Inter Milan thumped Napoli 3-0 on Sunday to propel themselves into first place in the Serie A standings. Although the final scoreline doesn’t tell the full story, with Napoli providing the visitors with a stern challenge throughout the game, Inter was more opportunistic in front of goal, with Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, and Marcus Thuram all finding the net.

“Coming to Naples you have to expect some difficulties,” Inter manager Simone Inzaghi explained after the match. “We had prepared in a certain way to push our wing-backs against their full-backs because the further away you keep Napoli from the penalty area the better. Winning like this in Naples is satisfying, but we also know it is only Week 14 and there is a very long way to go.”

This victory sees Inter lead the Serie A table with 35 points. Second-placed Juventus trail them by just two points, while Napoli have slumped to fifth spot with 24 points, trailing the league leaders by 11 points.

The post Inter Trounce Napoli to Grab the Top Spot in Serie A appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Juventus held Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Stadium; a result that sees Inter hold onto their two-point lead over the team from Turin at the top of the Serie A table.

It was the home team that broke the deadlock when Dusan Vlahovic received a ball from Juventus teammate Federico Chiesa which he comfortably slotted into the back of the net. Just six minutes later, the Serpents of Madonnina struck back, with Lautaro Martinez rushing into the box and controlling a cross that he buried into the back of the net.

“The team remained concentrated, we scored a great equalizer,” Inter manager Simone Inzaghi said after the game. “We didn’t create a great deal in the second half, but against a strong Juve side who are deservedly second in the table, we will take the point.”

The post Inter Retain Serie A Top Spot Following Draw With Juventus appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Francesco Camarda made history during AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in the Seria A on Saturday. At 15 years, 8 months, and 16 days old, Camarda became the youngest debutant in Serie A history, coming on as a substitute in the second half.

“Francesco is a good lad; he is working well and we also need his freshness,” Milan manager Stefano Pioli stated. “He is very young but also very mature. We were all very happy for him. I could be his grandfather.”

Ultimately, it was a Theo Hernandez penalty in the first half that sealed the victory for Milan. The three points prove crucial for Milan, who have struggled to find their form as of late. While still in third place on the Serie A table, they trail league leaders Inter by five points, with the league leaders playing a game less than them.

The post Francesco Camarda Makes History as AC Milan Beats Fiorentina appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Roma manager Jose Mourinho stated that he would seek legal advice after he received a red card during his team’s shock 2-1 loss in the Serie A to relegation-threatened Cremonese on Tuesday. This was Cremonese’s first win of the season.

Mourinho was shown a red card by referee Marco Piccinini at the start of the second half for dissent, thus marking his third suspension of the season. According to Mourinho, his outburst was due to his treatment by the fourth official.

“For the first time in my career a referee has spoken to me in an unjustifiable way,” the Portuguese manager commented during the post-match news conference. “I’m not crazy. And to have the reaction I had is because something happened. I need to know now if I can do something from a legal point of view.”

The Roma boss believes that Piccinini’s decision to award him a red card was influenced by the fourth official. He also believes that the fourth official never divulged to the referee what he said to Mourinho which the Portuguese manager deemed to be inappropriate.

Cremonese now sits in 19th position on the Serie A standings, while Roma remains in contention for a Champions League spot next season, currently sitting in 5th place.

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U.S. investment firm RedBird Capital Partners has secured the purchase of Serie A club AC Milan for a sum of $1.3 billion, the club announced on Wednesday. According to the official statement, the current owners, U.S. private equity group Elliot, will retain a minority stake in the club.

“We… are excited to play a role in the club’s next chapter as it returns to its rightful place at the very top of Italian, European and world football,” RedBird founder and managing partner Gerry Cardinale said following the announcement of the deal. The deal is expected to be completed by September latest, with the transition in ownership taking place over the summer.

AC Milan is the newly-crowned Serie A champion, winning the league title after an 11-season drought. While moderately successful under the previous ownership of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, AC Milan last won the Champions League in 2007.

