Sassuolo have officially been relegated to Serie B after 11 consecutive years in the top flight.

The Neroverdi are the second Serie A side to have their relegation confirmed in 2023-24, after Salernitana met their fate at the back end of April, with four games left to go.

One more position in the bottom three remains open heading into the final day of the 2023-24 campaign next weekend, with four other teams still at risk of being relegated.

The 2-0 home defeat to Cagliari ultimately sealed their fate, along with this afternoon’s results, as Frosinone won, while Empoli and Udinese drew 1-1.

They had been in the top flight consistently since earning their first ever promotion to Serie A in 2013.

Sassuolo relegated to Serie B

It has been an unexpectedly difficult season for Sassuolo this time out in Serie A.

Coach Alessio Dionisi, who had guided the team to 11th and 13th placed finishes in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively, was given his marching orders in February.

Davide Ballardini was called in to replace him, but he has not been able to steer the ship away from danger, and now has two consecutive relegations on his CV after his brief spell with Cremonese in 2023.

Sassuolo also lost a key player in Davide Frattesi, who moved to Inter during the summer transfer window last year.

Star man Domenico Berardi has been unavailable through two serious injuries, which kept him out of action for practically all of the second half of the season.

Now, with just 30 points from 37 matches, the Neroverdi will have to battle it out in Serie B in 2024-25.

The festivities are soon to begin for Bologna, after they secured qualification to the Champions League last weekend, for the first time since their appearance in the preliminary round in 1964, and now the club are planning for a few celebrations to recognise this season’s accomplishments.

Bologna confirmed on Sunday that they will stage an open-top bus parade through the city, beginning from the square outside the Dall’Ara’s Curva Bulgarelli, leading to the Piazza Maggiore, where thousands of supporters are expected to be waiting in order to congratulate the team.

The parade will also take the team past several iconic spots in the city of Bologna, including the Piazza Malpighi and through Via Indipendenza.

The club, with an official statement, have urged supporters who live or work along the route to decorate their homes and/or businesses in Bologna colours.

The events are due to take place on Wednesday 22 May, beginning at 18.30 BST, 19.30 local time.

What Bologna need to confirm third place in Serie A

On the pitch, The Rossoblu are due to face Juventus in Serie A on Monday night, which will likely determine the final ranking of the two teams in question, who are currently level on points in third and fourth place, with 67 apiece.

A win for Bologna against Juve will secure third place in the league, while a draw means that the teams will still be level on points, and on head-to-head given their 1-1 draw earlier in the season. If the latter scenario is the case, the final standings will be determined on the final day of the season next weekend.

In contrast, a loss against Juventus will mean that the Old Lady will confirm their spot in third place at full-time on Sunday.

Despite being crowned as Serie A champions for 2023-24, uncertain times lie ahead for Inter, as club President Steven Zhang and holding company Suning’s €395m loan must be repaid by the end of Monday. If they fail to come good, the club will be repossessed and a new management team could come into effect in San Siro.

US fund Oaktree Capital provided a €275m loan with a 12% interest rate back in 2021, which must be repaid in full on May 20, 2024. If the loan is not repaid, Oaktree will assume control, as the club was effectively used as collateral at the time of the original agreement.

However, Oaktree reportedly have no interest in running and operating a football club. If the loan is not repaid, they will look to sell Inter as swiftly as possible. Recent reports suggest they may even have a buyer lined up already.

Who will run Inter day-to-day

Oaktree have promised to keep the same management in place if they do assume control of the club next week according to reports from TMW on Sunday morning.

However, the new shareholders after that will have to confirm their own board of directors, and importantly, appoint a new President to replace Zhang.

Though recent reports suggest that Oaktree’s potential repossession of Inter will not have an impact on the agreement of new contracts or transfer deals, there is expected to be a period of around 20 days where that type of business is put on hold, until a new, longer-term owner is put in place.

Midway through the penultimate round of Serie A fixtures for 2023-24, six teams still run the risk of being relegated to the second division, including Sassuolo, Empoli, Frosinone, Cagliari, Udinese and Hellas Verona.

Five of those teams are in action on Sunday, while Verona are due to play already-relegated Salernitana at 17.45 BST on Monday evening.

