Juventus

Conte and Agnelli clashed on Tuesday during the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final in Turin, a match that ended 0-0 to see Juve prevail 2-1 on aggregate.

Footage appeared to show the ex-Juve boss making a gesture that was reportedly towards Agnelli, who could be heard on a pitch-side microphone making comments aimed at the touchline following the end of the game.

Speaking to RAI after the draw, Conte said Juventus should "tell the truth" over what unfolded, adding: "They should be more polite in my opinion. They need more sportsmanship and respect for those who work."

Juventus defender Bonucci understands that while those involved in top-level football must set an example to the audience watching on, it is not always easy to stay calm in such high-pressure situations.

"There is little to add, the images speak clearly," Bonucci said in an interview with Sky Sport Italia. "What happened is bad, but it is not up to me to judge why it happened or what had to be done.

"Obviously we must always be an example, but sometimes it is difficult. When you step onto the pitch the environmental situation does not make you think.

"In some moments, adrenaline and tension make you become something different than what you would like to be, episodes like this happen, amplified by the empty stage with the sideline microphones that can transmit a sneeze."

Juve had won the first leg 2-1 at San Siro, having previously lost 2-0 at the same venue in January when going up against the Nerazzurri in Serie A action.

Bonucci points to that league defeat as a turning point for the reigning champions of Italy, as Juventus have not lost in seven games since that setback. Their reward for progressing in the Coppa Italia is a final showdown with Atalanta, which takes place in May.

"It represents a small step towards another goal, which is to bring home the trophy. It will be difficult, because Atalanta have been one of the best Italian teams for several years, they have also shown it in Europe," the defender said.

"It will be an unprecedented and complicated final, but there will be the desire to take home the cup.

"For the group it is yet another confirmation that after the match in Milan with Inter something different has taken place in us as a team and as individuals and this bodes well."

Juve switch their focus back to Serie A this weekend, though Bonucci is an injury doubt for Saturday's game away at Napoli due to a muscle issue.

Midfielder Arthur also appears set to miss the fixture after the club revealed he has "the presence of a post-traumatic calcification at the level of the interosseous membrane" in his right leg. The Brazilian will be monitored on a daily basis, though it is unclear when he will return to action.

The Juventus star is asymptomatic and "doing well", the federation said in a statement on Tuesday. 

Ronaldo, 35, has left the national team camp to begin self-isolating. 

All other members of Fernando Santos' squad have returned negative tests and are therefore clear to be involved in Wednesday's Nations League match against Sweden.

The Bianconeri extended their record run, which stretches back to 2011-12, thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi.

Maurizio Sarri's side have wobbled over recent weeks, failing to wrap things up on Thursday when they went down to a 2-1 defeat at Udinese. 

It meant they had only one win from five as they prepared to entertain Sampdoria, with Inter's 3-0 victory over Genoa on Saturday having closed the gap at the summit to four points. 

The Scudetto represents Sarri's first major honour in Italian football, while at 61 he has also become the oldest coach to win Serie A. 

Juve were just one point clear of Lazio prior to the shutdown in March amid the coronavirus pandemic, but four straight victories upon the resumption helped them build a commanding lead – breathing space that came in handy more recently. 

Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in the triumph. He reached 50 career Serie A goals in just 61 games, while also becoming the first man to score 30 in a league campaign for Juventus since John Hansen in 1951-52. 

The Bayern Munich striker was one of three finalists, along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of Thursday's awards ceremony.

Messi, the 2019 winner, and Ronaldo had claimed the top prize in three of its four prior editions but were this time beaten by Bayern's treble-winner.

Lewandowski led the line as the Bundesliga giants won the league, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in 2019-20.

Between July 20, 2019 and October 7, 2020 - the period considered for this year's awards - the Poland international scored a stunning 60 club goals at a rate of one every 76 minutes.

This tally, from 52 Bayern appearances, was 20 more than any other player in Europe's 'top five' leagues.

