Como defender Jacobo Ramon has spoken about reports linking him with a return to Real Madrid.

The Spanish centre-back has been mentioned as a possible replacement for Antonio Rudiger at the Spanish club, although no details of a potential deal have been given.

Real Madrid sold Ramon to Italian club Como in summer 2025 for €2.5m. The 21-year-old has since seen his estimated market value rise significantly, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at €45m.

Ramon has made six appearances in all competitions this season and has scored one goal.

His contract with Como runs until 2030.

Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa could leave the club after failing to reach an agreement over a new contract.

The 30-year-old Cameroon international’s current deal expires at the end of the season, and negotiations with Napoli have reportedly reached a standstill, according to Tuttosport.

Inter, Milan and Juventus are all closely monitoring the situation, the report adds.

Zambo Anguissa has made four appearances in Serie A this season but has not registered a goal or an assist.

According to Transfermarkt, the midfielder is valued at 15 million euros.

Former Inter defender Matteo Darmian is set to continue his career in Serie A after agreeing terms with Bologna, according to football transfer insider Nicolo Schira.

The 36-year-old is currently a free agent and has reached an agreement with the Rossoblu over a contract running until the summer of next year.

Darmian spent six years with Inter, representing the Milan club from 2020 to 2026. He is now close to making Bologna his next club as the side look to strengthen their squad.

Bologna have taken two points from their opening five matches of the Italian league season and are 18th in the table.

Their next fixture is an away match against Lecce.

Andriy Shevchenko has turned 50, with Milan paying tribute to the former Ukraine striker on his birthday on 29 September.

The Italian club’s press service congratulated Shevchenko on reaching the milestone, marking the career of one of Milan’s most celebrated forwards.

Shevchenko played for Milan from 1999 to 2006 before returning for the 2008-09 season. During his time at the club, he helped them win Serie A, the Italian Cup and the UEFA Champions League.

The former Dynamo Kyiv and Chelsea player was also awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2004.

Former Juventus defender Paolo Montero has reflected on his career as a player and coach, describing the mentality that shaped his time in Turin, his work with young players and his experiences managing Mario Balotelli and teams abroad.

Montero, once regarded as one of football’s most uncompromising defenders, spoke exclusively to Flashscore about a career built on physical commitment and direct relationships. He said he had little time for “sycophants” and valued people who were honest enough to speak openly.

His move to Italy began after he was sidelined at Penarol. Cesar Luis Menotti, then coaching in Uruguay and a close friend of Atalanta president Antonio Previtali, invited Montero to Buenos Aires. Atalanta signed him after assessing five or six scouting reports from tours in South America and Spain, without seeing him play live.

Montero arrived in Bergamo in April but had to wait six months before playing, using that period to learn Italian and adjust to his new city and team. He settled quickly, partly because Montevideo’s pace reminded him of Turin and Bergamo.

At 19, however, he found Italian football difficult. His second match was against Milan at San Siro, shortly after Arrigo Sacchi had left and Fabio Capello had taken charge. Milan’s line-up included Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Carlo Ancelotti, Evani, Donadoni, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. Atalanta lost 2-0 and barely escaped their own half.

His father told him he needed to change his approach, abandoning the South American youth style to become a more practical defender suited to European football.

Montero initially held talks with Inter officials Giacinto Facchetti and Sandro Mazzola. After reaching a verbal agreement, he was contacted by Marcello Lippi, who told him not to sign anything and to travel to Turin. Montero left Bergamo with his brother that evening and signed for Juventus and Luciano Moggi at midnight.

He believes the strongest Juventus team he played in was the one strengthened by Edgar Davids and featuring Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, Christian Vieri and Didier Deschamps.

Montero said the club’s winning mentality was reinforced by Moggi and Antonio Giraudo, but transmitted each day by the Italian core of the dressing room: Angelo Peruzzi, Ciro Ferrara, Antonio Conte, Gianluca Pessotto, Angelo Di Livio, Alessio Tacchinardi, Moreno Torricelli and Attilio Lombardo.