Excitingly, four of the teams at risk of relegation will play each other directly on Sunday, as Sassuolo host Cagliari at 11.30, with Udinese-Empoli following at 14.00.

It’s important to remember that if teams in 17th and 18th finish level on points, head-to-head and goal difference becomes irrelevant. The teams will instead contest a relegation play-off, as happened with Verona and Spezia in 2022-23.

This year onwards, though, the play-off will take place over two legs, rather than a one-off 90 minute match.

Here’s what the teams all need to avoid the drop to Serie B …

What Sassuolo need to stay in Serie A

As the lowest-ranked team who are still in with a shout of survival, Sassuolo certainly have their work cut out for them. They have 29 points with two games remaining and currently sit three points from safety.

They could technically be relegated by the end of Sunday. That would happen if Sassuolo lose or draw against Cagliari, and if Udinese (15th place) pick up at least one point against Empoli, and if Frosinone (17th) beat Monza.

If Sassuolo beat Cagliari, they can not be relegated on Sunday, and the standing will depend on results on the final day, next weekend.

What Empoli need

From 18th place upwards, it becomes more open as no other team can be mathematically relegated on Sunday. A win for Empoli against Udinese at 14.00 will massively boost their survival hopes, and will lift them out of the bottom three and likely drop Udinese into the relegation zone in their place, depending on the result in Monza-Frosinone.

What Frosinone need

As Frosinone sit level on points with Empoli in Serie A, it’s effectively the exact same situation as before. They will not be relegated, and can not confirm safety on Sunday either way, but a win against Monza will be massively valuable. Their final position will come down to the final day.

What Cagliari need

It’s a much clearer picture for Cagliari. A win today against Sassuolo will mathematically confirm Serie A safety.

A Cagliari will send them up to 36 points, which, in turn will relegate Sassuolo. Sky Sport Italia confirm that a win in either of their final two matches will be enough to keep Cagliari up.

What Udinese need

Similarly to Cagliari, a win against Empoli on Sunday will confirm Serie A safety for Udinese. A draw or loss means that it will come down to the final day, when they play Frosinone.

What Verona need

Verona need two points from their final two games of the season to avoid relegation. In fact, as they play on Monday, they could be confirmed as safe by the end of Sunday without having to play themselves, depending on results elsewhere.

A win against already-relegated Salernitana on Monday will mathematically confirm Serie A safety regardless of other results, but a single point may also be enough to do it depending on Sunday’s matches.

Two Premier League sides have reportedly sent scouts to watch Manchester United’s on-loan Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat with a view to making an investment this summer according to updates on Sunday morning.

Amrabat to stay in England?

Two London sides in Crystal Palace and Fulham have sent members of their team to watch the Morocco international in recent weeks according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, reporting from sources in the UK.

It has been an underwhelming maiden campaign in the Premier League for Amrabat, who introduced himself on the global stage with a run to the World Cup semi-final with Morocco in Qatar in 2022.

He has picked up 20 top flight appearances in the UK, but only nine of those have come as a starter, and several of those were out-of-position at left-back.

United picked Amrabat up on loan with an option to buy, eventually costing them a reported €10m for the season, with a possibility to pay €20m plus an extra €5m in bonuses to secure his services permanently. United will not activate their buy option.

The 27-year-old has little over a year remaining on his contract with Fiorentina, but it is understood that his time in Tuscany has likely already come to an end. La Viola will almost certainly look to move him on in the summer according to recent updates.

La Gazzetta feel that remaining in England is a strong possibility, and that a move ot the capital, to either Crystal Palace or Fulham, could be on the cards.

Atalanta were given a hero’s welcome upon their return to the team hotel after securing their return to Champions League football with a 2-0 win away to Lecce in Serie A on Saturday evening.

Though the team returned to their accommodation in the early hours of the morning, there were hundreds of supporters waiting to welcome them back with songs, flares and fireworks going off long into the night.

It will be the first appearance in the Champions League in three years for La Dea, who were eliminated before the knock-out rounds in 2021-22, finishing third in a group containing Manchester United, Villarreal and BSC Young Boys.

In fact, it will be only the fourth time ever that Atalanta have appeared in the Champions League. All three previous outings have come under Gian Piero Gasperini between 2019 and 2021.