While Ronaldo was second in this regard, tied with Ciro Immobile on 40 goals, Messi trailed Romelu Lukaku (37), Timo Werner (35) and Raheem Sterling (34).

The Barcelona captain's 32 goals were matched by Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

FIFA recognition is particularly precious for Lewandowski this year after the coronavirus pandemic prompted the Ballon d'Or to be cancelled in the best season of his career.

Lewandowski had never previously won either award, although he was the UEFA Men's Player of the Year last season, making him the clear favourite here ahead of Messi and Ronaldo.

Premier League champions City made the decision in conjunction with UEFA after Madrid established a self-imposed quarantine in the wake of a positive coronavirus test by one of their basketball players on Thursday.

Juve's game was pushed back after centre-back Daniele Rugani was found to have contracted COVID-19, with the club consequently following isolation procedures.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will do battle in the 2020/21 Champions League after Barcelona and Juventus were drawn in the same group.

Alvaro Morata has completed a return to Juventus on an initial one-year loan deal from Atletico Madrid, the clubs have announced.

The Brazil international was forced off six minutes into Juve's 3-2 win over Leipzig on Wednesday, with the club confirming the extent of his injury on Thursday.

Bremer has been key to Thiago Motta's side so far this season, playing every minute in Serie A with the team yet to concede a single goal in six matches.

Among his team-mates, he has played the most minutes (540), making the most interceptions (six) and blocks (11).

Juventus were also dealt another blow, with midfielder Nico Gonzalez suffering a thigh muscle injury.

"Bremer and Nico Gonzalez underwent diagnostic tests which revealed an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the left knee for the former and a low-grade injury to the rectus femoris of the right thigh for the latter," the club said in a statement.

"Bremer will undergo surgery in the coming days."

The 23-year-old was forced to return to Turin after injuring his knee during training with the Colombia national team ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Ecuador.

Cabal is the second Juventus defender to suffer an ACL injury this season after Gleison Bremer, who hurt his left knee during their 3-2 Champions League win over RB Leipzig last month.

Cabal has so far made nine appearances across all competitions this season.

Juventus are sixth in the Serie A standings and 11th in the Champions League's new-look league phase.

Cabal joined from Verona in July for €11million but has battled a niggling hamstring issue at the start of his Bianconeri career, missing the last six weeks.

He returned to face Lazio on Saturday, with his cross forcing an own goal from Mario Gila as Juventus avoided a fifth draw in the space of six games.

After the match, the Colombia international revealed Lazio had shown an interest in him previously, but said he only ever had eyes for Juve.

"Lazio looked for me before, but I was only thinking about Juve. I wanted to play for Juve since I was a kid and now I am here," Cabal told reporters.

"We all know Juve's history. We have to give our lives for Juve.

"The coach saw something different and put me out, but he has faith in me. He put me on the pitch at the right time. 

"It is difficult not to play for so long. But we must always be ready. I work all week to play even one minute," 

Saturday's win took unbeaten Juventus to 16 points from eight matches, level on points with leaders Napoli, who possess a game in hand.

"The important thing is to try to win every game. We want to be champions, but I can't tell you now that we will win the championship," Cabal said.

Friday's semi-final second leg at the Allianz Stadium was the first professional match in Italy in three months due to the coronavirus-enforced suspension.

The game finished 0-0, with Juve's away goal from the 1-1 draw in the first leg at San Siro in February enough to send them through to a final against Inter or Napoli on Wednesday.

The Bianconeri should have taken the lead in the 16th minute when Orsato awarded a penalty for a handball by Andrea Conti following a trip to the pitchside monitor.

Cristiano Ronaldo's spot-kick came back off the upright and 17 seconds later Rebic was shown a straight red card for a dangerous lunge on Danilo, who he caught in the chest with a high foot.

Calhanoglu was frustrated Orsato did not follow the same process for that incident.

