The Cult of Calcio - Italian Football and Serie A News in English

During the 1997/98 Serie A season, Juventus won at Empoli as the Azzurri were disallowed a goal despite Peruzzi saving the ball past the goal line

Empoli vs Juventus Throwback: The Best “Save” by Angelo Peruzzi

September 14, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

“Gianni Agnelli called me,” goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi recalled in an interview. “He told me that that save from Empoli's Bianconi was the best I had made since joining Juventus.” Only that it was not. The ball had clearly crossed the goal line, but the referee didn't see that, a mistake that took Juve closer to the 1997/98 title. Continue reading

Napoli vs Frosinone Throwback: Higuain’s Season Scoring Record

April 14, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

Records are set to be broken, even the oldest ones. In the last round of the 2015/16 season, Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli delivered a hat-trick to poor Frosinone to bring his seasonal tally to an astonishing 36 goals – one more than Gunnar Nordahl, setting a new record for the most goals scored in a Serie A season. Continue reading

On October 15, 1972, Milan beat Atalanta 9-3 as the match at the San Siro went down in history as the Serie A match with the most goals scored ever

Milan vs Atalanta Throwback: The Match With the Most Goals Ever

February 25, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

People present at the San Siro Stadium on that day claim that the electronic scorecard went in tilt and lost track of the scorers. Others report that the referee Giunti run out of space in his notebook to list them. While such claims may fade into legend, one thing is for sure and it’s the score of the Serie A match with the most goals ever: On October 15, 1972, Milan beat Atalanta 9-3! Continue reading

Roma vs Inter Throwback: Nine-Goal Thriller with Baggio and Ronaldo

February 10, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

What happens when you put against each other a star-studded Roma side, coached by an ultra-offensive manager in the name of Zdenek Zeman, and one of the most impressive Inter lineups ever seen – where Roberto Baggio had just joined the Fenomeno Ronaldo Nazario da Lima? That's easy: You get one of the craziest games in the history of Serie A. Continue reading

The only team capable of temporarily halting the seemingly-unstoppable march of the "Inter dei Record" was a Fiorentina side coached by Sven Goran Eriksson

Fiorentina vs Inter Throwback: The Fall of the “Inter dei Record”

January 27, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

The only team capable of temporarily halting the seemingly-unstoppable march of the "Inter dei Record" was a Fiorentina side powered by a young Roberto Baggio and some unlucky players, Enrico Cucchi and Stefano Borgonovo, who would leave us too soon. It was February 12, 1989, when Fiorentina beat the Inter dei Record 4-3. Continue reading

In the 1954/55 season, Udinese ended second in Serie A, and the game that best sums up their phenomenal run was a 3-2 triumph over Milan

Udinese vs Milan Throwback: Zebrette One Step Away from the Title

January 20, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

In the 1954/55 season, Udinese ended second in the Serie A table despite having narrowly escaped relegation in the previous year, and the game that best summed up their phenomenal run was a 3-2 triumph in a six-pointer against the future Scudetto winners Milan played with one man less. Continue reading

The Dennis Law and Torino transfer was a strange combination. In an era where few Brits moved to Serie A, Law's move was never destined for greatness

Serie A Transfer Market Stories: Denis Didn’t Lay Down the Law in Torino

August 7, 2024 Alex Waite

Although Denis Law's time with Torino was washed with struggles and adaptation issues, his experience was not a complete disaster either. He finished as Il Toro’s top scorer in the 1961/62 campaign and won Best Foreign Player of the Year in Serie A that season. Continue reading

Paul Gascoigne and Lazio's partnership showed plenty of promise. But the unpredictability of the Englishman's form brought a turbulent spell to Rome

Serie A Transfer Market Stories: Gascoigne’s Erratic Spell at Lazio

July 26, 2024 Alex Waite

Paul Gascoigne and Lazio proved to be an interesting experiment. It was a bond that showed glimpses of potential to suit both parties. Although, this potential only surfaced on occasion during a rollercoaster three-year spell in Rome. Continue reading

The Hidetoshi Nakata and Perugia transfer was a step into the unknown for both parties. It was a shock move in 1998 but one that paid off

Serie A Transfer Market Stories: Nakata, a Leap of Faith in Perugia

July 23, 2024 Alex Waite

Hidetoshi Nakata was the player capable of bucking the trend of a few East Asian footballers making it in Europe. His elegant control, expert vision, and ability to dictate the play was a perfect match for the European way of playing football. Continue reading

Sócrates and Fiorentina had the potential to be a match made in heaven. But how did the eccentric Brazilian falter in Florence?

