Atletico Madrid might be famous for the ‘dark arts’ of football, but Inter forward Marcus Thuram decided to show Stefan Savic he’s learned a few tricks too.
The Frenchman had been previously elbowed in the back of the head by Savic, so decided to get his revenge by reaching back and giving a not so gentle squeeze to a delicate area.
VAR looked at the footage, but decided not to take action against Thuram, who was substituted moments later by Simone Inzaghi to avoid further trouble.
However, the two players resolved the issue between themselves with a laugh and a joke on the field, helped by the fact Savic knows full well he’s done worse in his career.
If reports coming from Italy are anything to go by, then Manchester United have lost yet another prime target to another European giants Juventus.
The Turin club have reportedly acquired the services of Dejan Kulusevski having paid Atalanta €40-50m, but he’d remain on loan at Parma until June.
On Sunday, one of the most-touted Red Devils’ target Erling Haaland signed for Borussia Dortmund, raising concerns about the ability of the Premier League club to attract top players.
Kulusevski has been a sensation this season in Serie A, contributing four goals and seven assists in 17 Serie A appearances for Parma.
Still only 19, the Sweden international has attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal, Napoli, Chelsea, Liverpool, as well as Manchester United.
Inter Milan had also been touted to be the hot favourites to capture his signature, but on Monday evening Sky Sport Italia and La Gazzetta dello Sport both report a sudden surge to the lead from Juventus.
It’s suggested Kulusevski has agreed basic personal terms, while the clubs are also close to working out a deal.
According to Football Italia, the deal would be worth €30m plus up to €10m in various add-ons and bonuses, although La Gazzetta point towards €35m fixed fee plus €15m extras.
There would be a contract to June 2024 worth €2-3m per season.
He’d also be allowed to remain on loan at Parma for the rest of the season, but Sky Sport Italia expert Gianluca Di Marzio claims that could change if Juve send the Ducali a replacement in the form of Marko Pjaca.
Reports in Italy claim Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte has made Marcos Alonso his main target to fill the left-back position, but Chelsea are allegedly asking for €40m to complete a transfer.
Conte brought the former Fiorentina player to London, and was a key member at Stamford Bridge when the Italian won the league in 2016-17.
The Spaniard is adept at Conte’s 3-4-3 and 3-5-2 formations, and flourishes as a wing-back.
On the two occasions Frank Lampard adopted the 3-4-3 formation so far in the season, Alonso stood out in the two matches, especially the away win against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham last Sunday.
And, now the Gazzetta dello Sport claims Conte has made the Spanish defender his priority also during the transfer window this winter.
The newspaper claims the price could, however, stand in Conte’s way, as the Blues are not ready to let their man go for anything less than €40m.
Because of the high cost, the outlet reveals that Inter are considering making a move for PSG defender Layvin Kurzawa, as Conte is reported to be concerned about the consistency of injury prone Kwadwo Asamoah and not overly convinced about Cristiano Biraghi.
Romelu Lukaku has revealed the warning Juventus talisman Cristiano Ronaldo gave him about Serie A, stating how tough the league is.
The Inter Milan striker gave an interview to the New York Times on Monday, in which he gave his opinion on playing in Serie A compared to the Premier League.
Lukaku scored 14 goals in 22 games for Inter in the first half of the season, 12 of which came in Serie A.
However, he told the newspaper: “He [Ronaldo] told me this is the hardest defensive League in the world.
“He said he has scored goals everywhere, but this was the toughest place to do it, and if Cristiano Ronaldo think it’s difficult, then it must be really difficult.”
That echoes the claims of former Serie A hitmen Carlos Tevez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have relayed similar sentiments in recent years, report Football Italia.
Ronaldo’s scoring rate has also dropped in Italy, with last season his lowest in terms of goals (28) since the 2008-09 campaign.
“It’s harder than England. The football is more intense there, but here everything is pattern of play.”
Off the field, the 26-year-old has an extraordinary ability to assimilate to a language quickly, becoming a proficient Italian speaker in only a matter of weeks.
There are reorts that Manchester United have fallen behind Inter Milan in the battle to sign Atalanta midfielder Dejan Kulusevski.
Kulusevski, who is enjoying a profitable loan spell with Parma, is reportedly available for £30million.
The Red Devils are hopeful of bringing the 19-year-old to Old Trafford but Italian publication Corriere della Serra claim Antonio Conte’s side are leading the charge.
It’s claimed the two clubs have agreed a £30m fee and Parma will able to keep Kulusevski until the end of the season.
Inter Milan were in a killer mood as they tore their hosts Torino into pieces with goals from Lautaro Martinez, Stefan de Vrij and Romelu Lukaku, coasting home to 3-0 victory.
The Nerazzurri had not won any of their last five Serie A meetings with Torino, including two consecutive defeats at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Italy international Andrea Belotti fell awkwardly in the opening minutes and suffered a knock to the ribs that left him badly winded. He tried to carry on, but eventually hobbled away to be replaced by Simone Zaza.
At the same moment as the change was taking place, Inter took the lead. Matias Vecino knocked a Salvatore Sirigu goal kick back and Lautaro Martinez managed to sprint away even on this horrid turf, firing the angled drive into the far bottom corner.
Torino kept possession for long periods, Samir Handanovic’s gloves stung at the near post by Cristian Ansaldi, then Simone Verdi’s follow-up deflected wide.
However, just as the hosts were pushing, they went 2-0 down. First Marcelo Brozovic’s cross found a towering Romelu Lukaku header and even more impressive Sirigu save.
On the resulting corner, Stefan de Vrij was allowed to make a run from deep and volley in Cristiano Biraghi’s cross completely unmarked at the back post.
Inter were more clinical and it made a huge difference, as Romelu Lukaku got the third goal. He went on the counter and picked his moment perfectly, firing the angled drive through the legs of Bremer into the far bottom corner.
The Granata ended their run of two points from six rounds with a crushing 4-0 victory at Brescia just before the break for international duty.
Meanwhile after the match, Antonio Conte said he was “happiest with the clean sheet”.
This was the Nerazzurri’s seventh consecutive away victory in Serie A, setting a new club record.
“The thing that makes me happiest is the clean sheet,” the coach told DAZN as cited by Football Italia.
“It was a good defensive performance and that is very important, because we know that we score sooner or later. If we can be more hermetically sealed at the back, then we can be in good shape.”