"We are quite angry, because if the referee checked VAR for Ronaldo's penalty he had to check it for Rebic's red card," Calhangolu told Rai Sport.

"We're cross, but we played well and the only thing missing was a goal.

"Over the two legs it's difficult to say who deserved to go through. I think if we had [suspended trio] Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], Samu [Castillejo] and Theo [Hernandez] here we'd have been stronger.

"It's natural that games with Juve are tough, but they were very even."

Milan's only remaining avenue for European qualification is through Serie A.

Just four points separates Stefano Pioli's side in seventh with Cagliari in 12th and the Rossoneri boss was gutted by their elimination.

"It's a pity as this was our objective and we didn't manage it, so now we must qualify for Europe via Serie A," he said.

"It was a very narrow difference over the two legs, it's just that by conceding at home we were then forced to score in the second leg.

"We held out exceptionally in defence, especially the centre-backs, and that shows us we can be solid, because we need these skills going forward for the rest of the season.

"It's disappointing. We really wanted to play the final. What we need now is to be more consistent, because so far this season we haven't taken home the results we deserved, as our finishing hasn't been up to scratch and we didn't convert enough of our chances."

Manchester United, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain are among the major European outfits who are due to farewell high-profile players when free agency comes into force on June 30.

Domestic leagues across the world appear increasingly likely to run beyond that deadline, meaning sides up and down the divisions could be forced to renegotiate deals beyond the typical expiry date.

It remains to be seen how governing bodies will approach the unfamiliar territory but Edinson Cavani, Mario Gotze and Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be watching closely like dozens more across Europe's top five leagues.

These are the stars and solid supporting cast members whose contract situations are worth monitoring in England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

LaLiga

Athletic Bilbao: Aritz Aduriz (retiring), Benat, Mikel San Jose
Atletico Madrid: Antonio Adan
Espanyol: Ander Iturraspe
Granada: Roberto Soldado
Real Valladolid: Hatem Ben Arfa
Sevilla: Ever Banega (joining Al Shabab at end of contract), Nolito
Valencia: Ezequiel Garay
Villarreal: Santi Cazorla 

Premier League

Bournemouth: Ryan Fraser
Burnley: Joe Hart
Chelsea: Olivier Giroud, Pedro, Willian
Liverpool: Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne
Manchester City: David Silva (confirmed he will leave at end of contract)
Manchester United: Nemanja Matic, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Odion Ighalo (loan ends)
Newcastle United: Matty Longstaff
Tottenham: Jan Vertonghen, Japhet Tanganga

Serie A

Atalanta: Jose Luis Palomino
Hellas Verona: Fabio Borini
Inter: Ashley Young
Juventus: Gianluigi Buffon
Milan: Lucas Biglia, Giacomo Bonaventura, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Napoli: Jose Callejon, Dries Mertens

Bundesliga

Bayer Leverkusen: Charles Aranguiz
Borussia Dortmund: Mario Gotze, Lukasz Piszczek
Hertha Berlin: Salomon Kalou
Schalke: Benjamin Stambouli
Wolfsburg: Robin Knoche

Ligue 1

Lille: Loic Remy
Monaco: Jemerson
Nice: Walter Benitez, Arnaud Lusamba
Paris Saint-Germain: Edinson Cavani, Thomas Meunier, Tanguy Kouassi, Layvin Kurzawa, Thiago Silva

The proposed Super League was announced on April 18th last year, although nine of the competitions' 12 founding clubs moved to renounce the idea within days after it provoked a fierce backlash from across the footballing world. 

However, Madrid, Barca and Juve remain committed to the project, with Bianconeri president Andrea Agnelli reportedly keen to kick-start a new proposal.

Speaking at the Financial Times' Business of Football Summit in London, at which Agnelli was present, the UEFA president has now hit out at the clubs' owners for discussing the return of the controversial competition during the midst of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"First they launched [this] nonsense idea in middle of a pandemic," Ceferin said of the club owners. "Now we are hearing they are launching another in a war. 