RedBird is aiming to help rebuild AC Milan’s status as an elite club in Europe, with the club planning to reinforce its squad during the summer transfer window as it looks to defend its Serie A title while mounting a challenge for the Champions League trophy.

In addition to this latest acquisition, RedBird holds a controlling stake in French club Toulouse as well as a share in Fenway Sports Group—the owner of Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox.

The post RedBird Secures Purchase Of AC Milan for €1.3 Billion appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Inter Milan announced on Thursday that Danish international Christian Eriksen has been barred from playing competitive-level soccer in Italy this season as a result of the cardiac arrest he suffered during Denmark’s game against Finland at Euro 2020 in June. The attacking player collapsed mid-game and received life-saving medical treatment on the field.

As a result of the incident, Eriksen was fitted with a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a device that monitors his heartbeat and discharges a jolt in order to correct his heart rhythm should the risk of another cardiac arrest arise.

“With reference to the registration rights of the player Eriksen, it should be noted that following a serious injury which occurred during the European Championship in June 2021, the player has been temporarily inhibited by the Italian medical authority from sporting activity in the current season,” Inter Milan’s statement read.

Eriksen would only be permitted to participate in Italian soccer once the ICD device is removed. Until then, he will not be viewed as having met the requirements of achieving sporting fitness within Italy.

That being said, there may be the possibility of Eriksen participating in leagues in other countries where the same rule does not apply, a possibility that could result in an exit from his current club.

The post Christian Eriksen Prohibited From Playing In Italy appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Genoa, the oldest club in Italian soccer, has been acquired by American investment firm 777 Partners, following long-time owner Enrico Preziosi’s decision to depart from the club. Genoa is now the sixth Serie A team to be acquired by U.S. owners, following in the footsteps of AC Milan, Fiorentina, Spezia, AS Roma, and Venezia.

In a joint statement, it was confirmed that the Miami-based 777 Partners would be purchasing 99.9% of the club’s capital, in addition to assuming certain liabilities and debts and also injecting new funds into the organization. According to Reuters, the deal values the club at €150 million ($175.80 million) including debt.

Josh Wander, founder and managing partner of 777 Partners, expressed his delight following the closing of the deal: “We understand and respect the responsibility we are inheriting; we want to preserve and protect the proud legacy of the Rossoblu by aiming for the best possible placing in Serie A.”

This deal is not the first excursion that 777 Partners has taken into the world of football. The Miami investment firm also owns a stake in the Spanish La Liga club Sevilla.

The post Oldest Serie A Team Purchased By U.S. Investment Firm appeared first on SportzBonanza.

AC Milan is currently leading the Serie A table and is in the midst of a resurgent season that has them looking like one of the best teams in Europe.

In order to help them in their push to qualify for the Champions League next season and fight to win the Italian league, they have agreed to sign star striker Mario Mandzukic on a six-month contract for the remainder of the season.

Mandzukic departed Juventus halfway through the 2019-20 season and spent the second half of last season playing in Qatar. After not renewing his deal with Al-Duhail last summer, he appeared content to wait for the right opportunity, and he seems to have gotten it with them.

A former Croatia international and star for clubs like Juve, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich, the 34-year-old veteran will give striking depth up front to Milan and serve as an option alongside ageless wonder Zlatan Ibrahimovic and youngster Rafael Leao.

It remains to be seen how productive Mandzukic will be, as he hasn’t played in Europe since May 2019. He did, however, score 10 goals in 33 games with Juventus that season before not appearing for the club last season.

Mandzukic has already begun training with his new club and could make his debut Saturday against Atalanta.

The post AC Milan Signs Mario Mandzukic to a 6-Month Contract appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Roma winger Iago Falque is on the move for the 2020-21 season, joining newly-promoted Benevento Calcio in Italy’s Serie A on loan.