#Atalanta | Nonostante la pioggia battente (che a una certa ha dato anche tregua), un centinaio di tifosi hanno atteso la squadra a Zingonia con tanto di fuochi d’artificio per festeggiare il ritorno in #UCL … e caricare il gruppo verso Dublino pic.twitter.com/d04tlvoDYH

— Giorgio Dusi (@Gio_Dusi) May 19, 2024

#Atalanta | Nonostante la pioggia battente (che a una certa ha dato anche tregua), un centinaio di tifosi hanno atteso la squadra a Zingonia con tanto di fuochi d’artificio per festeggiare il ritorno in #UCL … e caricare il gruppo verso Dublino pic.twitter.com/d04tlvoDYH

— Giorgio Dusi (@Gio_Dusi) May 19, 2024

Juventus’ recent dismissal of head coach Massimiliano Allegri could potentially end in a court case according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport on Sunday morning.

Allegri was officially sacked on Friday, in the aftermath of Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final, where, despite Juventus lifting the trophy, the coach erupted on the touchline, before making a series of alleged personal threats to Tuttosport editor Guido Vaciago.

Do Juventus owe Allegri €7m?

La Gazzetta report that Juventus consider themselves negatively impacted by Friday’s sacking, and that they have been evaluating the possibility of dismissal for just cause.

If that is the case, then Juventus could get away with not having to pay the remaining €7m on Allegri’s contract, which had been due to expire in the summer of 2025.

According to Sunday’s report, the former Bianconeri coach is yet to decide which next steps to take. If just cause is found, he could still appeal. He will have five days from the time of his dismissal to respond to the disciplinary issues he was presented with by CEO Maurizio Scanavino on behalf of the club’s lawyers at the time.

If Juventus are found not to have had just cause, or if they do and Allegri successfully appeals, the coach will be entitled to the €7m he is owed from the remaining year on his contract in full, plus potential compensation for damages to reputation.

Juventus have officially confirmed the appointment of Paolo Montero as interim head coach, following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri on Friday in the aftermath of Wednesday’s fiery Coppa Italia final.

Allegri had his second Juventus tenure cut short after erupting on the touchline against Atalanta, before making a series of alleged threats to the editor of newspaper Tuttosport in the Stadio Olimpico tunnel.

His contract had been due to expire in the summer of 2025, although many believed that the Bianconeri were set to end the partnership one year ahead of schedule anyway.

It became evident later on Friday that Montero would be the man to guide Juventus in their final two games of the Serie A season, against high-flying Bologna on Monday and at home then against Monza in the final round of 2023-24 fixtures.

Montero is also the head coach of Juventus’ U19 squad. He also has 278 appearances for the Old Lady, including 186 in Serie A, having played as a defender in Turin between 1996 and 2005.

He has had to wait for his official announcement, as he had to sit out a one-game touchline ban during the U19’s league match against Frosinone on Saturday.

He is, of course, still eligible to lead the team for Monday’s match against Bologna, which could determine the ranking of the Serie A top four.

Juventus statement

“Paolo Montero will take the reins of the Men’s First Team for the final two games of the Serie A season, which come away at Bologna and then at home to Monza.

“Currently coach of our Under-19s team, who finished their season on Saturday, 18 May, Montero will take the step up to the First Team for what remains of the current campaign. He will take his first session with the squad on Sunday, before facing Bologna at 20:45 CEST on Monday evening at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.

“He will then lead the Bianconeri for the season finale against Monza at the Allianz Stadium.

“Paolo is a Juventus legend, firstly on the pitch, and someone who has long been a bearer of the Club’s DNA on the bench.

“Best of luck, Paolo!”

Paolo Montero takes charge of the Men's First Team until the end of the season

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) May 19, 2024

Daniele De Rossi has a decision to make relating to Paulo Dybala when Roma host Genoa in Serie A on Sunday evening.

‘La Joya’ is in line to return to the Giallorossi matchday squad, but De Rossi could still opt to go with Tomasso Baldanzi over Dybala for precautionary reasons.

Zeki Celik is tipped to return at right-back in what otherwise looks to be a fairly similar team to the one that lost 2-1 to Atalanta in the league last weekend.