"They must live in a parallel world."

Ceferin has previously labelled Agnelli, as well as the Spanish giants' presidents Florentino Perez and Joan Laporta, as "incompetent", and accused them of trying to "kill football".

Meanwhile, Ceferin also spoke about the sporting sanctions being placed on Russia in the aftermath of the invasion on Ukraine.

FIFA and UEFA have moved to expel Russian teams from its competitions, including the upcoming Women's European Championships in England, for which Russia had qualified, while St Petersburg has been stripped of this season's Champions League final.

Fresh from his move to Camp Nou in the transfer window, Lewandowski will return to familiar surroundings with Barcelona and Bayern Munich – who boast 11 Champions League titles between them – drawn in a tough Group C along with Inter.

And another reunion will see Haaland come up against Borussia Dortmund, whom he left to join Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. They find themselves in Group G alongside Sevilla and Copenhagen.

Another heavyweight clash will take place in Group H, with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus set to lock horns.

Chiellini won nine Serie A titles during a distinguished spell with Juventus and captained Italy to Euro 2020 glory before moving to the United States last year, helping Los Angeles FC win the MLS Cup.

LAFC failed to go back-to-back as they were beaten 2-1 by the Columbus Crew in Saturday's MLS Cup final, and Chiellini has yet to make a decision on whether he will play on in 2024, with his contract due to expire this month.

As for his long-term future, the 39-year-old has his eyes set on a place in the boardroom, rather than the dugout.

Speaking exclusively to Stats Perform, Chiellini said: "I did a degree in economics and the NBA, and I had always that type of management in my mind. 

"Not as a coach, not in scouting, but yeah, to try to remain linked in the world of football on that side. 

"It's not easy. It's not a journey that you start and then you can decide, you have to study and learn many things because at the end, you come into this world at 40 and not at 25. 

"Then you have some other skills that probably other football players don't have, but you miss other parts. 

"What I hope for my future is to have the time to learn and the patience to stay close to some key figures and key people that are open to teaching me what I'm missing, and to develop this type of situation. I cannot just focus on watching games."

Expanding further on what his ideal role would entail, the defender added: "More of a director, not just scouting, but something more management based. 

"Related to football, but not as one of the people who watch the players in order to pick them.

"Something where I maybe help the club to figure out about what we could spend for players, how we could afford them, how we could improve the situation, all this stuff."

Chiellini played the first 17 minutes of a Serie A clash with Lazio on Monday, in which Juve threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2.

First-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Alvaro Morata looked set to ensure the Bianconeri marked the Allianz Stadium swansong of Chiellini – and Paulo Dybala – with a win, only for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to equalise with the final kick of the game after Alex Sandro put through his own net.

The 37-year-old defender, who has won 20 trophies during his incredible career with the Turin giants, has made 392 top-flight appearances for the club, a tally bettered only by Gianluigi Buffon (489) and Alessandro Del Piero (467).

With Juventus guaranteed to finish fourth in Serie A after enduring a frustrating season, which also saw them lose the Coppa Italia final to Inter, Chiellini said the time had come for the Bianconeri's young players to take centre stage.

"The decision came in months, weeks, not days," he told Sky Sports Italia. "I have always said that I would like to leave at a high level, and I succeeded. 

"It was a difficult year, for Juventus and for me, but in the matches I managed, I played at my level. 

"All this led me to leave now, to leave room for young people. Juve need to restart, and young people have to take responsibility and mature. I helped to clip some people's wings, now it's right for them to fly alone. 

"I will cheer for them from near or far, and I made this decision with joy and serenity."

The legendary Chiellini has made 25 appearances for Juventus in all competitions this season, 17 of them starts.

Chiellini will end his Italy career after facing Argentina at Wembley Stadium on June 1, having won 116 caps to date during a glittering career with the Azzurri.

