Pep Guardiola is not coming to save Italian football. Not yet, anyway. The Manchester City manager shut down any talk of taking over the Azzurri job this summer, saying he needs a break from the game rather than a new challenge.
“I don’t feel like I’m missing anything mentally,” Guardiola said. “I love my job, but there comes a moment when you feel you need to take a break. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and say, ‘OK, I want to coach again.’ I need to feel that I miss it, and right now I don’t.”
That leaves the Italy vacancy wide open. Andrea Pirlo is still the frontrunner, with Raffaele Palladino also in the mix according to Tuttosport. But Guardiola was the name that got everyone talking, and now he’s out.
Como isn’t backing down on Chalobah
Over in the club world, Como is making a real push. They’re preparing a third offer for Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah after finishing ahead of Juventus and Milan to snag a Champions League spot last season. Chelsea wants around €35 million. Como is offering €30 million plus add-ons. That gap is small enough that this could actually happen.
Chalobah has been on the fringes at Stamford Bridge for a while now. A move to Italy might give him the consistent minutes he needs.
Roma’s shopping list keeps growing
Roma lost Zeki Celik to Juventus earlier this week, so they’re scrambling for a replacement. They’re also trying to pry Crysencio Summerville away from West Ham. Reports from Sky and Gazzetta say Roma is ready to drop around €40 million on the Dutch winger. Summerville is back from vacation today and will decide whether to engage.
Lazio, meanwhile, is working on a loan deal for Dinamo Zagreb’s Sergi Dominguez that includes a €12 million obligation to buy. That one feels close.
Juventus still hunting for a striker
Juventus confirmed Zeki Celik as their second signing of the summer, but they’re not done. They’re chasing Randal Kolo Muani hard. Tuttosport reports their final offer is an initial loan with an option to buy and a sell-on clause, totaling about €45 million. If that falls through, Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino is the backup plan — but Parma wants €30 million.
There’s also a weird subplot with Dusan Vlahovic. Luciano Spalletti held his first press conference of the season and said he’d be open to bringing Vlahovic back to Juventus. “I did my job with Vlahovic, which was to evaluate his technical qualities, but the economic discussion is not my purview,” Spalletti said. “I haven’t spoken to him since the season ended, but he knows my thoughts. Our directors always have the door open.”
That sounds like a guy who isn’t sure if his bosses can get the deal done.
Quick hits from around Serie A
Galatasaray has sniffed around Gleison Bremer and is reportedly ready to throw big money at the Brazilian defender. Ederson extended his contract at Atalanta through 2031, just days after his move to Manchester United fell apart. Mergim Vojvoda left Como for Udinese in a €1.6 million permanent deal. And Fiorentina is bringing in Ivory Coast youngster Christ Inai Oulai from Trabzonspor.
Watford might grab Iker Bravo from Udinese on loan, and a few lower-tier moves got done too: Andres Cuenca from Barcelona to Como, Robin Gosens from Fiorentina to Schalke 04, Tarik Muharemovic from Sassuolo to Leeds, Hamed Traore from Marseille to Genoa, and a few Serie C transfers that won’t move the needle for most fans.
Busy day. But the headline is still Guardiola. He’s not coming. Not yet.
Leave a Comment