Serie A Tranfer Market Stories: The Socrates Struggles in Florence

December 4, 2023 Alex Waite

Sócrates and Fiorentina was a relationship that made sense on many levels. The iconic Brazilian had a fascination with culture and philosophy off the pitch, which was well-suited to a life in Florence. But on the pitch, things never clicked for the offbeat midfielder. Continue reading

As Dunga and Pisa teamed up in 1987, the two releatively unknown forces had plenty to prove. This is how the Brazilian earned a name for himself in Serie A

Serie A Transfer Market Stories: The Opposing Paths of Dunga and Pisa

August 10, 2023 Alex Waite

The transfer of Brazilian Dunga and Pisa is a tale of a player trying to make his name in Europe alongside a team fighting for a consistent place in Serie A. Dunga’s need for regular first-team football in Europe coincided perfectly with a budding Pisa side in desperate need of expertise. Continue reading

The link-up between Trevor Francis and Sampdoria was perfectly timed. Francis' move helped to propel the Blucerchiati's status in Serie A

Serie A Transfer Market Stories: Trailblazing Trevor Francis at Samp

July 25, 2023 Alex Waite

Before Trevor Francis and Sampdoria linked up in 1982, very few English players had broken into Serie A football. Francis’ move to the Italian top flight marked an unusual occurrence in European football. But, the Englishman was known for breaking new ground throughout his career. Continue reading

Only those old enough to remember Italia 90 can truly understand what Totò Schillaci's eyes wide open as run to celebrate his goal really meant

Serie A Heroes: Totò Schillaci, an Italian Midsummer Night’s Dream

September 18, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

Only those old enough to remember the magic nights of “Italia 90” can truly understand what that gaped mouth, what those eyes wide open in disbelief, meant. Totò Schillaci looked like a boy living his childhood dream as he led Italy’s march towards the World Cup trophy, one goal after another. His underdog story has been an example for a generation of Italians. Continue reading

Gigi Riva, better known as Rombo di Tuono ("Roar of Thunder"), passed away on Monday night in Cagliari, aged 79, due to complications of a stroke

Serie A Heroes: “Roar of Thunder” Gigi Riva, the Pride of Cagliari

January 23, 2024 Matteo Carnevale

Gigi Riva was really a player like we won’t ever see again, if only because he still holds the record for the most goals scored for Italy. But he is also the man who took Cagliari, a quasi-unknown team that was fumbling in Serie B and led them to winning the Scudetto – the first club from the South of Italy to beat the traditional powerhouses from the industrial North! Continue reading

To remember Gianluca Vialli is to talk about a player who was truly out of the box. The word that best sums up his life and career is “unpredictable”

Serie A Heroes: Gianluca Vialli, an Ode to Unpredictability

January 9, 2023 Matteo Carnevale

To remember Gianluca Vialli is to talk about a player who was truly out of the box. Fuori dagli schemi, as we say in Italy. He was not the strongest of his generation, nor the most controversial. But he had a share of talent and rebelliousness big enough to make him a cult figure in the Belpaese of the 1980s. Perhaps the word that best sums up his life and career is “unpredictable”. Continue reading

Serie A Heroes: “Batigol” Batistuta, Firenze’s Legendary Marksman

April 9, 2021 Akhil Fisher

Gabriel Omar Batistuta graced Italian football from 1991 to 2003, becoming a Fiorentina legend and winning a Scudetto with Roma. Tactically gifted, industriously astute and strikingly prolific, Batistuta was a force to be reckoned with when in full flow. A once-in-a-lifetime player who relentlessly terrorized defenses without a second thought. He also remained Argentina's top-scorer until Lionel Messi took over the record. Continue reading

Northern Ireland vs Italy 0-0: Azzurri Forced to Playoff

November 15, 2021 Matteo Carnevale International Football, Italian Football, Italy, Serie A, World Cup 2022, World Cup 2022 Qualifiers

The Azzurri's poorest showing since Roberto Mancini is in charge costed much to Italy, who failed to break the Northern Ireland wall on Monday night and failed to qualify directly to World Cup 2022.

