Enrico Passarella, Author at The Cult of Calcio

Fiorentina have received a large offer from Leicester City for Nicolas Gonzalez, who has missed most of the season and the World Cup due to injury.

Leicester City Set Sights on Fiorentina Top Attacker

January 12, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Fiorentina, Italian Football, Leicester, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Fiorentina have received a large offer from Leicester City for Nicolas Gonzalez, who has missed most of the current season and the World Cup due to multiple injuries. He returned and scored a PK in the most recent match versus Sassuolo. The Viola are reportedly thinking about it.

Paolo Maldini announced that Ismael Bennacer will extend his contract very soon and that they are making progress in the negotiation with Rafael Leao.

Maldini Very Optimistic on Bennacer and Leao Renewals

January 12, 2023 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Serie A, Transfer Market

Milan sporting director Paolo Maldini announced that Ismael Bennacer will extend his contract very soon and that they are making progress in the negotiation with Rafael Leao before Wednesday’s stunning loss to Torino in the Coppa Italia Round of 16: "We will not make big investments during the January window."

Inter and Milan are at risk of having to start from scratch in the project to build a new stadium. The process faces opposition from the new government.

Inter and Milan Suffer Setback in New Stadium Project

January 11, 2023 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A

Inter and Milan are at risk of having to start from scratch in the project to build a new stadium. The process has been advancing, but the posture of the new Italian government could soon turn out to be a major obstacle since it doesn't want San Siro to be torn down.

Stephan El Shaarawy has proven to be a valuable contributor this season thanks to his versatility and effectiveness, but his contract is expiring.

El Shaarawy Talks Coppa Italia, Zaniolo, and Mourinho

January 11, 2023 Enrico Passarella Coppa Italia, Italian Football, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023

Stephan El Shaarawy dished on the Coppa Italia, Tammy Abraham, Nicolò Zaniolo, and José Mourinho: “We mustn’t underestimate the Genoa match and this competition. Winning the European Conference League gave us joy and satisfaction. We have to tackle it seriously and aim to go deep.”

Roma have paused their pursuit of Davide Frattesi and other potential additions to focus on the exits, which will be vital for their January budget.

Roma Focusing on Partying Ways with Excess Players

January 11, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, La Liga, Monza, Premier League, Roma, Serie A, Torino, Transfer Market, Valencia

Roma have paused their pursuit of Davide Frattesi and other potential additions to focus on the exits, which will be vital to determining the January budget. Rick Karsdorp and Eldor Shomurodov are on their way out. The Giallorossi prefer outright sales, but they might have to compromise to offload them.

Roberto Mancini recalled his final chat with Gianluca Vialli, with whom he shared time in his playing days at Sampdoria and then on the Azzurri bench.

Mancini Shares Vialli Words During Their Last Meeting

January 11, 2023 Enrico Passarella Italian Football, Italy, Serie A, The Azzurri

Roberto Mancini recalled his final chat with Gianluca Vialli, with whom he shared time in his playing days at Sampdoria and in recent years on the bench of the Italian national team: "He told me that we had to win the 2026 World Cup and that he would be with us."

Milan recently acquired Devis Vasquez from Guaranì and mulled signing one further goalkeeper, but they are likely to stay as is between the sticks.

Milan Change Their Mind on Pursuing Another Goalkeeper

January 11, 2023 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Atalanta, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Milan recently acquired Devis Vasquez from Guaranì and mulled signing one further goalkeeper, but they are likely to stay as is between the sticks. The Rossoneri don’t know when Mike Maignan will be back from his calf injury, as coach Stefano Pioli recently stated. They had inquired about two options.

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta once again addressed Milan Skriniar’s renewal, dismissing the reports indicating that the club aimed to strike the deal quickly.

Marotta Provides Another Skriniar Update, Talks Lukaku

January 11, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Inter CEO Giuseppe Marotta once again addressed Milan Skriniar’s renewal, dismissing the recent reports indicating that the club aimed to get a definitive answer soon: “There’s no deadline whatsoever. These dynamics are frequent in every club, and I would like to avoid keep talking about meetings."

Joao Felix is on the verge of joining Chelsea on loan, but he was offered to a few other sides, including Juventus. The Bianconeri discussed it at length.

Juventus Pondered Move for Chelsea-Bound Joao Felix

January 10, 2023 Enrico Passarella Atletico Madrid, Calciomercato, Chelsea, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Joao Felix is on the verge of joining Chelsea on loan, but he was offered to a few other sides, including Juventus. The Bianconeri discussed it at length despite their challenging financial situation. In the end, they opted against making an offer. The transfer could impact other Serie A-related situations.

Daniele Rugani wouldn’t lack suitors if Juventus made him available, but that probably won’t be the case in January. His agent Davide Torchia took stock.

Juventus Backup Defender Poised to Stay Put in January

January 10, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Transfer Market

Daniele Rugani wouldn’t lack suitors if Juventus made him available, but that probably won’t be the case in January. His agent Davide Torchia took stock: “The club informed us that they are pleased to have him in the squad and that they don’t want to negotiate his sale."

Despite pursuing him for a while, Napoli won’t sign Azzedine Ounahi, as the Moroccan midfielder has officially joined Olympique Marseille.

Napoli Unwilling to Overspend for Leeds-Linked Star

January 10, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Leeds United, Napoli, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Napoli have been tracking Azzedine Ounahi, but the longer it takes, the fewer chances they have to land him. The Partenopei laid eyes on him well before the World Cup. They hoped to secure him for next summer for a low fee, but his strong displays drove up the price tag.

The whole Roma brass flew to London to negotiate with Chelsea, and they’ll return to Italy with Romelu Lukaku after concurring with the Blues.

Inter Second Guessing Lukaku Future over Injury Woes

January 10, 2023 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Chelsea, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Romelu Lukaku is back on the mend with an injury and will miss at least Tuesday’s Coppa Italia fixture between Inter and Parma. The Nerazzurri are hopeful the problem is minor, as he has a sore tendon, but he’ll be re-evaluated at the end of the week.

Author: Enrico Passarella