Champions League semifinals feature PSG vs. Bayern, followed by Atletico vs. Arsenal. Key Serie A news includes updates on Juve, Modric, Sarri, and Vanoli.
Key points
Champions League semifinals feature PSG vs. Bayern
Atletico will face Arsenal in the semifinals
Updates on Juve and Modric's future
Rumors about Sarri's departure from Napoli
Speculation surrounding Vanoli's status
Mentioned in this story
Serie A
PSGBayernAtleticoArsenal
🤯 Juve-Ordonez, Modric future, Sarri-Napoli and Vanoli off? 🔥
Champions League semifinals get underway: in Paris, it’s the star-studded clash between PSG and Bayern, while tomorrow it will be Atletico-Arsenal’s turn.
Juventus continue to move discreetly in the transfer market, focusing their attention above all on the defense ahead of next season. Among the profiles being followed most closely is Joel Ordonez, a young center-back already on the radar of several top European clubs. According to ESPN, as echoed in Italy by calciomercato.com, the Bianconeri are trying to get ahead of the competition.
More specifically, the source reports that Juventus are very close to signing the Ecuadorian defender born in 2004, currently at Club Brugge, with a valuation of around €40 million. Again according to ESPN, Ordonez – already a senior international with 24 caps – is under contract with the Belgian club until 2029 and has so far made 73 first-team appearances and scored 3 goals, in addition to his experience with Club NXT.
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After a positive season in his first year in Serie A, Luka Modric is carefully weighing up his future at Milan. The Croatian midfielder has not yet made a final decision on staying and is reportedly considering the conditions needed to continue his adventure with the Rossoneri.
According to journalist Matteo Moretto, Modric has made specific technical requests to the club, asking for a competitive squad ahead of next season. With probable qualification for the Champions League, the former Real Madrid man wants top-level guarantees so he can also play a leading role in Europe.
Inter, Muharemovic a concrete target
Inter continue to push decisively for Tarik Muharemovic to strengthen the defense, but the deal is still open on some key points. According to transfer expert Matteo Moretto on Fabrizio Romano’s YouTube channel, as reported by FCInter1908, the Nerazzurri already have a verbal agreement with the player, who has reportedly put other offers on standby in order to move to Milan.
The main issue concerns the agreement between the clubs: as highlighted by the same source, Juventus’ 50% sell-on clause is weighing heavily, a far from marginal detail in negotiations with Sassuolo. Again according to Moretto, Inter are considering solutions such as including player exchanges and, should the deal fail to go through, they already have an alternative plan ready with other profiles – including Solet – on their radar.
Napoli are moving early in the market, regardless of decisions tied to the bench, and have set their sights on Richard Rios. As reported by TMW, Portuguese newspaper O Jogo describes concrete interest from the Azzurri, who sent an emissary to watch the Colombian midfielder live in Benfica’s last three matches, receiving very positive feedback.
Again according to O Jogo, the competition is particularly intense: Rios had already been followed by Roma last summer and could return to the Giallorossi’s radar, while Inter also remain alert, in addition to English clubs Manchester United and Fulham. Benfica, the Portuguese daily reports, would be willing to negotiate only starting from a request of at least €35 million.
Roma, two names for the post-Massara era! Ziolkowski...
Roma are already planning for the future with Gian Piero Gasperini at the center of the project, while waiting to see how the season ends. According to journalist Daniele Longo, the coach has indicated two profiles for the post-Massara era: Cristiano Giuntoli and Tony D'Amico, names considered strong options for Roma’s future sporting department.
At the same time, as reported by journalist Eleonora Trotta on X, Jan Ziolkowski’s situation remains one to watch. The defender, little used in recent weeks, had already been close to a move in January, when Roma rejected an offer of around €20 million from the Premier League. Now contacts with English clubs have reportedly resumed, with interest also coming from Germany, a scenario that could reopen the path to a departure.
Lazio, Sarri heading to Napoli? The latest on his future
Maurizio Sarri’s possible return to Napoli, at least for now, remains more of a suggestion than a concrete negotiation. As reported by Lalaziosiamonoi.it, the coach himself publicly denied the possibility, calling it “fantasy football” to Sky Sport, making it clear that he has had no contact with the Azzurri club.
According to Alfredo Pedullà as well, and as echoed by the same source, there are currently no talks between the parties, although Sarri’s name would still be on Napoli’s list. The situation therefore remains open: first the coach will have to discuss his future with Lazio, while the Neapolitan club’s plans are tied to evaluations regarding Antonio Conte, who is still under contract.
A separation between Paolo Vanoli and ACF Fiorentina at the end of the season is taking shape, despite the work done by the coach toward the goal of survival. As reported by Matteo Moretto and echoed by FirenzeViola.it, the relationship between the parties now appears headed toward a conclusion at the end of the campaign.
According to the same source, Fiorentina’s management are already planning for the future and evaluating alternatives for the bench. In particular, it is highlighted that Fabio Paratici has started moving early, sounding out several profiles to identify the possible replacement for the current coach.
