Aston Villa have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips, with Premier League champions Manchester City now reportedly targeting the Englishman.
What’s the word?
As per The Times, City are believed to be turning their attention towards making a move for the 26-year-old this summer, after confirming the arrival of Borussia Dortmund hotshot Erling Haaland on Monday.
The report suggests that Pep Guardiola and co view the 19-cap international as a potential replacement for veteran gem Fernandinho – with the Brazilian set to leave the Etihad once his contract expires at the end of the month – and would reportedly be willing to pay as much as £60m for his services.
This follows speculation that Villa were in fact firmly in the mix to prize the Leeds academy graduate from Elland Road, with the player believed to be a ‘long-term target’ for the Midlands outfit.
One of the best
Potentially missing out on the £38k-per-week machine to the title winners would no doubt be a painful situation for those at Villa Park, with manager Steven Gerrard likely to have viewed him as an ideal fit to add to his midfield.
Despite having only two years of top-flight football under his belt thus far, the £45m-rated ace has already cemented his status as one of the most effective performers in the division, while he’s also forged his way to becoming a regular in Gareth Southgate’s England side.
At the end of his first campaign in the top tier, Phillips went on to play a vital role in the Three Lions’ surge to the European Championship final last summer, featuring in all seven games en route to the showpiece and forming an immense partnership with West Ham United talisman, Declan Rice.
That duo was the subject of praise from coaching icon Fabio Capello, with the Italian highlighting the Yorkshire-born star, in particular, for his standout displays, suggesting that the “aggressive” playmaker is the “best modern midfielder” that he has seen.
Such plaudits have no doubt been deserved and while he endured an injury-hit campaign last time out, the 5 foot 10 destroyer still compares favourably to those in his position across Europe’s top five leagues, ranking in the top 2% for pressures made, the top 3% for tackles and the top 4% for blocks.
His relentless nature in the centre of the pitch has made him such a highly coveted asset, with it a marker of just how far he has come that he is now a top target for arguably the best team in the country – Man City.
Competing with the uber-rich outfit for Phillips’ signature is only likely to end in tears for the Villans, with it looking as if they are set to miss out on one of the best around.
IN other news, Gerrard can land AVFC’s next Southgate with move for “outstanding” £120k-p/w warrior
Crystal Palace have offered a new deal to secure £7.2m-valued Jeffrey Schlupp’s future, according to a report from Football Insider.
The lowdown: Terrific servant
Signed for £9million from Leicester City (The Guardian), Schlupp has proven to be a superb servant to Palace since joining.
The 29-year-old Premier League winner has amassed 162 appearances for the Eagles and the Ghanian international remains an important part of Patrick Vieira’s plans in South East London.
As it was confirmed that the club were retaining the services of Jordan Ayew, Nathaniel Clyne, James McArthur and James Tomkins, now it seems as though Schlupp could well be set to earn fresh terms.
The latest: New deal offered
As per a ‘source’ from the club for Football Insider, Crystal Palace have made the 20-cap ace an offer of a new contract beyond 2023.
It’s claimed that ‘talks are underway’ with the versatile left-footer as Vieira makes plans to reshape the squad at Selhurst Park.
The report states that the club are ‘keen to tie down’ the man hailed for an ‘incredible’ performance in a 3-1 victory over Manchester United in 2020 by Roy Hodgson and the offer of an ‘extension’ has been made.
The verdict: Continuity required
As the previously ageing Palace ranks prepare for another summer overhaul, retaining a number of the tried and tested Premier League operators will be important moving forwards.
Therefore, keeping Schlupp in situ with his wide-ranging versatility and 205 English top-flight outings worth of experience to counter the youthful exuberance of the likes of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise is a smart move from Vieira.
Last season, the Ghanian international scored four times and provided two assists in 32 league appearances – predominantly operating in a new central midfield role – highlighting a continued key status in the squad and a potential reinvented career in a previously unfamiliar position.
In other news: ‘Very close’ – Journalist makes Crystal Palace transfer claim, read more here
Liverpool have a lot to consider when it comes to their forwards and their expiring contracts, and now a reliable source has given an update on one player’s future ahead of the summer transfer window.
What’s the latest?
Italian journalist and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has written a column (via Anfield Watch) detailing more information on Mohamed Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool.
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As per the report, Romano confirms that there is no connection between Salah and Mane’s future and negotiations for the Egyptian won’t be compromised or dependent on the future of his teammate.
There is still no agreement on a new contract for Salah and there is a “serious possibility” that he will leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2023, however, Romano reports that no final decision will be made until 2023.
Klopp will be gutted
With Roberto Firmino, Salah and Mane all out of contract in 12 months’ time, there is no doubt that Jurgen Klopp will be gutted about the situation and will be hoping he can lay down some foundations for a worst-case scenario where all three leave next summer.