Falque, a Spanish youth international who spent the second half of last season on loan at Genoa, was not in Torino’s plans for the current season and was able to find a spot on another team in the same league in the same country.

The former Spain youth international, who joined Torino back in January 2017 on a permanent deal from Roma for a fee of $7 million, should get plenty of chances in a Benevento squad whose goal will be to achieve safety for the 2021-22 season.

Falque adds an interesting option on the wing for Benevento. He played sparingly last season, appearing in just 14 Serie A games and recording 2 goals and 1 assist. His pedigree as a creator and scorer, however, includes a total of 47 goals and 24 assists in 166 Italian top flight matches between Roma, Genoa, and Torino.

The new Benevento attacker is set to join his new squad this week in training ahead of their midweek match against Inter Milan and their weekend showdown with Bologna.

The post Winger Iago Falque Joins Benevento on Loan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Celta Vigo made an important addition to their squad on Wednesday, securing a one-year loan deal for Sampdoria defender Jeison Murillo.

Murillo, who spent the second half of last season playing with the Galician side, joined Celta after teams such as Valencia and Real Sociedad made pushes for the center-back in recent weeks.

The Colombian defender gained an important role at Celta during the second half of last season, starting 17 games and scoring a goal for the Sky Blues, who narrowly avoided relegation.

Murillo was a standout for Celta, but the team didn’t exercise its purchase option for the center-back, betting on the fact that they could once again secure a loan deal for him.

Celta does reportedly have another purchase option for Murillo at the end of this season-long loan deal, although financial deals of the option have not been made public.

The former Inter Milan and Granada center back is expected to be a starter in Celta’s defense as the team looks to get past its relegation woes and compete for a higher spot in the La Liga table this season.

Murillo is expected to join Celta in training next week after undergoing COVID-19 testing beforehand.

The post Sampdoria Defender Jeison Murillo Heads Back on Loan to Celta Vigo appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Inter Milan thumped Napoli 3-0 on Sunday to propel themselves into first place in the Serie A standings. Although the final scoreline doesn’t tell the full story, with Napoli providing the visitors with a stern challenge throughout the game, Inter was more opportunistic in front of goal, with Hakan Calhanoglu, Nicolo Barella, and Marcus Thuram all finding the net.

“Coming to Naples you have to expect some difficulties,” Inter manager Simone Inzaghi explained after the match. “We had prepared in a certain way to push our wing-backs against their full-backs because the further away you keep Napoli from the penalty area the better. Winning like this in Naples is satisfying, but we also know it is only Week 14 and there is a very long way to go.”

This victory sees Inter lead the Serie A table with 35 points. Second-placed Juventus trail them by just two points, while Napoli have slumped to fifth spot with 24 points, trailing the league leaders by 11 points.

The post Inter Trounce Napoli to Grab the Top Spot in Serie A appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Juventus held Inter Milan to a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Stadium; a result that sees Inter hold onto their two-point lead over the team from Turin at the top of the Serie A table.

It was the home team that broke the deadlock when Dusan Vlahovic received a ball from Juventus teammate Federico Chiesa which he comfortably slotted into the back of the net. Just six minutes later, the Serpents of Madonnina struck back, with Lautaro Martinez rushing into the box and controlling a cross that he buried into the back of the net.

“The team remained concentrated, we scored a great equalizer,” Inter manager Simone Inzaghi said after the game. “We didn’t create a great deal in the second half, but against a strong Juve side who are deservedly second in the table, we will take the point.”

The post Inter Retain Serie A Top Spot Following Draw With Juventus appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Francesco Camarda made history during AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Fiorentina in the Seria A on Saturday. At 15 years, 8 months, and 16 days old, Camarda became the youngest debutant in Serie A history, coming on as a substitute in the second half.

“Francesco is a good lad; he is working well and we also need his freshness,” Milan manager Stefano Pioli stated. “He is very young but also very mature. We were all very happy for him. I could be his grandfather.”

