⚽️🇮🇹 Juve's new North American superstar!
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we're looking at a historic moment for Canadian soccer in Serie A, some beautiful new kits, Jannik Sinner's dream five-a-side team, and much more!
🇨🇦 Jonathan David joins Juventus!
Jonathan David this week became the first Canadian player ever to sign for Juventus, after penning a five-year deal in Turin.
🔥 The striker was a free agent after leaving French club Lille, where he spent the last five years and scored 25 goals in 49 games in all competitions last season.
🫶 “Growing up as a kid, I always looked up to a club like Juventus and thought, this is probably one of the top 10 biggest clubs in the world,” David said. “So for me to be sitting here today is an honor.”
🍁 On being the storied Italian club’s first Canadian, he said: “It feels good. I am trying to pave the way for other Canadians who have the talent to one day do the same things I am doing now.”
👏 David, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, before relocating to Ottawa, also has a prolific record at the international level, netting 36 goals in 67 Canada caps.
🗣️ His national team manager, Jesse Marsch, had high praise for the 25-year-old this week: “There are all different kinds of strikers, but in terms of pure returns, David is right after [Manchester City star Erling] Haaland,” Marsch said.
✍️ David may be the first Canadian to pull on the famous black-and-white shirt, but he’s not the first to play in Serie A - that accolade was already scooped up by Inter’s Tajon Buchanan!
🏆 CONCACAF Gold Cup joy for Serie A duo
It wasn’t to be for the USMNT on Sunday when it suffered defeat to Mexico on home turf in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. However, a pair of Serie A stars were among the victors.
🇲🇽 Mauricio Pochettino’s side went in front after just four minutes through Chris Richards, but goals from Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez completed the comeback for Mexico in Houston, Texas.
👏 Genoa defender Johan Vásquez played the full 90 minutes in the heart of the Mexican defense and even bagged an assist for Álvarez’s winner with a deft glancing header.
⭐ Milan striker Santiago Giménez came off the bench late on to play his part as El Tri won a record-extending 10th Gold Cup title and their second in a row.
✍️ Allegri reveals huge Milan signing news
Returning Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri got to work with his players this week as pre-season training got underway. There was another new face in Rossoneri colors in the shape of Samuele Ricci - and a revelation about the arrival of a legendary midfielder!
👉 Allegri succeeds Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição, having last coached the Rossoneri in 2014.
🙏 "To the fans, I say the most important thing is to work well every day," Allegri said. "The only way to regain respect is through responsibility and by achieving results. We will absolutely need their support."
💯 His first signing is Italy international playmaker Ricci, who joins on a four-year deal with the option of a fifth from Torino.
😲 Allegri revealed another high-profile midfielder will soon be joining his ranks…
⭐ Asked about a move for Real Madrid superstar and former Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modrić, Allegri said: "We’re waiting for him to join up with us, he will be here in August. He is an important and extraordinary player."
➡️ Milan’s first pre-season match is against Arsenal in Singapore on July 23, before they take on fellow Premier League giants Liverpool in Hong Kong three days later.
😈 New boy Ricci was also kept busy modelling Milan’s new away kit, featuring the return of the classic Diavoletto badge.
👕 Read on for more kit news…
🆕 Bonny bolsters Inter’s ranks
Inter has also been busy making moves over the last week, adding French striker Ange-Yoan Bonny to their squad for next season from Parma.
✨ Bonny, 21, impressed in his debut Serie A campaign last year, scoring six goals and providing four assists in 37 games to earn his big move to San Siro.
💙 “I feel so much emotion, I am very happy to be here,” Bonny said. “It is a childhood dream come true for me. I am still struggling to realize what’s happening. I can’t wait to get started.”
🤝 He also played under new Nerazzurri boss Cristian Chivu for the final three months of 2024/25 and was pleased to be reunited with the Romanian coach.
🗣️ “Chivu helped me a great deal during those last three months at Parma. He is really a good person, and he had faith in me. I am very happy to be working with him again,” Bonny added.
💪 The Frenchman becomes Inter’s third summer signing following the captures of Luis Henrique and Petar Sucic. All three additions are aged 23 or younger as last season’s runners-up freshen up their squad.
💰 Mercato season in full flow
What else has been going on in the calciomercato over the last week, then? Allow us to guide you through some of the other transfer headlines…
🇨🇿 Bologna secured the signing of Czech center-back Martin Vitík from Sparta Praha. The 22-year-old “is strong in physical duels, particularly in aerial battles, thanks to his impressive physical strength,” according to the club’s website.
👏 Torino has signed midfielder Tino Anjorin from Empoli on an initial three-year deal following the Tuscan side’s relegation to Serie B.
💨 Como has been very active this summer already, and their spree of activity continued with the addition of Dutch winger Jayden Addai from AZ Alkmaar.
🗣️ “Jayden is direct, technical, and brave. He’s already shown real quality at a high level, and we believe this is the perfect place for him to grow and thrive. We’re excited to have him with us,” said Como head coach Cesc Fabregas.
📈 Last, but by no means least, Lecce sealed a loan deal for highly-rated striker 17-year-old Francesco Camarda from Milan. The precocious forward made Serie A history in November 2023 when he debuted for the Rossoneri’s first team at the age of just 15.
😍 Lazio and Roma’s new threads
The jersey drops keep on coming, with the two Roman clubs unveiling their eye-catching new home jerseys.
🦅 Lazio’s new home shirt, in classic sky blue, features a design inspired by Rome’s iconic Piazza del Campidoglio, “the heart of the Eternal City and home of all Romans.”
🐺 Across town, Roma released its giallorosso home shirt, which “revisits the graphic elements and designs of the most beloved jerseys of the past in a modern way.”
🔥 Elsewhere, we got a look at Genoa’s beautiful new home kit and Torino’s fetching away effort, while Lecce revealed their stunning home and third kits with a party by the sea!
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✋ Social Post of the Week: Sinner’s five-a-side team
It turns out that world number one tennis player Jannik Sinner isn’t only handy on the court - he also knows how to pick a mean five-a-side team too!
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