For Genoa, there are predictions that Tottenham loaner and former Nottingham Forest right-back Djed Spence is due for a rare start. Aaron Martin is expected to keep his usual spot on the opposite flank.

Genoa will be spearheaded by the impressive partnership of Albert Gudmundsson and Mateo Retegui in attack.

Kick-off is set for 19.45 BST. 

Roma vs Genoa – probable line-ups

Roma (4-3-3): Svilar; Celik, Mancini, Ndicka, Angelino; Cristante, Parades, Pellegrino; Baldanzi, Lukaku, El Shaarawy.

Genoa (3-5-2): Martinez; Vogliacco, de Winter, Vasquez; Spence, Frendrup, Badelj, Strootman, Martin; Retegui, Gudmundsson.

Probabili formazioni di Roma-Genoa#RomaGenoa #SerieA #SkySerieA #SkySport https://t.co/et3HDyZqu0

— skysport (@SkySport) May 18, 2024

Simone Inzaghi is set to name a strong Inter side for their penultimate game of the season, at home to Lazio, who are expected to go without Luis Alberto once again.

As the confirmed Serie A champions, Inter’s business is practically done for the 2023-24 season, although Lazio could temporarily lift themselves above rivals Roma into sixth place with a win in the early evening.

After fielding a rotated side during their 5-0 win over Frosinone last weekend, Inter are tipped to return to arguably their strongest line-up. The only uncertainty is whether Denzel Dumfries or Matteo Darmian will start at right-wing-back.

Lazio will leave Luis Alberto out again after his recent disciplinary issues, while Alessio Romagnoli misses out through suspension. Mario Gila is his likely replacement.

Daichi Kamarda could start in a more advanced role alongside Mattia Zaccagni. That could in turn lead to a changed midfield pairing of Nicolo Rovella and last week’s goalscorer Mario Vecino. 

Kick off in San Siro is due at 17.00 BST. 

Inter vs. Lazio – probable line-ups 

Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Pavard, de Vrij, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Lautaro Martinez, Thuram.

Lazio (3-4-2-1): Provedel; Patric, Castle, Gila; Marusic, Vecino, Rovella, Pellegrini; Kamarda, Zaccagni; Castellanos. 

https://x.com/SkySport/status/1791963010405188013

Napoli have reportedly been in contact with Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini on Thursday, in regards to a potential appointment as successor to current Partenopei coach Francesco Calzona, according to the latest updates in Italy.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio and Sky Sport Italia, Napoli made ‘new’ contact with Gasperini, who is understood to be club President Aurelio De Laurentiis’ first choice candidate for the job.

Recent reports, including Thursday’s, suggest that former Italy CT Antonio Conte is also right up the top of Napoli’s wishlist.

De Laurentiis hinted earlier in the month that he was a big believer in Gasperini, after what has been a massively successful season for La Dea.

Atalanta currently find themselves in fifth place in Serie A, which will be enough to qualify for the Champions League, as Italy have gained an additional spot for the 2024-25 tournament.

They are also due to play Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final at the end of the month, and took part in another final on Wednesday, ultimately losing 1-0 to Juventus in the Coppa Italia.

Gasperini, Conte and Other Napoli candidates

As well as De Laurentiis, Giovanni Manna, who is rumoured to be the next Napoli sporting director, is also a fond admirer of Gasperini’s.

The coach himself is understood to be perfectly happy with his position in Bergamo and is under contract until the summer of 2025. Recent reports elsewhere suggest that Atalanta are keen to table a new contract extension for the 66-year-old.

Thursday’s report suggests that De Laurentiis is prepared to hold out for Gasperini. The coach is expected to consult his current employers before making a decision either way.

Antonio Conte also remains a firm favourite, reports Gianluca Di Marzio. However, if Napoli are not able to convince him or Gasperini, then the back-up options reportedly include current Milan boss Stefano Pioli and Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano.

I dettagli:https://t.co/wvefJ4384K

— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) May 16, 2024

Wilfried Gnonto laid on a stunning, inch-perfect assist for Leeds United teammate Joel Piroe during the club’s 4-0 victory in their Championship play-off semi-final victory over Norwich City on Thursday night.

Though the two sides endured a narrowly-contested 0-0 in their first leg, Leeds found themselves three goals to the good by half-time in the reverse fixture at Elland Road.