Juventus feared to have lost another midfielder for a few games, but that’s not the case. Weston McKennie got banged up during his time with the USMNT.

Juventus and Milan Avoid More Substantial Injury Woes

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Genoa, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Juventus, Roma, Serie A Leave a comment

Juventus feared to have lost another midfielder for a few games, but that’s not the case. Weston McKennie got banged up during his time with the USMNT, but he’s dealing with simple muscle fatigue. Teun Koopmeiners remains a long-shot.

Valentin Carboni suffering an ACL tear impacts the immediate and future plans of both Olympique Marseille and Inter. He might return early.

Talent Getting Hurt Affects Future Strategy for Inter

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Ligue 1, Marseille, Serie A, Serie A 2024-2025, Transfer Market Leave a comment

Valentin Carboni suffering an ACL tear impacts the immediate and future plans of both Olympique Marseille and Inter. The two sides are discussing an early termination of the loan so he could rehab in Milan. He might have stayed in France permanently.

Mario Balotelli won’t sign for Torino, which will wait until January to replace Duvan Zapata, but is instead close to Genoa.

Genoa in Talks with Balotelli but There’s a Catch

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Genoa, Italian Football, Serie A, Torino, Transfer Market Leave a comment

Mario Balotelli won’t sign for Torino, which will wait until January to replace Duvan Zapata, but is instead close to Genoa. However, the outcome of the negotiation will hinge on the result of their next game due to Gilardino's uncertain future.

Juventus will have to be busier than anticipated in January due to a pair of big injuries, but they won’t have a lot to spend.

Juventus Will Need Creativity to Bolster Team in January

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2024-2025, Transfer Market Leave a comment

Juventus will have to be busier than anticipated in January due to a pair of big injuries, but they won’t have a lot to spend. Despite that, the Bianconeri would like to sign players who will be in for the long haul.

Agent Federico Pastorello will have his hands full in January and next summer as a few of his clients might transfer or need to get their contracts renewed.

Agent Spills the Beans on Meret, Arthur, and Inter Pair

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2024-2025, Transfer Market Leave a comment

Agent Federico Pastorello will have his hands full in January and next summer as a few of his clients might transfer or need to get their contracts renewed. He addressed some of them: “I had some contacts with Napoli concerning Alex Meret’s extension."

Leandro Paredes has been an afterthought at the beginning of the season, and his spell at Roma could end in January, as a move to Boca Juniors is looming.

Roma Veteran Inching Closer to Boca Juniors Comeback

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella Boca Juniors, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2024-2025, Transfer Market Leave a comment

Leandro Paredes has been an afterthought at the beginning of the season, and his spell at Roma could end in January, as a move to Boca Juniors is looming. The midfielder has been vocal about his intention to eventually return.

Paul Pogba played coy and didn’t rule out any possibility in his first interview since the CAS cut down his suspension from 4 years to 18 months.

Pogba Comments on His Future Following Ban Reduction

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, France, Italian Football, Juventus, Ligue 1, Marseille, Serie A, Serie A 2024-2025, Transfer Market Leave a comment

Paul Pogba played coy and didn’t rule out any possibility in his first interview since the CAS cut down his suspension from 4 years to 18 months, which means that he’ll be able to play again in March.

Milan are interested in Franco Mastantuono, who has a host of suitors in Europe, and will try to bring him to Italy until another team lures him away.

Milan After Explosive Starlet Linked to Real Madrid

October 15, 2024 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Calciomercato, Italian Football, La Liga, Real Madrid, River Plate, Serie A, Serie A 2024-2025, Transfer Market One comment

Milan are interested in Franco Mastantuono, who has a host of suitors in Europe, and will try to bring him to Italy until another team lures him away from River Plate. The Rossoneri are trying to move early. The talent will turn 18 in August 2025.

Thiago Motta and Joshua Zirkzee have a special connection, and the boss would be delighted if the striker followed him to Juventus.

Di Canio Urges Juventus to loan Man United Striker, Defends Ex Aston Villa Star

October 15, 2024 Michel Sakr Aston Villa, Italian Football, Juventus, Manchester United, Serie A Leave a comment

Former Italian striker Paolo Di Canio believes Juventus would do well to snap up the services of Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee. The 23-year-old rose to prominence during his time at Bologna, and there were rumors linking him with the Bianconeri last summer, especially following the appointment of his mentor Thiago Motta.

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