors, but it's possible because we have a good team. We must take one step at a time going forward."

The Portuguese won Serie A at his first attempt last term, scoring 21 goals and providing eight assists in 31 league appearances.

Despite his age, Ronaldo continues to be a huge individual force in world football, and the forward has scored 19 goals in 19 Serie A starts this season—with Juve once again on top of the table.

Juventus centre-back Matthijs De Ligt has been compared to a Rembrandt painting by his agent Mino Raiola. 

The Dutchman is in his debut season at Juve after his summer move from Ajax for £67.5 million.

Still only 20, De Ligt took a few months to settle in Turin, but he has been excellent recently and was on the scoresheet in Juve's 3-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday that kept them at the top of Serie A:

After Matchday 22 here's how the #SerieATIM standings looks like! ⁰#WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/nGvDPJaCTB

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) February 3, 2020

As far as Raiola is concerned, De Ligt is worthy of comparison to a masterpiece by his compatriot Rembrandt, while the Italian-born agent also provided an artistic equivalent for one of his other clients, Paul Pogba, per Belgian outlet Sport Voetbal Magazine (h/t Football Italia):

"Paul Pogba is like a Basquiat painting. Jean-Michel Basquiat was an expressive artist, a little rebellious, just like Paul.

"As for De Ligt, he is like a Rembrandt and is proving that with his latest performances. He is becoming [Rembrandt's most famous painting] The Night Watch before my very eyes.

"I heard reports he was struggling with Juventus, but I see Matthijs only growing. It's his first time at a foreign club, with a different culture, while he had only been accustomed to Ajax. De Ligt is like an oil tanker, you can't expect him to just suddenly change career direction in an instant. He is progressing constantly and, once he decides his destination, there is no stopping him."

De Ligt became a world star last season when, as Ajax captain, he led the Dutch club to a domestic double and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.

His rise to prominence led to an inevitable increase in scrutiny, and his early performances for Juve received plenty of criticism:

Competition for his place duly emerged in the shape of Merih Demiral, who then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

De Ligt and the 21-year-old Turkey international look to be the future of Juventus' defence given Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are both now in their 30s:

De Ligt's youth is often forgotten because of his immense maturity on the pitch and the fact he was given a leadership role at Ajax when he was still a teenager.

But centre-backs typically do not hit their prime until their late 20s, an exciting prospect for Juve given how consistent the Netherlands international already is.

De Ligt could potentially have won league titles in two different countries before he is 21, and Juve are also among the favourites to go all the way in the Champions League this term.

They face Lyon in the first leg of their last-16 tie on February 26.