⚽️🇮🇹 Serie A's young stars shine in the States!
In this week’s Italian soccer digest, we're looking at the Serie A youngsters lighting up the Club World Cup, the latest kit launches, Parma's record-breaking new coach, and much more.
💫 Yıldız scores ‘best goal of career’
Juventus sealed passage to the Round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup with a game to spare, thanks in large part to another sparkling display from Kenan Yıldız.
👏 The Bianconeri defeated Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 4-1 at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday to make it two wins from two in Group G following their opening 5-0 victory over Al-Ain.
🇹🇷 Igor Tudor’s side has been in free-scoring form in the United States and nobody has caught the eye more than 20-year-old Turkish star Yıldız, who scored two sensational goals, including an outrageous bullet strike for his first.
🤔 Yıldız felt he should have had a hat-trick, which he was denied when the opening goal after six minutes was instead attributed as an Abdelmounaim Boutouil own goal due to a deflection.
🙏 "They say it was a double, but I think it was a hat-trick,” Yildiz told DAZN. “I was the one who kicked the first goal, it deflected but I think the first one was mine too. I think the second one is the best goal I have scored so far in my career.”
🍽️ We asked Juve fans which player they would most like to have dinner with - check out their answers!
👉 Next up for Juventus is the final group game against Manchester City at 3pm ET today. Both sides are already through, but the winner will top the group. Whoever comes second risks facing Group H leaders Real Madrid in the next round…
🙌 Pio Esposito sends Inter through!
Inter joined Juventus in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Argentine giants River Plate on Wednesday night.
💥 Francesco Pio Esposito was the hero of the hour as the teenage striker scored his first goal for his boyhood club on his first start with a wonderfully-taken finish in the second half to open the scoring.
📈 The 19-year-old spent last season on loan in Serie B with Spezia, where he scored 19 league goals, and is widely regarded as one of Italy’s most exciting young talents.
👏 Coach Cristian Chivu, who has made an unbeaten start to life as Inter coach, was pleased with the young forward. “(Esposito) was up to the task in a serious match,” Chivu told DAZN. “It wasn’t easy, either physically or in terms of nerves. But he, as with his team-mates, played a great match.”
💪 Alessandro Bastoni added a superb second goal for the Nerazzurri to earn them top spot in Group E, while River had two players sent off as they were eliminated.
📲 While in California, we asked Inter Club Los Angeles fans for their favorite Nerazzurri players.
👉 Next up for Inter is a Round of 16 clash with Brazilian giants Fluminense in Charlotte on Monday (3pm ET).
👔 Meet Parma’s record-breaking new coach
Parma has been on the lookout for a new head coach since Cristian Chivu departed to join Inter – and its choice of successor has certainly caught attention this week!
👶 Carlos Cuesta was named as the new Gialloblu boss – despite being younger than several of his players, aged just 29. According to ESPN, that makes him the youngest Serie A coach for 85 years.
📈 The Spaniard arrives at the Stadio Ennio Tardini after five years working as an assistant to Mikel Arteta at English Premier League side Arsenal. He has previous experience in Italy, having previously held a role as an assistant coach at the Juventus youth academy.
✒️ The Palma-born tactician has signed a two-year contract and will be presented to the media today. Parma escaped relegation on the final day of the 2024/25 Serie A season, finishing 16th.
👕 Serie A clubs turn on the style
A new season means new threads, and several Serie A clubs have already dropped some dazzling kits ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
🔥 AC Milan were quick to show off Puma’s latest take on the classic red and black stripes. Next season, Christian Pulisic and co will be dressed in a jersey featuring flame details and a “fiery red crest.”
💜 Fiorentina’s new home Kappa jersey in iconic purple is inspired by the classic 1999/00 season jersey, with the club saying it “reimagines its defining features with a contemporary twist.”
💯 Parma has unveiled its new Puma home jersey, which pays tribute to the club’s first top-flight campaign 100 years ago.
🌊 At the end of last season, Cagliari dropped their gorgeous “breathe” third kit, which “invites fans and tourists to discover the Sardinia beyond the sea.”
💎 Of course, we’ve already had the chance to take a close look at Inter and Juventus’ beautiful new kits in action at the Club World Cup this summer!
🎁 Win a Di Lorenzo jersey!
Speaking of kits…don’t miss out on the chance to win a Giovanni Di Lorenzo Napoli jersey this week.
🔜 Italy international Di Lorenzo captained the Partenopei to the scudetto for a second time in three seasons in 2024/25, and we are giving away his jersey to celebrate.
👉 To enter, follow the Serie A North America and Official SSC Napoli Instagram pages, subscribe to Calcio Weekly, like our post and tag a friend in the comments! Keep an eye on the page for more giveaways - if you’re quick, you might still have time to try to grab a Lorenzo Pellegrini Roma jersey too!
