⚽️🇮🇹 Could AC Milan get a new 'American' home?
In this week’s look at the latest from the world of Italian soccer, we're also previewing today's big all-Italian Europa League clash, and revealing the identity of Lecce's iconic celebrity supporter!
🏟️ Rossoneri owner promises to build new ‘American’ stadium in Milan
AC Milan has called the San Siro home since 1926, and has shared the iconic venue with city rivals Inter since 1947. Gerry Cardinale, founder of the investment firm that owns Milan, RedBird Capital Partners, has revealed his plans to build the Rossoneri an American-style home.
🗣️ Speaking with Bloomberg’s Podcast “The Deal,” Cardinale spoke of his desire to build a venue that will also be home to music and entertainment events, in the mold of a multi-purpose modern American stadium:
“One of our issues is building a new stadium, the first built in Italy since 2011. It’ll be an American stadium with 70,000 seats,” he said.
“We are going to bring music to Milan and build some big entertaining events anchored by the team.”
👋 Both teams have explored options to leave the San Siro, with the Nerazzurri identifying a site in the Rozzano commune, while Milan have previously looked at the San Donato neighborhood.
Milan mayor Beppe Sala recently offered both clubs the opportunity to completely renovate the existing San Siro to keep them at the site. The city official says the fate of the stadium, which was most recently renovated for the 1990 World Cup, will be decided in June.
🇺🇸 Cardinale’s RedBird Capital Partners took control of the club from fellow American hedge fund Elliott Management in the summer of 2022. RedBird also has a stake in Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox.
😮 Claudio Ranieri hails Cagliari’s ‘beautiful and magnificent’ comeback against Atalanta
Cagliari’s chances of Serie A survival were given a significant boost over the weekend when Nicolas Viola’s 88th minute strike sealed a dramatic comeback win.
🗣️ “It was a beautiful and magnificent match,” said Cagliari coach Claudio Ranieri, whose resume also boasts Leicester City’s unlikely Premier League title win. “It shows us that by never giving up and being tenacious on every ball, which is a lot with Atalanta, we can do great things."
🆙 The win lifted Cagliari to 13th in Serie A, but they are just four points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. Only five points currently separate 13th to 19th position.
😥 There’s a relegation six-pointer this weekend when 14th-place Lecce hosts 16th-place Empoli (9.00am ET on Paramount+). That game will definitely interest a certain member of Hollywood royalty - keep reading to find out who…
👏 Christian Pulisic is enjoying his highest-scoring season ever
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Christian Pulisic’s freshman Serie A season couldn’t be going much better.
⚽️ The American notched his 10th league goal of the season in Milan’s 3-0 win over Lecce on Saturday - a stunning long-range effort on his weaker left foot (although it might be said that he doesn’t even have a weaker foot at this point).
👏 The 25-year-old has surpassed the nine goals he scored for Chelsea in 2019/20 to record his best-ever scoring season. He also has six assists on the season, with another seven potential league games to bump his numbers even further.
🔟 The USMNT star showed his versatility in the Lecce win, switching from his typical wide position to a No.10 role to help solve a central attacking depth issue.
👍 Milan coach Stefano Pioli continues to praise the USMNT star, hailing his professionalism: “His attitude is fantastic, he is an exemplary professional and hard worker who will help the team to get stronger.”
⏭️ Pulisic will likely be in action today for the Rossoneri’s biggest game of the season so far…
🥊 Milan and Roma clash on European stage
The Europa League has gifted us an all-Italian battle, with Milan hosting Roma in the first leg of their quarterfinal bout later today (3pm ET on Paramount+).
🇪🇺 Roma made the final of the competition last season, where they were defeated by Sevilla on penalties. Milan last featured in a continental final when they beat Sevilla in the 2007 UEFA Super Cup.
😮 Milan beat Slavia Praha 7-3 on aggregate in the previous round and find themselves on a seven-game winning streak in all competitions, trailing only to their dominant rivals Inter in the Serie A standings.
🐺 Roma come into the game on the back of a hard-fought victory in the Derby Della Capitale, ending a four-match winless run in the Roman rivalry, stretching back more than two years. Under coach Daniele De Rossi, Roma has lost only once in 11 league games.