Gnonto, who started on the wing in both legs of the semi-final, was heavily involved for two of those goals, claiming a direct assist for Leeds’ second.

Gnonto twice involved

The 20-year-old picked it up on the right flank in the 20th minute, and put a beautiful, bending ball on a plate in the six-yard box for Piroe to nod home.

The Italy youngster also drilled a shot in towards Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn, which he was only able to parry back into danger, leading to Leeds’ fourth goal 23 minutes into the second half.

"The Wembley arch in sight already"

Gnonto Piroe pic.twitter.com/zLcfrmTqlO

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 16, 2024

Italy international Wilfried Gnonto is now just one game away from becoming a Premier League player again after Leeds United rose to a 4-0 victory over Norwich City in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg on Thursday night.

Leeds have now booked their place in the Championship play-off final, which will be played at Wembley on Sunday 26 May at 15.00 BST.

They will go on to face either one of Southampton or West Brom, who will play the second leg of their semi-final at 20.00 on Friday night, with the scores currently level at 0-0.

Gnonto back in form

Gnonto, who is currently the only active Italian player in the Championship, started both legs of Leeds’ play-off semis, and has enjoyed a recent run of starts in the matchday XI.

He had suffered with an ankle injury in the autumn, and was left out of the squad for two games on two occasions in the second half of the season, but otherwise has been a relatively consistent figure in the Leeds matchday squads.

The 20-year-old winger has chipped in with eight goals and two assists from 36 appearances in the English second tier in 2023-24, adding to his six goal involvements in the Premier League last term.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis has revealed that there will be a press conference ‘by May 31’, in which, he hinted, there could be a major news update for the Partenopei.

ADL conducted a press conference earlier on Thursday to announce the team’s customary pre-season training camps in Dimaro and Castel di Sangro. During his meeting with the press, reporters put forward questions regarding the club’s hunt for a new coach and sporting director.

De Laurentiis maintained that he could not offer any updates at this point in time, but promised that a new sporting director will soon be revealed, and said that the club will hold another press conference at the end of May.

De Laurentiis’ Napoli pledge

“You expect lots of new things, but I can’t give you details because that’s the way it goes in our line of work. By May 31, we will have a nice press conference that we are organising, that will sow the seeds of the whole club’s future,” De Laurentiis said, reported via Calciomercato.

The Napoli President insisted that a major rebuild takes time, and after a conveyor belt of coaches in 2022-23, including Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona, the club will take their time to assess all possible options.

Recent reports in Italy claim that Napoli are still pursuing former Juventus, Inter, Chelsea and Italy coach Antonio Conte. The club are also reportedly still looking at potential replacements for director Mauro Meluso.

“We are starting with a total rebuild, and so we cannot afford to rush these decisions. We have to invest, do it well and not be in a hurry. When one begins a new cycle, a new journey, anything can happen.

“We are the only ones responsible for our actions. I knew it wouldn’t be a successful year this time around, and I said we wouldn’t compete for the Scudetto. That’s normal.”

When asked if he had any regrets over the appointment of Rudi Garcia to replace the title-winning Luciano Spalletti, De Laurentiis replied: “Maybe yes, maybe no, who knows Only those who don’t try make no mistakes.

“In my life, I have lived to the fulles and always taken accountability for my responsibilities. Even if in totality they are not all mine. I close one chapter and begin another.”

Bologna top goalscorer Joshua Zirkzee will not feature at the EURO 2024 tournament in Germany this summer after being left off Ronald Koemann’s provisional 30-man list.

Several international sides, including recent World Cup winners France and Germany, as well as the aforementioned Netherlands, released their provisional squads on Thursday.

Though the Netherlands have issued an initial 30-player squad, which will need to be trimmed down to 26 for the final tournament, Zirkzee has not made the cut.

Five other Serie A players are in contention to represent the Netherlands at the EUROs, however, including Inter defenders Denzel Dumfries and Stefan de Vrij, plus Atalanta Midfielders Marten De Roon and Teun Koopmeiners, as well as Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders.

Unfortunate for Zirkzee

The 22-year-old striker has been one of Thiago Motta’s key players during the 2023-24 season, in what will go down as an historic campaign as Bologna secured a spot in the final edition of the Champions League for the first time since the competition’s inception.