🇧🇪 We brought you news last week of Napoli’s statement signing of Kevin De Bruyne, who will link up with Belgium team-mate Romelu Lukaku next season. Lukaku has now revealed that he and ex-Napoli star Dries Mertens - another Belgian - helped to convince De Bruyne of the move.
🗣️ “I spoke to him a couple of times while on national team duty and he also called me once,” Lukaku said. “I explained how things work here. I also told him where he could look for a place to live and things like that. Dries and I did our best to convince him, and Kevin made the right choice.”
🏀 Serie A stars show their love for the NBA
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers to be crowned NBA champions this week, and some stars of Serie A took the chance to show off basketball allegiances.
🤝 Torino’s Valentino Lazaro was pictured wearing a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Thunder jersey on the beach, showing his support for the newly-crowned NBA MVP.
👑 Meanwhile, NBA legend James Harden was presented with a Juventus jersey during the Bianconeri’s time in the States at the Club World Cup!
🫶 Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella was rocking a Los Angeles Lakers jersey featuring the number 23 - which the Italy star shares with the great LeBron James.
💬 Calcio Conversations
This week, our tour of Serie A cities takes us to the northern region of Emilia-Romagna and the gastronomic destination Carlos Cuesta now calls home: Parma!
🤷♂️ What does Parma have to offer? A walkable historic center filled with beautiful buildings and historic sites like the Duomo, Piazza Garibaldi and Pilotta Palace. It is also a short distance from popular spots like Modena or the Cinque Terre. But there is one thing you simply must do in Parma… eat!
🍴 What about the food? This is one of Italy’s culinary capitals, with the world-renowned Parmigiano Reggiano cheese requiring your full attention, not to mention the equally famous Prosciutto di Parma. But don’t miss the addictive torta fritta or delicious filled tortelli pasta.
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🥹 Social Post of the Week: Juve reunion!
There were heart-warming scenes this week when former Juventus players Danilo and Alex Sandro, who are both at the Club World Cup with Brazilian side Flamengo, were reunited with their old Turin team-mates. Hugs all round!
📆 Sizzling pre-season friendlies announced
While most Serie A players are currently enjoying some well-earned down-time, they will soon be back in action for pre-season - and there are some mouth-watering friendly matches lined up.
🤝 Milan has a very busy summer ahead: Pulisic’s side head to Singapore to face Arsenal on 23 July, before taking on Liverpool in Hong Kong three days later. They then face Leeds United in Dublin on 9 August, before taking on Chelsea the following day at Stamford Bridge in London.
🐺 Roma is also heading to England. After taking on Germans Kaiserslautern and Lens of France, they face Aston Villa on 6 August and Everton at their brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium on 9 August.
🇩🇪 Atalanta, Bologna and Juventus have confirmed fixtures against German opposition. The Bergamo club faces RB Leipzig and FC Köln, while Bologna take on Stuttgart and Juve is up against Borussia Dortmund.
🦅 Lazio is off to Istanbul, where it faces José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce on 30 July before crossing the city to take on Turkish champions Galatasaray on 2 August.
👉 You can check out the full list of confirmed pre-season games for each Serie A club here.
🇮🇹 Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo elected Vice-Chair of World Leagues Association
The World Leagues Association’s Board met in London today to discuss the soccer calendar and transfer system, and its twelve global member leagues unanimously elected Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo as Vice-Chair.
🌎 The World Leagues Association (WLA) is a global organization that represents professional soccer leagues from around the world. Its core mission is to protect and promote the interests of national leagues and their clubs on key issues affecting the global game.
👉 De Siervo succeeds Liga MX’s Enrique Bonilla and joins fellow Vice-Chair Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer.
🗣️ De Siervo pledged to advocate for the leagues' role in shaping football’s future, calling for unity, innovation, and a renewed focus on the sport’s social and cultural roots: “I strongly believe in the role of the Leagues as drivers of innovation through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and the ability to generate content that enhances soccer as a global product, without ever forgetting its social, economic and cultural impact in the territories where it has its roots,” he said.
👉 The Board addressed soccer’s key challenges, including an analysis of the expanded international match calendar and the need to protect domestic leagues from excessive player workloads.
🙌 Ex-Inter and Juventus greats hit Fanatics Fest
The latest edition of Fanatics Fest, the world’s largest arena for sports and collectibles, took place in New York City this weekend - featuring some Serie A legends.
🐍 Julio Cesar, the legendary goalkeeper of Inter’s 2010 Triplete-winning side, was on site and rocking Inter’s new shirt. He wasn’t the only one to get hold of the jersey - DJ Khaled also snapped one up!
😍 Former Juventus star Patrice Evra was also on the ground and looking sharp. The Frenchman named his top current footballers, his toughest opponent, and more.
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