Ultimately, it was a Theo Hernandez penalty in the first half that sealed the victory for Milan. The three points prove crucial for Milan, who have struggled to find their form as of late. While still in third place on the Serie A table, they trail league leaders Inter by five points, with the league leaders playing a game less than them.

The post Francesco Camarda Makes History as AC Milan Beats Fiorentina appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Roma manager Jose Mourinho stated that he would seek legal advice after he received a red card during his team’s shock 2-1 loss in the Serie A to relegation-threatened Cremonese on Tuesday. This was Cremonese’s first win of the season.

Mourinho was shown a red card by referee Marco Piccinini at the start of the second half for dissent, thus marking his third suspension of the season. According to Mourinho, his outburst was due to his treatment by the fourth official.

“For the first time in my career a referee has spoken to me in an unjustifiable way,” the Portuguese manager commented during the post-match news conference. “I’m not crazy. And to have the reaction I had is because something happened. I need to know now if I can do something from a legal point of view.”

The Roma boss believes that Piccinini’s decision to award him a red card was influenced by the fourth official. He also believes that the fourth official never divulged to the referee what he said to Mourinho which the Portuguese manager deemed to be inappropriate.

Cremonese now sits in 19th position on the Serie A standings, while Roma remains in contention for a Champions League spot next season, currently sitting in 5th place.

The post Jose Mourinho Seeks Legal Advice Following Red Card appeared first on SportzBonanza.

U.S. investment firm RedBird Capital Partners has secured the purchase of Serie A club AC Milan for a sum of $1.3 billion, the club announced on Wednesday. According to the official statement, the current owners, U.S. private equity group Elliot, will retain a minority stake in the club.

“We… are excited to play a role in the club’s next chapter as it returns to its rightful place at the very top of Italian, European and world football,” RedBird founder and managing partner Gerry Cardinale said following the announcement of the deal. The deal is expected to be completed by September latest, with the transition in ownership taking place over the summer.

AC Milan is the newly-crowned Serie A champion, winning the league title after an 11-season drought. While moderately successful under the previous ownership of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, AC Milan last won the Champions League in 2007.

RedBird is aiming to help rebuild AC Milan’s status as an elite club in Europe, with the club planning to reinforce its squad during the summer transfer window as it looks to defend its Serie A title while mounting a challenge for the Champions League trophy.

In addition to this latest acquisition, RedBird holds a controlling stake in French club Toulouse as well as a share in Fenway Sports Group—the owner of Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox.

The post RedBird Secures Purchase Of AC Milan for €1.3 Billion appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Inter Milan announced on Thursday that Danish international Christian Eriksen has been barred from playing competitive-level soccer in Italy this season as a result of the cardiac arrest he suffered during Denmark’s game against Finland at Euro 2020 in June. The attacking player collapsed mid-game and received life-saving medical treatment on the field.

As a result of the incident, Eriksen was fitted with a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a device that monitors his heartbeat and discharges a jolt in order to correct his heart rhythm should the risk of another cardiac arrest arise.

“With reference to the registration rights of the player Eriksen, it should be noted that following a serious injury which occurred during the European Championship in June 2021, the player has been temporarily inhibited by the Italian medical authority from sporting activity in the current season,” Inter Milan’s statement read.

Eriksen would only be permitted to participate in Italian soccer once the ICD device is removed. Until then, he will not be viewed as having met the requirements of achieving sporting fitness within Italy.

That being said, there may be the possibility of Eriksen participating in leagues in other countries where the same rule does not apply, a possibility that could result in an exit from his current club.

The post Christian Eriksen Prohibited From Playing In Italy appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Genoa, the oldest club in Italian soccer, has been acquired by American investment firm 777 Partners, following long-time owner Enrico Preziosi’s decision to depart from the club. Genoa is now the sixth Serie A team to be acquired by U.S. owners, following in the footsteps of AC Milan, Fiorentina, Spezia, AS Roma, and Venezia.