Having helped Italy to Euro 2020 glory last year, he revealed March's shock World Cup qualification play-off defeat to North Macedonia had influenced his desire to step away from both Serie A and international football.

"Of course, I wanted to get to the World Cup. It was the obsession I had after the European Championship," he added. "It is inevitable that I cannot play every match, but I wanted to be part of the national group. 

"It didn't go the way we wanted, which accelerated my choice. [But] I leave a national team and a Juve in good hands."

Chiellini is not planning on retiring, however, and has been linked with a potential move to Major League Soccer.

Although he said he had not yet made a final decision regarding his future, Chiellini hinted that a move abroad would interest him. 

"I don't know. It has attracted me, but for 10 years, I have to decide at home," he added. 

"An experience abroad enriches you, I think I need to see a little outside my life and Juve. I have to understand together with the family, I have to take a look outside, also for my future."

Juve signed forward Chiesa on loan from Fiorentina in October in a move the Serie A champions can make permanent for a reported fee of €50million if certain conditions are met.

A red card on debut against Crotone was part of an inauspicious start to life at the Allianz Stadium for Chiesa, but there has been a marked improvement in recent games.

That culminated in a star showing in Juve's 3-1 win at leaders Milan in midweek, a match in which Chiesa scored twice.

Since the start of last season, Chiesa has been thoroughly impressive against the best teams in the league. In that time, he has had a hand in three goals against Milan (two scored, one assisted) and Atalanta (two scored, one assisted) and also scored in meetings with Inter, Napoli and Lazio.

For Juve this season, he has four goals and three assists from 11 top-flight appearances, while he ranks seventh for the Bianconeri in terms of chances created (15). 

When it comes to 'big chances' created - from which Opta would expect a goal to be scored - only Alvaro Morata (seven) has more than his tally of six, while his passing accuracy is at just over 80 per cent.

For Pirlo, there was never any doubt about Chiesa's talent.

"I'm not surprised by Chiesa," he said when previewing Juve's home clash with Sassuolo on Sunday.

"I knew his qualities and I wanted him. He can still improve a lot, he is young, he is a prototype of a great champion. 

"He has to improve himself match after match. San Siro must be a starting point."

In Sassuolo, Juve face a team who have impressed in the first half of the campaign and sit just two points adrift of the top four in sixth place.

Pirlo spoke of his respect for coach Roberto De Zerbi, who like him hails from Brescia.

"Sassuolo are an excellent team, they've been playing together for a while," he added.

"The coach is very good at constructing the game. It will be a difficult match, we can't let them go without pressure from us. 

"I have a good relationship with De Zerbi, he is from Brescia, like me. He has had a good journey; we talk often about football. There are young and good coaches also abroad, everyone follows his own path."

Chiesa is a player in demand following his exploits for Fiorentina. Juventus and Inter are reportedly interested, as well as Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea.

The 22-year-old Italy international, who emerged from Fiorentina's youth system in 2016, had managed six goals and three assists in 23 Serie A appearances prior to the coronavirus pandemic halting the season.

Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso has already said he is open to selling Chiesa if the forward wants to leave the Viola, yet Diamanti has some advice for his countryman.

Ex-Italy international Diamanti, who played for Fiorentina across two loan spells and is now captain of A-League side Western United in Australia, told Stats Perform: "If I were Chiesa I would think twice before leaving Fiorentina.

"Commisso came with a lot of enthusiasm and plan and if I were Federico Chiesa I would think twice before leaving this Fiorentina with a new ownership."

American billionaire Commisso completed his takeover prior to the 2019-20 season, buying Fiorentina from the Della Valle family, having failed to land a controlling stake in Serie A rivals Milan.

Commisso's arrival led to the signing of high-profile free agent and former Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery but it has been a topsy-turvy campaign in Florence.