“They transmitted the sense of ‘family’,” he said.

He recalled teammates reacting angrily when a training match slipped from 5-0 to 5-1, saying such lapses in concentration could not be allowed because they would appear in Sunday’s match. “Concentration is built starting from Monday,” Montero said, adding that a final at the Bernabeu and a small Coppa Italia match demanded the same focus.

His defensive philosophy was shaped by physical necessity. At 1.79m and of average build, he felt aggression was the only way to challenge strikers such as Van Basten, George Weah, Gabriel Batistuta and Ronaldo. Quoting Julio Velasco, he said: “Aggressiveness removes doubts.”

“Every tackle represented the ‘plate of food’ to bring home for my family,” Montero added, saying he committed his full 80kg to every challenge, even if that sometimes left him on the edge of the rules.

He believes modern defenders have adapted to a changing game. After watching Torino play Roma, he praised Roma’s defenders Gianluca Mancini and Evan Ndicka for competing successfully with Duvan Zapata through physical strength, experience and intelligent use of their bodies.

Montero left Italy when he felt his physical and mental level was no longer at its peak. After a season with San Lorenzo, he returned to Uruguay to fulfil his ambition of ending his career at Penarol, the club he supported and where he grew up.

His coaching career began after he abandoned a football-agency venture with his close friend Gustavo Mendez. He undertook coaching studies to help young Uruguayans with tactical and strategic issues, before becoming increasingly interested in management.

A call from Gianluca Pessotto brought him back to Juventus. Montero initially assumed the conversation concerned his son, who was in the club’s youth system, but instead learned that Juventus wanted him to work with its academy. He accepted because of his enduring affection for the club and Turin, where he had always felt at home.

With young players, Montero demands maximum intensity every day. He encourages shoulder-to-shoulder contact in training games, while stressing that aggression means committing fully to a challenge, not making unfair tackles. His message is that opponents may win at Juventus, but they must never find victory easy.

He also believes players in the Primavera or Next Gen must understand they are close to the First Team or Serie B and can no longer rely on being considered young. In South America, he said, a player aged 19 or 20 must establish himself or risk being left out, whereas in Italy players can sometimes still be labelled young at 23 or 25.

Montero was surprised when he was asked to coach Juventus’ first team after Massimiliano Allegri’s dismissal. He had been focused on finishing the season with the youth side, but said the senior players treated him exceptionally well. Juventus recovered from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Bologna before producing an excellent performance against Monza.

He said human relationships came before tactical matters and that criticism should be accepted as motivation rather than taken personally. If players have trained properly, he tells them, they should enter matches calmly, knowing they have done everything required.

His time working with Mario Balotelli involved frank conversations but no lasting conflict. Montero told him directly that, as he was no longer 20, he needed to manage his workload, lose weight and regain fitness. Balotelli accepted the message and behaved professionally.

Montero said strong personalities had never caused him problems. The real difficulties, he believes, come from people who are false or sycophantic. He prefers someone who speaks openly rather than someone who pretends to be brave.

His experience in the United Arab Emirates was among the biggest surprises of his life. He praised the generosity and work ethic he encountered, while respecting cultural and religious customs. During Ramadan, training was moved to 22:00 because players did not eat or drink during daylight.

Travel, he concluded, taught him that “whoever has a good soul and behaves well is the same in China, in Uruguay, in Italy, or in the Emirates”.

Napoli midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is being monitored by Inter and Juventus after negotiations over a new contract reached an impasse.

Tuttosport reports that discussions between Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna and the Cameroon international’s representative have made limited progress.

Anguissa is understood to want a salary of around €6 million per season, compared with the €3.8m he currently earns.

Napoli are unwilling to immediately accept those terms. The club is also taking into account the 30-year-old’s recent injury problems, as well as the need to remain within its existing wage structure.

The uncertainty surrounding the midfielder’s future has attracted the attention of Inter and Juventus. AC Milan are also reportedly following the situation.

Anguissa has become an important player for Napoli, but the failure to agree fresh terms could leave open the possibility of a move to another Serie A club.

