Enrico Passarella, Author at The Cult of Calcio

Serie A has gotten a sizeable offer from Saudi Arabia to host the Supercoppa for the next six years. The counterpart demanded a format change.

Serie A Receives Large Proposal to Modify Supercoppa

September 19, 2022 Enrico Passarella Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Super Cup

Serie A has gotten a sizeable offer from Saudi Arabia to host the Supercoppa for the next six years. The counterpart demanded a format change to make it to a final four. Inter and Milan will square off in Riyad on January 18th. It will be the third edition in such country.

FIGC is closing in on the appointment of Luciano Spalletti, and more details have emerged about the abrupt separation with Roberto Mancini.

Mancini Explains Italy Squad for Nations League Games

September 19, 2022 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Italian Football, Italy, Napoli, Nations League, PSG, Roma, Serie A

Italy will try to mount a comeback, or least avoid relegation, in the next two Nations League matches against England and Hungary. They are in third place, two points behind the Magyars and one behind Germany. Instead, the Three Lions have picked up just two draws so far.

With Inter set to face Fiorentina Saturday evening, the Nerazzurri midfield-ace Marcelo Brozovic as risk of missing the clash with La Viola.

Clash Between Inter and Roma Loses Pair of Protagonists

September 19, 2022 Enrico Passarella Inter Milan, Italian Football, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023

Inter and Roma won’t have at least a couple of their main characters as they lock horns on October 1st. Marcelo Brozovic is the first Serie A player to earn a suspension for yellow-card accumulation. José Mourinho won’t be on the bench after getting expelled for protesting too vehemently versus Atalanta.

Despite their sides' poor showings to start the season, Massimiliano Allegri and Simone Inzaghi will be at the helm of Juventus and Inter after the break.

Allegri and Inzaghi to Keep Jobs but Face More Pressure

September 19, 2022 Enrico Passarella Inter Milan, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023

Despite their sides' poor showings to start the season, Massimiliano Allegri and Simone Inzaghi will be at the helm of Juventus and Inter after the break. There will be no immediate changes, but the two clubs are starting to entertain such possibility. The respective managements will fully take stock in mid-November.

After seven matchdays, Serie A has an unusual table considering its historical standards since Milan, Inter and Juventus have all dropped points.

Biggest Serie A Clubs Suffer Rare Simultaneous Losses

September 19, 2022 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Atalanta, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Udinese

After seven matchdays, Serie A has an unusual table considering its historical standards. Napoli and Atalanta are tied in first place, closely followed by Udinese and Lazio. The Biancocelesti are on a par with Milan, while title contenders Roma, Inter, and Juventus are on the outside looking in the Champions League zone.

Roberto De Zerbi struck a deal with Brighton, becoming the second Italian coach currently in the Premier League alongside Antonio Conte.

Brighton Officially Announce De Zerbi as New Coach

September 19, 2022 Enrico Passarella Brighton, Italian Football, Premier League, Serie A

Roberto De Zerbi struck a deal with Brighton, becoming the second Italian coach currently in the Premier League alongside Antonio Conte. The Seagulls announced that the former Sassuolo gaffer agreed to a four-year contract. The coach moves to England after his stint in Shakhtar Donets was cut short by the war.

Serie A is well-represented in the 2022 edition of the Golden Boy, which just cut down its list from 80 to 40 candidates.

Juventus and Roma Starlets Make Golden Boy Shortlist

September 16, 2022 Enrico Passarella Atalanta, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Leeds United, Liverpool, PSG, RB Leipzig, Roma, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Tottenham, Udinese

Serie A is well-represented in the 2022 edition of the Golden Boy, which just cut down its list from 80 to 40 candidates. Though, the seven players currently starring in Italy that made it past the penultimate step aren’t among the frontrunners considering the stacked pool.

Dries Mertens joined Galatasaray after a long saga regarding his contract renewal with Napoli, with Juventus also making an offer.

Mertens Agent Recounts Napoli Exit and Juventus Offer

September 16, 2022 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Galatasaray, Italian Football, Juventus, Napoli, Serie A, Transfer Market

Dries Mertens joined Galatasaray after a long saga regarding his contract renewal with Napoli, with Juventus also making an offer to onboard him on a free, although the striker refused for sentimental reasons: "We realized too late that his time with the Azzurri was coming to an end."

On top of searching for reinforcements, the Serie A heavyweights are trying to rid themselves of excess players near the end of the transfer market window.

Milan Miss Out on Final Opportunity to Offload Outcast

September 16, 2022 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Calciomercato, Chelsea, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023, Transfer Market

Milan had hopes to ship Tiemoué Bakayoko off to Greece on their deadline day yesterday. Olympiacos expressed some interest, but the window closed with the parties ultimately unable to strike a deal. The Rossoneri were very willing to let go of him, but the prospective buyers had to come to terms with Chelsea.

The advances from Saudi Arabia haven’t broken through, as Massimiliano Allegri had a meeting with the Juventus hierarchy to discuss the transfer market.

Juventus Executives Continue Backing Allegri amid Woes

September 16, 2022 Enrico Passarella Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023

Despite the recent results, Massimiliano Allegri has the full support of the Juventus brass. Even another dud versus Monza is unlikely to affect their stance. Considering the extra busy schedule in October, there won’t be time for a proper coaching change until the World Cup break.

Hakan Calhanoglu suffered a thigh injury in practice, which will sideline him at least for Sunday’s clash against Udinese, like Romelu Lukaku.

Inter Lose Another Key Starter Due to a Thigh Injury

September 16, 2022 Enrico Passarella Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023

Hakan Calhanoglu suffered a thigh injury in practice, which will sideline him at least for Sunday’s clash against Udinese, like Romelu Lukaku. Considering the timing, he’s not certain to shake it during the international break. Inter will face Roma once Serie A reprises at the beginning of October.

Maurizio Sarri is sure to stay put for seasons to come after he expressed his love for Lazio, revealing that the club has ‘invaded’ his life.

Sarri Threatens to Quit Lazio after Midtjylland Romp

September 16, 2022 Enrico Passarella Europa League, Italian Football, Lazio, Serie A, Serie A 2022-2023

Lazio suffered an inexplicable 1-5 loss at the hands of Midtjylland Thursday, offering very little resistance as the Danish side created chances at will. Coach Maurizio Sarri was very bitter while analyzing the match: "Sometimes we have these sudden emotional collapses. It’s hard to understand why it happens."

Author: Enrico Passarella