He has netted 11 goals and laid on five further assists for his teammates across 34 matches in Serie A this campaign.

For large parts of the season, reports have suggested that Zirkzee is ready to step up to a ‘big’ club this summer, with Milan rumoured to be the most interested party in Italy.

The player reportedly has a €40m release clause in his contract. Though some understood that clause to be valid only for his former club Bayern Munich, it has since been clarified that the Bavarians have the first right of refusal, and that the clause is in fact valid for all clubs.

Additionally, Corriere dello Sport claim that Bayern Munich, who already have England captain Harry Kane and promising talent Mathys Tel on their books, are not interested in buying Zirkzee back this summer.

One month before our first game, here's our 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 for @EURO2024! #NothingLikeOranje #CreateHistory pic.twitter.com/484HIAQVV2

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) May 16, 2024

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has opened an investigation into the public spat between Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri and Tuttosport editor Guido Vaciago.

Despite Juventus lifting the Coppa Italia trophy after a 1-0 victory over Atalanta on Wednesday night, it was the coach who made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

He received widespread criticism for his touchline conduct, and then allegations were made by Tuttosport’s Vaciago, who claimed Allegri made a series of serious, personal threats in the tunnel of the Stadio Olimpico.

Both Allegri and Vaciago have since released statements sharing their version of events. Vaciago was first, publishing his version of events through Tuttosport. Allegri, through his lawyer, then released a statement to news agency ANSA, in which he ‘completely denies’ Vaciago’s claims.

Vaciago has since come back once again, claiming that Thursday’s press release was ‘perhaps more serious’ than the original incident.

Consequences for Allegri

The Juventus coach has since received confirmation that he will be suspended and will have to pay a fine as a result of his actions on the touchline during Wednesday night’s final.

Multiple outlets in Italy, including Sky Sport, Tuttosport and Calciomercato, confirm that the FIGC have now launched an investigation into the whole ordeal.

Tuttosport editor Guido Vaciago has responded to a press release issued by Massimiliano Allegri’s lawyer, claiming that the statement is ‘more serious’ than the original altercation between the two in the Stadio Olimpico tunnel after Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final.

Allegri ‘completely denies’ Vaciago’s version of events. The Tuttosport editor claimed that the Juve tactician made a series of serious, personal threats, and also called him a “sh** editor.”

Allegri claimed that it was a heated exchange, in the heat of the moment, and that both he and Vaciago exchanged a number of insults. Sky Sport Italia are reporting that nobody from Juventus read or approved Allegri’s statement before it was made public.

Now, Vaciago has responded again, claiming that he has several witnesses, including members of the Juventus press team, multiple Stadio Olimpico stewards, a representative from the police, as well as several other journalists.

He went on to add that there was no real altercation with Allegri, rather, it was a ‘monologue’ from the Juventus coach.

Vaciago responds to Allegri again

Vaciago, through Tuttosport, has provided another update following on from Allegri’s statement earlier on Thursday evening.

He wrote: “The lawyer Paolo Rodella, in his statement to ANSA, accuses me of having given a ‘false’ reconstruction of the events that occurred between me and his client Massimiliano Allegri in the Stadio Olimpico tunnel on Wednesday evening.

“All this is perhaps more serious than the event, which as far as I am concerned, was already in the past, but I am now forced to return to it.

“I encourage all parties to be more precise in the reporting of that incident, particularly because it took place in sight of several witnesses, including the manager responsible for the broadcasting of Lega Serie A, Manuele Tigani, who did his utmost to stop Allegri, Gabriella Ravizzotti of the Juventus press office, at least two Olimpico stewards, a representative of the police, and three journalists.”

“I reiterate that it was not an altercation, but a monologue by Massimiliano Allegri, who shouted at me while I was making a phone call about 20 metres away.

“He then came at me with the phrase: ‘put the phone down, sh**y editor.’ He continued with all the phrases reported in my reconstruction of events, including the threat to ‘get me’ and to ‘rip my ears off.’

“He took my right wrist, forcefully, jerking it several times while he spoke louder and louder, as witnesses will all confirm.

