Giorgio Chiellini has, as expected, re-signed with Juventus following the announcement of a new two-year contract.
Chiellini, 36, technically ceased to be a Juve player when his previous deal expired at the end of June after 17 years with the club.
His agent, who referred to potential retirement talk after Euro 2020 success as "madness", suggested Chiellini was open to hearing offers from other clubs, not just Juve.
Though it was always widely believed he would sign on again in Turin, Monday's confirmation put any doubts to bed.
The deal also suggests Chiellini has designs on featuring for Italy at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the veteran seemingly deciding to carry on with the Azzurri after Euro 2020.
Chiellini's performances in that tournament were evidence enough that he is far from finished at the top, his defensive dominance a vital element of an Italy team that played entertaining football but were also solid at the back.
He was colossal in the final as Italy beat England on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Chiellini produced six clearances – four more than any other Italy player – and three interceptions, won more aerial duels (7) than anyone else in blue and completed 95.7 per cent of his 115 passes.
Juve will hope to see a little more of that Chiellini themselves in 2021-22, given he has played just 21 Serie A matches since the start of 2019-20, partly due to injury.
He featured 17 times in 2020-21 as the club failed to win a 10th successive Scudetto.
Chiellini has made 535 appearances for Juventus since joining them in 2004, while he has also played 112 times for his country.
He has won the Scudetto nine times and claimed five Coppa Italia titles.
Israel 0-2 Italy: Frattesi and Kean keep Azzurri perfect
Davide Frattesi continued his hot streak under Luciano Spalletti as his first-half strike helped Italy on their way to a 2-1 win over Israel in the Nations League.
Moise Kean netted his fifth international goal to double the Azzurri's advantage after the break, with substitute Mohamed Abu Fani scoring a late consolation for the hosts.
Despite a bright start from Israel, the visitors regained control of the contest as Alessandro Bastoni and Federico Dimarco threatened in the wide positions.
But a familiar face found himself on the scoresheet once again, with Frattesi netting his sixth goal under Spalletti's stewardship with a delicate chested finish from Dimarco's delivery.
Italy's dominance continued in the second half and was rewarded in the 62nd minute when Giacomo Raspadori's effort was saved by Yoav Gerafi, only for Kean to smash home the rebound.
Israel, however, threatened a nervy conclusion to proceedings as Italy's failure to clear a corner was punished by Abu Fani with a fine finish from the edge of the area, but the Azzurri were able to hold on for the victory.
Data Debrief: Young Italians take centre stage
Italy fielded five starting players born since 2000 for the first time in their history in Samuele Ricci, Raspadori, Sandro Tonali, Kean and Raoul Bellanova.
Kean registered an expected goals (xG) total of 0.56 to Italy's 1.56 total, recording the most shots (three) and touches in the opposition box (seven) for the Azzurri.
Nagelsmann sticking to winning Nations League formula against Netherlands
Continuity is key for Julian Nagelsmann, as the Germany head coach revealed he would make minimal changes for their Nations League encounter with the Netherlands.
Nagelsmann, who watched on as his side swept aside Hungary 5-0 last week, confirmed he will be without Euro 2024 hero Niclas Fullkrug, though.
The 31-year-old scored two goals at the European Championships and was again on target for the Nationalelf in their Nations League opener.
Fullkrug was replaced in the 60th minute by Maximilian Beier, registering an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.11 to Germany's 3.71 total against Hungary.
However, Nagelsmann confirmed the West Ham United striker suffered an Achilles tendon injury that will rule him out of Tuesday's fixture in Amsterdam.
"It is not yet clear whether he can play," Nagelsmann said ahead of kick-off, but revealed he would not be making wholesale changes from their 5-0 win over Hungary.
“We are not thinking about changing much," Nagelsmann said.
"There are certainly things we can do similarly. But it is a different opponent with a different style of play."
Germany's win over Hungary also marked their first encounter without a number of their recent heroes following their retirement after Euro 2024.
Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, who have 451 caps between them, hung up their boots after their run to quarter-finals in their home tournament.
It offered the opportunity for players to stake a claim in the first-team squad, none more so than Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen made 41 appearances for his country but has been second choice to Neuer at major tournaments, and the 32-year-old returned to the international stage with a clean sheet, albeit only facing one shot on target against Hungary.
"Marc played a very good game against Hungary," Nagelsmann said.
"He is a very important player for us because he has been with Barcelona for years and has a responsible position there as captain."
Although in March, Nagelsmann had told Ter Stegen it would be Neuer who would start at the European Championships, despite missing 21 games for club and country with injury.
"The conversation wasn't particularly pleasant. Marc took it well and accepted the decision," Nagelsmann said.
"But I was briefly concerned that he would say I'm not going along with it. That would have been a shame."
Koeman insists Depay has Netherlands future after Corinthians move
Ronald Koeman said there is still a place in the Netherlands team for Memphis Depay after reportedly agreeing a deal with Brazilian giants, Corinthians.
Depay, who has 98 appearances for his country since his debut in 2013, was not picked for the Oranje's Nations League fixtures against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany this month.
The 30-year-old started all six of the Netherlands' fixtures at Euro 2024, scoring against Austria and notching an assist in their quarter-final win over Turkiye.
He struggled with injuries during his final season at Atletico Madrid, missing 18 games in all competitions, but still managed nine goals in 31 appearances.
But Koeman's comments come after denouncing the move of Steven Bergwijn to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, saying his decision to move to the Middle East had closed the book on his international career.
“I disapproved Bergwijn to Saudi, with Memphis it can be different," Koeman said.
"The level of the league in Brazil is different, so yes, he can still be part of the national team, but it depends on his fitness and if he reaches his level.”
Koeman's side will be hoping to maintain their winning start to their Nations League campaign against Germany in Amsterdam on Tuesday.
The Netherlands put five past Bosnia last week, with Joshua Zirkzee, Tijjani Reijnders, Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst and Xavi Simons all on target.
Despite registering 28 shots, with nine of those on target, along with an expected goals (xG) total of 4.09, two lapses in concentration from Matthijs de Ligt were punished by Bosnia.
Ermedin Demirovic capitalised on some poor positioning by the Manchester United defender, who was then caught ball-watching as veteran Edin Dzeko capitalised.
But Koeman again jumped to the defence of the 25-year-old, confirming that De Ligt would be starting against Germany.
"We have discussed it," Koeman said. "He did not get his footwork right. It was a bad individual moment for a defender.
"You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be improved. But we should not be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it."
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