When it comes to Salah in particular, replacing his attacking output would be no easy task for FSG, especially when his equally high scoring teammate is planning to leave the club this summer according to reports.
The Egyptian winger has been a consistent goal machine for Liverpool during his time at the club scoring 156 goals and contributing 63 assists with a goal involvement every 94 minutes, which is an astonishing output that FSG would struggle to replace instantly if they can’t come to an agreement on an extension for the player.
It has been reported that Salah wants to be paid £400k-per-week to extend his stay at Anfield which would be a huge advance on his current £225k-per-week salary and would put the player hundreds of thousands ahead of his teammates, completely abolishing the tight and fair wage structure across the board that has been exercised for years.
Ultimately, FSG and the manager will need to come to a decision on whether they can offer something to the player that can keep him at the club or if they can move on without Salah next summer and bring in reinforcements that can continue Liverpool’s trajectory for success. If not, this whole situation can be seen as nothing but a big blow for the Merseysiders.
AND in other news: FSG could unearth Liverpool’s next Salah by signing “special” 131-goal star
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage must brutally sell Morgan Gibbs-White this summer and could get up to £20m for the player.
What’s the story?
talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook spoke to GIVEMESPORT and said: “If he’s a player they can get £20m for they might see that as a good investment and a chance to rebuild.”
The 22-year-old had an exceptional loan spell with Sheffield United this past season, and helped them secure a play-off place before they lost out in the semi-final to eventual winners Nottingham Forest.
Wolves could sign him on a new contract, but with big clubs such as Serie A champions AC Milan interested, now is a good time to cash in.
He won’t make it at Molineux
Gibbs-White has risen through the ranks at Molineux and is one of the latest successes from their academy. He has had two loan spells with his most recent one at Sheffield United impressing the most.
He made 35 Championship appearances for The Blades and was directly involved in 20 goals during that time. Those are impressive numbers, and he’s been described as a “catalyst” in the EFL by journalist Laurie Whitwell. However, you have to put it into perspective.
They were one of the best teams in the division last season and it would be difficult for the Englishman to replicate that standard in a much tougher Premier League.
If he remained at Molinuex it would be hard to see where he would fit in. Wolves usually play a formation of three forward players so he would either have to be moved out wide or be put in a deeper position.
This would risk not getting the best out of him, as has been seen previously, particularly under Nuno Santo.
Gibbs-White isn’t necessarily a bad player, but if Wolves can get a good fee for him, then it makes more sense for them to use that to improve other areas of the team rather than keep a player who will likely be on the bench.
In the 86 appearances he has made for the Old Gold, he’s only scored three and assisted one, which ultimately proves that he isn’t good enough to stay at Molineux.
IN other news: Wolves now already heading for huge summer transfer disaster, Lage will be furious…
Celtic pair David Turnbull and Matt O’Riley can be the heir apparent to Tom Rogic at Parkhead, according to former Hoops manager Alex McLeish.
The Lowdown: Rogic departing Hoops
Rogic has enjoyed a wonderful Celtic career, winning seven Scottish Premiership titles, among other trophies, but his time at the club is coming to an end.
The Australian will depart during the summer in order to enjoy a fresh challenge, bringing an end to his nine-year stay at Parkhead.
Rogic could leave a big void in the middle of the park, given his influence in the final third in particular, and it could be that youngsters Turnbull and O’Riley step up to the plate.
Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish talked up the duo’s chances of kicking on and taking their opportunity from next season onwards:
“These guys have still got to get to Rogic’s level. We’ve seen they’re up and coming youngsters who have passed the test to be able to play for Celtic in the first instance.
“The next instance will be that higher level that Rogic reached. They’re both attacking midfielders so they obviously have to pitch in with the goals at the level Rogic has produced.
“That’s the task when you go to any club, that’s got to be your ambition. It doesn’t matter whether that’s a bottom team or a top team.
“You know Rangers and Celtic don’t allow players to stay there too long if they’re not producing.”
The Verdict: Huge opportunity for both
Sometimes, the exit of a great player can pave the way for a youngster to make their mark, and both Turnbull and O’Riley should be seeing this as a wonderful chance.
The former is arguably the most exciting prospect of the two, having been hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Alan Hutton, also scoring and assisting five times apiece in the league this season before injuries took their toll.
Meanwhile, O’Riley has shone on loan at League One side MK Dons in 2021/22, enjoying 12 goal contributions (seven goals and five assists), and his return to Celtic is an exciting one.
In other news, a journalist has given a key Celtic transfer update. Read more here.
Manchester United are working on a move for Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, with his representatives now ‘in England’.
The Lowdown: Secret Ten Hag meeting
Erik ten Hag recently terminated his Ajax contract six weeks early in order to make a head start on life at Old Trafford and is now in England.