“I simply told him in a very normal tone of voice: ‘calm down, Max,” and twice told him: ‘be careful, what you’re saying is serious.’

“I repeat that this morning, the matter was already in the past, and I hoped never to have to go back to what happened again.”

Precisazione in merito alle dichiarazioni del legale di #Allegri

Di ⁦@guido_vaciago⁩ https://t.co/claF53cR4e

— Tuttosport (@tuttosport) May 16, 2024

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, through his lawyer Paolo Rodella, has released an official statement, in which he completely denies allegations made by Tuttosport editor Guidi Vaciago, who claimed the Bianconeri tactician made serious, personal threats after the conclusion of Wednesday’s Coppa Italia final against Atalanta.

Though Juventus were victorious after a 1-0 victory in Wednesday’s final, celebrations have been clouded after reports that the club could look to dismiss Allegri as a result of his touchline conduct and reported altercation with Vaciago.

Vaciago claims that Allegri called him a “sh** editor,” and threatened to: “rip both your ears out. I’ll come and hit you in the face. Write the truth in your newspaper.”

Allegri responds with official statement

The coach, through his lawyer, made an official statement to Italian news agency ANSA, released on Thursday.

It maintained that Allegri: “Completely denies the reported version of events that occurred in the Stadio Olimpico tunnel with the editor of Tuttosport, Guido Vaciago, and specifies that it was simply ‘a heated, verbal altercation’ in the heat of the moment with the editor, during which they both audibly insulted each other.”

The statement later continued by expressing: “any different reconstruction of events is false.”

Sky Sport Italia have since confirmed that Allegri’s statement was not approved by anybody at Juventus, nor was it ready by anybody from the senior management before its release to ANSA.

In turn, Vaciago has responded again. He claims that the statement, claiming he falsified his version of events, is an even more serious accusation than the original altercation. He also claims that he has numerous witnesses.

Fiorentina are the latest Serie A side to reveal their new kit ahead of the 2024-25 season, releasing a short video in collaboration with manufacturers Kappa on X and other social media platforms on Thursday evening.

To little surprise, the new Fiorentina kit is an all-purple affair, featuring the club’s and manufacturer’s logo on the breast plate, with the club’s sponsor, Mediacom, founded by Viola owner Rocco Commisso, taking its usual place across the front of the jersey.

Fiorentina have confirmed that the new strip will be made available to order online with Kappa on Friday.

Presenting our new Home Kombat Pro for the 2025 season

“L’anima Viola” embodies the club’s identity. Available tomorrow at https://t.co/oZwJEt2C5l#forzaviola #fiorentina pic.twitter.com/TQGbzbiES5

— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) May 16, 2024

Anima Viola#forzaviola #fiorentina pic.twitter.com/rru4VBJm5T

— ACF Fiorentina (@acffiorentina) May 16, 2024

Sky Sport Italia are reporting that Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is at great risk of losing his job after Wednesday evening’s Coppa Italia final against Atalanta, despite the Bianconeri securing the trophy after a 1-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.

Multiple outlets in Italy have reported that Juventus hierarchy were not pleased at all by Allegri’s touchline conduct and the reported threats he made to Tuttosport editor Guido Vaciago.

The Bianconeri tactician reportedly called Vaciago a ‘Sh** editor,” and told him to “write the truth in your newspaper, not what the clubs tell you.”

Allegri is believed to have followed up with: “I know where to find you. I’ll come, and I’ll rip both your ears out. I’ll come and hit you in the face, write the truth in your newspaper.”

As a result, and following a disappointing season by Juventus standards, in which the team currently find themselves in fourth and 25 points behind champions Inter, Sky report that the club are evaluating the possibility of an early farewell to Allegri.

The board reportedly feel that Allegri did not conduct himself in the true “Juventus style.”

When might Juventus sack Allegri?

The coach is currently under contract until the summer of 2025, but Thursday’s report suggests that his second spell at the Allianz Stadium could come to an end before then, and possibly even before the end of the 2024-25 season.

Sky confirm that the decision will need to be approved by CEO Maurizio Scanavino, after consulting with John Elkann, club President Gianluca Ferrero and the club’s legal department.

If Juventus do decide to part ways with Allegri, Sky believe that a decision could come as early as Friday, likely in the evening after the stock market closes.