Parma have parted company with manager Carlos Cuesta after only five Serie A matches, with the club saying the decision was reached by mutual agreement.

The 31-year-old Spaniard took charge in 2025, replacing Cristian Chivu, who is now manager of Inter Milan. The appointment was Cuesta’s first senior managerial role after he had worked as an assistant coach under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

In a statement released on Sunday, Parma said discussions with Cuesta had concluded that the relationship could no longer continue, particularly in relation to the development of the club’s sporting project.

The decision comes only a week after Parma recorded their first Serie A victory of the season, beating Genoa 2-1 at home. They are 15th in the table after five rounds.

Cuesta thanked the club and players in a post on Instagram, saying: “It has been an intense year and a half during which I gave my all, right up until the very last day, for a team and a club to which I have become deeply attached.”

He added: “We were a united family that fought until the very last minute to achieve what we always wanted: to win.”

Parma said Monday’s training session would be overseen by the club’s coaching staff while the search for a new head coach continues.

Former Milan striker Alessandro Matri does not believe the club will mount a successful bid for the championship, despite their impressive performances.

Matri said he could not see Milan as genuine contenders for the title and was sceptical about their prospects of finishing the season as champions.

Milan last won the championship in 2022.

Roma have completed the approval process for their proposed new stadium in Pietralata, a district in northern Rome, describing the development as a historic milestone on the path towards construction.

The project has been under consideration and through the necessary procedures for several years, with the process beginning in October 2022. Roma will now move on to the next stage of the plans.

The club aims to begin building the stadium in March 2027 and complete the project by 2031. The venue is also seeking inclusion among the stadiums selected to host Euro 2032, which will be staged in Italy and Turkey.

Roma said the new ground would be more than a home for the club and its supporters. It is intended to create new opportunities, support the development of the surrounding area and provide long-term benefits for the city and its residents.

Bologna are exploring options to replace right-back Emil Holm after the Sweden international suffered a serious thigh injury.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Holm could require surgery for damage to the back of his right thigh. The injury was sustained during Sweden’s 2-1 Nations League win over Romania.

Holm is expected to be sidelined for between four and six months, although Bologna are still waiting for definitive information about the extent of the injury and whether an operation will be necessary.

The club have already begun considering potential replacements, with former Inter defender Matteo Darmian among the candidates being assessed.

Darmian, who is 36, is currently a free agent after his contract with Inter expired.

Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic avoided a serious injury after being substituted early in Serbia’s recent Nations League match against the Netherlands.

According to Calciomercato, the decision to take Pavlovic off was a precautionary measure. The defender is therefore expected to be available when the Serie A season resumes, including Milan’s match against Sassuolo.

Pavlovic has been a regular for Milan this season. Under Ruben Amorim, he has made six appearances, featuring in five Serie A matches and once in the Europa League.

AC Milan have reportedly agreed a €40m deal to sign Portuguese defender Goncalo Inacio from Sporting.

According to Calciomercato, the 25-year-old is expected to join the Italian club during the winter transfer window.

Inacio was also due to move to Milan last summer, but the transfer did not go ahead after Sporting were unable to find a suitable replacement for the defender in time.

Born in a suburb of Lisbon, Inacio came through Sporting’s academy and has made about 200 appearances for the club. He has also won 21 caps for Portugal.

Juventus are monitoring Hakan Calhanoglu’s contract situation at Inter, with the Turin club considering a move for the midfielder if negotiations over a new deal fail, according to Calciomercato.

The 32-year-old Turkey international is under contract with Inter until June 2027. However, discussions about extending his agreement have reached an impasse, the report says.

Juventus could look to take advantage of the uncertainty by attempting to sign Calhanoglu should the two sides be unable to reach an agreement. Clubs from the Turkish Super Lig are also reported to be interested in the midfielder.

Calhanoglu has played in Italy since 2017, when he joined Milan. He spent four seasons with the club before moving to Inter as a free agent in the summer of 2021.