In a joint statement, it was confirmed that the Miami-based 777 Partners would be purchasing 99.9% of the club’s capital, in addition to assuming certain liabilities and debts and also injecting new funds into the organization. According to Reuters, the deal values the club at €150 million ($175.80 million) including debt.

Josh Wander, founder and managing partner of 777 Partners, expressed his delight following the closing of the deal: “We understand and respect the responsibility we are inheriting; we want to preserve and protect the proud legacy of the Rossoblu by aiming for the best possible placing in Serie A.”

This deal is not the first excursion that 777 Partners has taken into the world of football. The Miami investment firm also owns a stake in the Spanish La Liga club Sevilla.

The post Oldest Serie A Team Purchased By U.S. Investment Firm appeared first on SportzBonanza.

AC Milan is currently leading the Serie A table and is in the midst of a resurgent season that has them looking like one of the best teams in Europe.

In order to help them in their push to qualify for the Champions League next season and fight to win the Italian league, they have agreed to sign star striker Mario Mandzukic on a six-month contract for the remainder of the season.

Mandzukic departed Juventus halfway through the 2019-20 season and spent the second half of last season playing in Qatar. After not renewing his deal with Al-Duhail last summer, he appeared content to wait for the right opportunity, and he seems to have gotten it with them.

A former Croatia international and star for clubs like Juve, Atletico Madrid, and Bayern Munich, the 34-year-old veteran will give striking depth up front to Milan and serve as an option alongside ageless wonder Zlatan Ibrahimovic and youngster Rafael Leao.

It remains to be seen how productive Mandzukic will be, as he hasn’t played in Europe since May 2019. He did, however, score 10 goals in 33 games with Juventus that season before not appearing for the club last season.

Mandzukic has already begun training with his new club and could make his debut Saturday against Atalanta.

The post AC Milan Signs Mario Mandzukic to a 6-Month Contract appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Roma winger Iago Falque is on the move for the 2020-21 season, joining newly-promoted Benevento Calcio in Italy’s Serie A on loan.

Falque, a Spanish youth international who spent the second half of last season on loan at Genoa, was not in Torino’s plans for the current season and was able to find a spot on another team in the same league in the same country.

The former Spain youth international, who joined Torino back in January 2017 on a permanent deal from Roma for a fee of $7 million, should get plenty of chances in a Benevento squad whose goal will be to achieve safety for the 2021-22 season.

Falque adds an interesting option on the wing for Benevento. He played sparingly last season, appearing in just 14 Serie A games and recording 2 goals and 1 assist. His pedigree as a creator and scorer, however, includes a total of 47 goals and 24 assists in 166 Italian top flight matches between Roma, Genoa, and Torino.

The new Benevento attacker is set to join his new squad this week in training ahead of their midweek match against Inter Milan and their weekend showdown with Bologna.

The post Winger Iago Falque Joins Benevento on Loan appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Celta Vigo made an important addition to their squad on Wednesday, securing a one-year loan deal for Sampdoria defender Jeison Murillo.

Murillo, who spent the second half of last season playing with the Galician side, joined Celta after teams such as Valencia and Real Sociedad made pushes for the center-back in recent weeks.

The Colombian defender gained an important role at Celta during the second half of last season, starting 17 games and scoring a goal for the Sky Blues, who narrowly avoided relegation.

Murillo was a standout for Celta, but the team didn’t exercise its purchase option for the center-back, betting on the fact that they could once again secure a loan deal for him.

Celta does reportedly have another purchase option for Murillo at the end of this season-long loan deal, although financial deals of the option have not been made public.

The former Inter Milan and Granada center back is expected to be a starter in Celta’s defense as the team looks to get past its relegation woes and compete for a higher spot in the La Liga table this season.

Murillo is expected to join Celta in training next week after undergoing COVID-19 testing beforehand.

The post Sampdoria Defender Jeison Murillo Heads Back on Loan to Celta Vigo appeared first on SportzBonanza.