Enrico Passarella, Author at The Cult of Calcio

Khephren Thuram is the early leader in the clubhouse to address the Juventus midfield after Paul Pogba tested positive for doping.

Juventus Favor Nice Star to Restock Their Midfield

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Ligue 1, Nice, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024, Transfer Market

Juventus are unlikely to plug their hole in the midfield with a free agent, but the Paul Pogba situation will likely force them to intervene in January, and Khephren Thuram is the early leader in the clubhouse to address the role, as Cristiano Giuntoli tracked him for a few years.

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri showed his appreciation for Cristiano Giuntoli ahead of Saturday’s game against Juventus in Turin.

Sarri Compliments Giuntoli Ahead of Juventus Clash

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella Italian Football, Juventus, Lazio, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024

Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri showed his appreciation for Cristiano Giuntoli ahead of Saturday’s game against Juventus. The two are long-time friends. They first crossed paths 20 years ago when the coach was helming Sansovino and the exec was playing for Sanremese in the amateurs.

Yann Sommer dished on why he pushed to join Inter in the summer even though he would have kept starting for Bayern Munich for a while.

New Starting Shot-Stopper Explains Why He Chose Inter

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella Bayern Munich, Calciomercato, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024, Transfer Market

Yann Sommer dished on why he pushed to join Inter in the summer even though he would have kept starting for Bayern Munich while Manuel Neuer works his way back from injury: "Inter mean tradition, strength, and excellence. I looked at the whole picture."

Gerry Cardinale wishes to replicate the successes of the Silvio Berlusconi era at the helm of Milan and offered a peek behind the curtain at the club.

Milan Owner Eager to Emulate Glory of His Predecessors

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024

Gerry Cardinale wishes to replicate the successes of the Silvio Berlusconi era at the helm of Milan and offered a peek behind the curtain at the club: “Before buying the Rossoneri, we studied 200 European teams in 5 years. We had already defined everything before the Scudetto."

Juventus won’t respond directly to the latest words by Leonardo Bonucci directly, but they made it known that they disagree with his timetable.

Juventus Pick Apart Bonucci Most Recent Recollection

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella Bundesliga, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Transfer Market, Union Berlin

Juventus won’t respond directly to the latest words by Leonardo Bonucci directly, but they made it known that they disagree with the timetable of the events provided by the defender. The management and the player had a formal meeting back in October but didn't modify his contract.

Samir Handanovic has yet to ink the contract that will see him return at Inter in a different role, but he participated in an event hosted by the Curva.

Veteran Goalkeeper Teases Imminent Inter Comeback

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024

Samir Handanovic has yet to ink the contract that will see him return at Inter in a different role, but he participated in an event hosted by the Nerazzurri’s Curva Nord on Thursday night and implied that his comeback is a fait accompli: "Thank you for your affection over the years."

Mario Giuffredi attacked Claudio Lotito and the Lazio hierarchy for their inaction about the extension of Mattia Zaccagni but took it back.

Zaccagni Agent Partially Walks Back Rant Against Lotito

September 15, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024, Transfer Market

Mario Giuffredi attacked Claudio Lotito and the Lazio hierarchy for their inaction about the extension of Mattia Zaccagni. The agent decided to take back part of his fiery tirade: “I’d like to make some clarifications about my interview, which was portrayed in misleading ways."

Radja Nainggolan never hid his affinity for Roma even after leaving and reached out to the team recently to offer his services,

Mercurial Former Star Tries to Arrange Roma Reunion

September 14, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Roma, Serie A, Transfer Market

Radja Nainggolan never hid his affinity for Roma even after leaving and reached out to the team recently to offer his services, as he’s currently out of contract. He’d take a minimum salary, but the Giallorossi didn’t open to such a solution.

Atalanta icon Papu Gomez is set to return back to Serie A with Monza. Gomez recently parted ways with Sevilla in the summer and has been a free agent since.

Weak Free Agent Pool Unlikely to Entice Juventus to Add

September 14, 2023 Enrico Passarella Arsenal, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024, Transfer Market

Juventus have the option of replacing Paul Pogba with a free agent, but the pool isn’t exactly stacked. Udinese just scooped arguably the most interesting one, Roberto Pereyra. There are a few Serie A veterans currently without a team, but they aren't very alluring.

Things are heating up ahead of the weekend, with the capital derby. Sarri had claimed Roma would be playing a ‘friendly’ in their encounter against Praha.

Roma and Mourinho to Decide on Contract Relatively Soon

September 14, 2023 Enrico Passarella Italian Football, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024

José Mourinho started the season as a lame duck, as his contract with Roma runs out in June 2024. He and the club aren’t planning to decide his future only down to the wire. The call will likely come in the next three or four months.

Yunus Musah has played little so far because he joined Milan later relative to other newcomers and due to the level of performance of their midfielders.

Milan Newcomer Tested in New Role By His National Team

September 14, 2023 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2023-2024

Yunus Musah has played little so far because he joined Milan later relative to other newcomers and due to the level of performance of their midfielders so far. He has starred in a host of positions at Valencia before transferring to Italy. A recent one could help him and the Rossoneri.

Leonardo Bonucci is inching closer to his Serie A return, as Roma are advancing in the negotiations to add him from Union Berlin.

Bonucci Attacks Juventus: “They Said False Things”

September 14, 2023 Enrico Passarella Bundesliga, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Union Berlin

Leonardo Bonucci opened up about his messy exit from Juventus, openly criticizing Massimiliano Allegri and the management for how they handled it. He recently sued the team for damages: “I’ve heard and read things that aren’t true from the club and the coach."

Author: Enrico Passarella