Since arriving at Inter, Calhanoglu has won two Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia trophies and three Supercoppa Italiana crowns. He has also reached the Champions League final twice with the club.

The midfielder has made four appearances in all competitions this season and scored two goals. He is currently recovering from an injury.

Juventus have re-signed former Arsenal and Barcelona goalkeeper Neto, with the Italian club confirming that the 37-year-old has agreed a contract running until 30 June 2027.

The Brazilian returns to Turin after leaving Botafogo as a free agent in the summer. His second spell with Juventus will begin almost a decade after his first ended.

Neto previously represented Juventus between 2015 and 2017, making 22 appearances across two seasons. During that period, he helped the club win two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and one Supercoppa Italiana.

His most recent club was Botafogo, whom he left in the summer. He had joined the Brazilian side after a career that also included spells with Arsenal, Barcelona, Valencia, Bournemouth and Atletico Paranaense.

Juventus announced the agreement through the club’s press office, bringing Neto back as an experienced option in goal.

Norberto Neto has commented on his move back to Juventus, having joined the club as a free agent until the end of the current season.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper has returned to Juventus to provide cover for Kamil Grabara, who is injured.

Neto previously played for Juventus between 2015 and 2017. During his two seasons with the club, he made 22 appearances and won two Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia trophies and the Supercoppa Italiana.

The Brazilian goalkeeper has also represented Valencia, Barcelona, Bournemouth, Arsenal and Botafogo during his career.

Parma have reached an agreement with Italian coach Alberto Gilardino to become their new manager, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The 44-year-old will replace Carlos Cuesta, who has decided to leave his position at the Serie A club.

Gilardino has previously managed Pisa, Genoa, Siena and other teams. He will now take charge of a Parma side that have collected four points from their opening five league matches.

Parma are currently 14th in the Serie A table. Their next fixture is away to Inter, with the match scheduled for 10 October.

Roma would demand about €100m for France midfielder Manu Kone if the 25-year-old leaves the club, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.

Kone’s future in the Italian capital could come under scrutiny, with Liverpool and Chelsea previously reported to be interested in the player.

The midfielder has featured in five Serie A matches this season, scoring two goals and receiving one yellow card.

Kone remains under contract with Roma until the end of June 2029, giving the club a strong negotiating position should interest in the France international develop into a formal transfer approach.

Transfermarkt values Kone at €60m, £40m below the figure Roma are reportedly prepared to seek for his transfer.

Francesco Totti says he would have loved to play alongside Brazilian striker Ronaldo during his career.

The Roma legend chose Ronaldo when naming the forward he would most like to have shared a team with.

“I would have helped him score three times as many goals,” Totti said.

Ronaldo, widely known as “The Phenomenon”, represented PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Milan during his club career. He also played in Brazil for Cruzeiro and Corinthians.

At international level, Ronaldo scored 62 goals in 98 appearances for Brazil.

A mural honouring Franco Baresi has been vandalised less than two months after the former Milan captain died, with police now searching for those responsible.

The tribute was defaced with spray paint, covering the work created by the artists who produced the mural. The perpetrators also left paint marks on nearby buildings, according to pianetamilan.it, suggesting the vandalism was carried out carelessly.

The identity of the vandals is not known, although there has been speculation that they could be supporters of Inter.

Baresi died from an illness last summer at the age of 66. He ended his playing career in 1997 after spending his entire career with Milan.

Fiorentina are considering whether to leave their main training centre, Viola Park, because of the extreme heat players face there during the summer.

Climate change in Europe is increasingly affecting football, and the conditions at the club’s current base have reportedly led to regular complaints from players. The heat is making it more difficult to carry out preparations effectively.

According to derbyderbyderby.it, citing the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Fiorentina’s leadership is now examining the possibility of moving the training centre to a cooler location.

A mountainous area is one potential option. The club could even look beyond Italy, with England and Austria mentioned as possible destinations. Austria is understood to be the more likely of those two alternatives.

Fiorentina’s poor starts to the season over several consecutive years have added to concerns that the existing preparation process is not working as intended.