👉 Up next: The second leg will take place at the Stadio Olimpico next Thursday, April 18th, with the winner progressing to the semifinals to meet either Premier League stalwarts West Ham or German champions-elect Bayer Leverkusen.
👋 Join us in Baltimore for the Derby D’America
Four of the USMNT’s biggest stars could be in action when Juventus host Milan on April 27th. If you’re in or near Baltimore, why not join us for the Derby D’America?
🎉 The free event at Baltimore’s Power Plant Live! will feature exclusive giveaways, drink specials, and the opportunity to hang with like-minded Serie A fans while watching one of the biggest games of the season.
🗓️ We’ll announce registration details shortly, but mark your calendars accordingly!
🧑🦱 Social Post of the Week: Weston McKennie’s adorable fan interaction
You heard it here first, folks: curly hair is the best.
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Share this newsletter with 10 friends, and we’ll send you a genuine Serie A captain’s armband (as seen below, expertly modeled by the Coppa Italia trophy in our NYC offices)…
🇮🇹 Dušan Vlahović takes a tour of Turin
Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović has called Turin home since his arrival at Juventus from Fiorentina in January 2022. In the latest episode of our Champions of Made in Italy series, the talismanic forward explores the city - including the impressive Juventus Museum at Allianz Stadium - while reflecting on his career highlights thus far.
🇮🇹 Serie A is partnering with the Italian government for the Champions of Made in Italy documentary series, which is bringing insight into the cities and cultures that surround every club in the league. More episodes below…
🚀 ICYMI: Politano’s sensational volley
Napoli’s 4-2 win at Monza on Sunday brought the Partenopei to within two points of Serie A’s European qualification berths. The highlight of Napoli’s victory was surely Matteo Politano’s perfectly executed volley from downtown…
👏 The goal was Politano’s seventh of the current Serie A campaign, where he has also provided seven assists.
🤯 Politano’s goal was part of a thrilling second-half comeback that saw five goals in 14 minutes. The statement result was Napoli’s first victory in five games in all competitions.
💬 Calcio Conversations
After last weekend’s derby match in Rome, we now head north to look ahead to the “Derby della Mole” in Turin this weekend, between Torino and Juventus (12pm ET on Paramount+).
🤷♂️ What does it mean? The Turin derby (or Derby di Torino) is known as the Derby della Mole, but the name is (sadly) nothing to do with burrowing underground critters.
Instead, it’s a reference to the most iconic monument in the city of Turin, the towering Mole Antonelliana. Named after its architect, Alessandro Antonelli, the 550-foot building was completed in 1889, 26 years after construction began, and currently houses the National Museum of Cinema.
If you think you recognize it, that might be because it features on the €2 coin in Italy.
🎬 Dame Helen Mirren is a Lecce fan!
She may have won an Oscar for portraying the Queen, but Dame Helen Mirren’s greatest role is surely that of a fanatical Lecce supporter!
[Image: @uslecce]
🗣️ In an interview with Italian magazine Oggi, the legendary English actor spoke about her home in Puglia and her passion for Luca Gotti’s side:
“I remember my first evening here, sat on the beach with a glass of wine in my hand and I said to myself: ‘I have to live here’. Do you understand? Not I ‘want’ to live here, but I ‘have’ to.
“I’ve rejected lots of films because it’s so hard to leave here. Inside, I feel like I’m from Salento. In fact, I want to say again: ‘Forza Lecce!’”
🏟️ Mirren is no stranger to the Stadio Via del mare, and was pictured at Lecce’s home stadium wearing the Giallorossi strip last season.
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports and Paramount+
Friday, April 12th
Lazio v Salernitana (2.45pm ET)
Saturday, April 13th
Lecce v Empoli (9am ET)
Torino v Juventus (12pm ET)
Bologna v Monza (2pm ET)
Sunday, April 14th
Napoli v Frosinone (6.30am ET)
Sassuolo v Milan (9am ET)
Udinese v Roma (12pm ET)
Inter v Cagliari (2pm ET)
Monday, April 15th
Fiorentina v Genoa (12pm ET)
Atalanta v Hellas Verona (2pm ET)
🇨🇦 Reading this in Canada? Watch ALL Serie A games LIVE on Fubo - Try it for free! 🇨🇦
👋 Grazie e arrivederci!
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Ciao ciao!
So interesting