Fiorentina sacked head coach Vincenzo Montella in December and the team were 13th, five points above the relegation zone before the season was suspended.

"It is always hard [at the beginning]," Diamanti, who has also played for West Ham, Atalanta, Watford, Bologna and Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande, said. "You risk to make a bit of confusion.

"He [Commisso] invested a lot, brought in many players. They had some problems despite the good start and were forced to sack the manager.

"So far this first season has been tough although the league isn't over yet. It has been tough, but you can see they laid the foundations for the future."

After a successful season at Bologna, Motta replaced Massimiliano Allegri at Juve and is preparing to put his stamp on the club ahead of the upcoming Serie A campaign.

In an attempt to update the squad, the Italian has targeted a list of players he expects to depart before the end of the transfer window.

Chiesa, who joined Juventus from Fiorentina in October 2020, is one of those on the list after failing to put pen to paper on a contract extension offered to him at the end of last season.

Motta had hinted in the past that the 26-year-old could be on his way out of Turin, but after leaving him out for a pre-season friendly against Brest, he has now confirmed that Chiesa is not part of his plans.

"Chiesa and all the other players not called up for the game are not part of the project," Motta said.

"We have been clear with them; they have to find a new solution and new club as soon as possible. The decision has been made."

Chiesa has made 131 appearances for Juventus in all competitions and played a pivotal role in helping them to the Coppa Italia title last season.

His nine goals in 33 Serie A appearances are his highest goal tally in a single league season, while he also created more chances (54) and recorded more completed dribbles (35) than anyone else in Juventus’ squad in the top-flight.

There has been interest in Chiesa from Chelsea and Bayern Munich, but the Italy international is yet to make a decision on his future with just one year remaining on his Juventus contract.

The others rumoured to be on Motta's upheaval list include Wojciech Szczesny, Weston McKennie, Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani and Arthur.

Motta, who took charge of Juventus at the start of the campaign, is unbeaten in his first 10 games, winning six and drawing four in all competitions so far. 

Juventus needed a late own-goal from Mario Gila to edge past Lazio at the weekend, with the triumph ensuring they kept pace with the top two in Serie A. 

Motta's side, however, are among the lowest scorers in Italy's top flight with 11 - only nine teams in the division have scored fewer in the league than Juventus. 

However, Juventus have been prolific in this season's Champions League, scoring six goals in their two games, and are one of only seven sides with a perfect record so far.

And ahead of facing Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday, Motta has said his players must continue to improve if they are to achieve success. 

"There is no difference between the league and the Champions League," Motta told reporters on Monday.

"We must always have the same attitude, each match is a story in itself - with evolving strategies and situations.

"It's not just us who have difficulties against teams that close down well, everyone struggles, football is like that and that's why we have to give our all and believe until the end.

"We must continue to improve in all aspects, both in terms of the game and mentally. We hope to perform well, playing good football. That is the way we will have a chance of winning."

Motta was also asked about Turkish teenager Kenan Yildiz, who impressed at Euro 2024 but has yet to start firing for Juventus this term. 

The 19-year-old has failed to score in his eight Serie A appearances, managing just two assists so far. 

However, Yildiz has shown his quality in the Champions League.

He produced a fine finish in Juventus' 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven, becoming the club's youngest-ever goalscorer in the competition, surpassing Alessandro del Piero's previous record.

"I'm happy with the work Yildiz does on the pitch, he puts all his quality at the disposal of the team," Motta said. 

"He can certainly do better. He was only born in 2005 and he's already making an impact.

"I'm happy with what I see both as a wide player and when he comes in more centrally."

Motta will be hoping Yildiz can help play a starring role as the Italian boss aims to become the third Juventus manager after Fabio Capello (first five) in 2004-05 and Marcelo Lippi in 1995-96 (first four) to win his first three Champions League games. 

He has reason to be confident too. Juventus have won each of their last five major European games against German sides (all since 2019-20), which is already their best winning run against such opposition.