Enrico Passarella, Author at The Cult of Calcio

Simone Inzaghi was about to get a contract extension just a couple of weeks ago, but the poor run of form by Inter has cast a shadow on him.

Inter Officially Appoints Simone Inzaghi New Coach After Split with Conte

June 3, 2021 Enrico Passarella Inter Milan, Italian Football, Lazio, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Transfer Market

Simone Inzaghi is officially Antonio Conte’s successor on the Inter bench. The Nerazzurri successfully lured him away from Lazio with a last-ditch attempt after he had initially agreed to stay with the Biancocelesti. He leaves the Italian Capital after 22 years, first as a player, then as a coach. In the meantime, Romelu Lukaku announced that he is going to stay at the club despite the interest from Chelsea and Manchester City.

Sassuolo CEO Provides Update on Future of Locatelli and Raspadori

June 3, 2021 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, Manchester City, Paris Saint Germain, Sassuolo, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Transfer Market

Sassuolo are set to cash in on at least one of their starlets, but it will not be a fire sale. CEO Giovanni Carnevali stated that they would do business only at their conditions. Manuel Locatelli is their most coveted asset, but they will wait before accepting any offer to give him the opportunity to shine in the Euro and thus raise the price tag. Instead, they want to hold onto Giacomo Raspadori, who has received plenty of interest lately.

Jorginho: “We Want to Lift the Spirits of the Italian People in the Euro”

June 3, 2021 Enrico Passarella Chelsea, Euro 2020, Italian Football, Italy, The Azzurri

Chelsea midfielder Jorginho will try to join the elite group of players that won both the Champions League and the Euro in the same summer. He underlined the importance of the tournament for the whole country in an interview: "Italy and its people suffered a lot this year. Sports can provide positive things and big emotions; it would be very nice to do something to lift their spirits.”

Milan Getting Closer to Olivier Giroud, Join Race for Sassuolo Starlet

June 3, 2021 Enrico Passarella AC Milan, Calciomercato, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Sassuolo, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Transfer Market

Olivier Giroud has received multiple intriguing offers, but Milan are the clear frontrunners at this stage. Chelsea proposed a new deal as well, but the striker is keener on moving to another team. The Rossoneri could close the deal in the next few days. They are also considering adding a young striker to their frontline and are interested in Giacomo Raspadori, who is being targeted by multiple sides, including Inter.

Alvaro Morata Looking Forward to Euro 2020, Unsure About Future

June 2, 2021 Enrico Passarella Atletico Madrid, Calciomercato, Euro 2020, Juventus, Spain

Alvaro Morata is set to have a prominent role for Spain in the upcoming Euro, where he will share time with Gerard Moreno as the leading forward. He spoke in an interview: "It is a pride for me to wear the #7 jersey, but also a major responsibility. I have grown up seeing a striker donning this number with the national team, which motivates me a lot." Despite the recent buzz, he is not certain about his future yet.

Tottenham Trying to Reunite High-Profile Italian Duo to Lead the Club

June 2, 2021 Enrico Passarella Inter, Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Tottenham, Transfer Market

Tottenham are in talks with Antonio Conte, who left Inter ten days ago, and former Juventus director Fabio Paratici. The coach is looking for an ambitious project and has been short-listed alongside four of five other candidates. He is the one with the higher requests. The couple spent time together in Turin from 2011 to 2014, winning three domestic titles and two Supercoppa.

Former Azzurri teammates Inzaghi and Pirlo came face-to-face in the Coppa Italia on Monday night, as the former beat the latter by an overwhelming scoreline

Igor Tudor Blasts Juventus for “Unfair” Decision to Fire Andrea Pirlo

June 2, 2021 Enrico Passarella Italian Football, Juventus, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021

Igor Tudor is still bitter about Juventus’ choice to sack Andrea Pirlo and reunite with Massimiliano Allegri. The former defender left his position as gaffer of Hajduk Split to help the rookie coach on the Juventus bench last summer: “It was a tough year, but in the end, we managed to qualify for the Champions League, and we won Coppa Italia. But they still gave us the boot." He is now in the running for the Verona job.

Inter Plot Moves on the Flanks, Still Interested in Chelsea Fullback

June 2, 2021 Enrico Passarella Cagliari, Calciomercato, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Italian Football, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Transfer Market

Emerson Palmieri remains on Inter radar even though his former coach Antonio Conte bolted. The Chelsea man, who has considerably fallen out of favor this year, is the top choice for the left wing for new gaffer Simone Inzaghi as well. The club has reached out to his agents to understand the feasibility and the conditions of the possible deal. They are instead tracking Nahitan Nandez for the other flank.

Notable Cuts and Absentees for Euro 2020 After Squad Confirmations

June 2, 2021 Enrico Passarella Belgium, Croatia, England, Euro 2020, France, Germany, Italian Football, Italy, Poland, Portugal

Every Euro 2020 participant announced their 26-man squads and several well-known players will miss the tournament, either due to injuries or decisions by their coaches. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marc André Ter Stegen, Mason Greenwood, Dominik Szboboszlai and Krzysztof Piatek are hurt. Sergio Ramos, Theo Hernandez, Housseam Aouar, Eduardo Camavinga, Moise Kean and Julian Draxler are among the high-profile exclusions.

Destinies of Ronaldo, Mbappé and Icardi Could Soon Be Intertwined

June 2, 2021 Enrico Passarella Calciomercato, Italian Football, Juventus, PSG, Real Madrid, Serie A, Serie A 2020-2021, Transfer Market

Cristiano Ronaldo could move to PSG as part of an international carousel of strikers, and Juventus could get Mauro Icardi in return. Now that Real Madrid have found their coach, they will do everything in their power to try to sign Kylian Mbappé, who just one year left on his contract. The Juventus star would be his most natural replacement in Paris, likely transferring in a swap with the former Inter striker.

Roberto Mancini Names Final 26-Man Italy Squad for Euro 2020

June 1, 2021 Enrico Passarella Euro 2020, Italian Football, Italy, Serie A, The Azzurri

The Azzurri roster for Euro 2020 is set as Roberto Mancini turned in his selections Tuesday night. Gianluca Mancini, Matteo Pessina and Matteo Politano were the three final cuts, while Giacomo Raspadori re-entered the group after Italy U-21 was eliminated from their European Championship. Kean, Grifo, Castrovilli, Cragno and Ferrari were instead excluded Sunday night.

Updated: Carlo Ancelotti Officially Returns at Real Madrid After Six Years

June 1, 2021 Enrico Passarella everton, Italian Football, PSG, Real Madrid, Serie A, Transfer Market

Real Madrid were surpassed at the last corner by Juventus in the race to appoint Massimiliano Allegri but will still have an Italian coach on the bench. The Merengues successfully managed to free up Carlo Ancelotti from his contract with Everton and gave him a three-year deal. The gaffer led the Galacticos to their historic Décima, their tenth Champions League victory, in 2014.

Author: Enrico Passarella