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He was pictured in London following a ‘secret’ Manchester United meeting in the week with chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough.
The 52-year-old is set to be busy in the transfer window, and it looks as if Timber – who has been a regular under the new United boss during his time with Ajax – could be one of the first signings of the Ten Hag era at Old Trafford.
The Latest: Timber update
Journalist Jonathan Shrager took to Twitter in the early hours of Sunday morning to provide an update on Timber and United.
He stressed that a deal is not yet done, although the 20-year-old’s ‘representation is currently in England’, adding that there is ‘a belief’ that United are the frontrunners in the race for his services.
The Verdict: Fingers crossed
You’d expect that Ten Hag may see United’s defence as an area which needs improving after conceding more league goals than the likes of Burnley and Brentford this season.
His Ajax side, of which Timber was a key component, conceded just 19 goals in the Eredivisie this season, 15 fewer than the next-best defence in the Dutch top flight.
Timber is still just 20 years of age, can play anywhere across the back four, is valued at a career-high £27m by Transfermarkt and already has Champions League and international experience, so a summer deal for him could be big for Ten Hag both in the short- and long-term.
In other news: Strong bid tabled as Man Utd and Ten Hag now make big move for ‘genius’ signing
The captain wants his batters to be a lot more aggressive and he’s taken the first step towards that himself
Deivarayan Muthu08-Aug-20225:45
Rohit: A change in attitude was needed after the last T20 World Cup
After India suffered an early exit in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid took charge of the side and recognised the need to shrug off their old safety-first approach and adopt a more gung-ho one. Captain Rohit has led the way, going harder at the top than ever before.”After the T20 World Cup in Dubai, when we didn’t qualify [for the semi-finals], we felt that there needs to be a change in our attitude, in our approach in how we play the game,” Rohit recently told Star Sports on the show. “So, we had a clear message given to the boys and they were ready to accept the challenge. If the messages are clear from the captain and the coach, and where the team is trying to head, the individuals will definitely try and do that. And for that they need freedom, they need clarity, which is what we are trying to do. We are trying to give them as much freedom as possible.”From January 2019 to until the end of the T20 World Cup in November 2021, Rohit’s first-ten-balls strike rate was 119.6. Although that was higher than his first-ten-balls strike rate of 108.20 from his T20I debut in September 2007 to December 2018, it was still behind the curve.However, since July this year, after recovering from Covid-19, Rohit has dashed out of the blocks, with that strike rate jumping up to 153.60 – the third best among openers who have played at least five T20I innings against current Full-Member nations. Globally, only England’s Jos Buttler (169) and Ireland’s Paul Stirling (166) are ahead of Rohit on this list.Rohit’s overall T20I strike rate in the powerplay also illustrates the change in his approach. From January 2019 to the end of the last year’s T20 World Cup in November, he had struck at 139.07 in the first six overs in T20Is. Since the start of 2022, that T20I powerplay strike rate has also jumped up to 147.82 – the best among openers who have played at least ten innings this year. West Indies’ Kyle Mayers (143.33), Zimbabwe’s Regis Chakabva (137.60), Stirling (129.74) and Andy Balbirnie, also from Ireland (128.49), are the others in the top five on this list.ESPNcricinfo LtdRohit’s most recent T20I innings in the fourth game against West Indies at Lauderhill in Florida was an excellent example of India staying true to their new style of batting. After realising that there was no swing or seam movement on offer for both Dominic Drakes and Obed McCoy, Rohit lined them up and played some high-risk shots that fetched him high reward.He first backed away against Drakes, then advanced at him, taking a fullish ball from middle stump and belting it straight down the ground, leaving Suryakumar Yadav ducking for cover. Then, when McCoy hit an in-between length outside off, from over the wicket, Rohit opened up his hips and unleashed a full-blooded slog over midwicket for six. He was hitting against the angle and across the line – a risk that resulted in his wicket in St Kitts – but he still went for it and that’s the rub.Rohit raced to 27 off 13 balls in four overs. He had the option to sit back and play out Akeal Hosein, West Indies’ premier spinner and their most economical bowler since his T20I debut last July. Rohit, however, slogged once again, launching Hosein against the turn over wide long-on for six more. It took India past fifty in 27 balls, but given the small boundaries at the venue, Rohit understood that he had to keep going hard to set India up for an above-par total.He backed away next ball and aimed to pump Hosein over extra-cover, but the spinner had gone wide of the crease and turned one past the outside edge to hit the off stump. Rohit was dismissed for 33 off 16 balls, but he was the only Indian batter to strike at over 200 on a pitch that slowed down later in the day.Rohit’s at the wheel: India have bought into the ultra-aggressive batting approach•Peter Della Penna/ESPNcricinfo LtdRohit had struck at a similarly rapid clip when he scored 40 off 19 balls against West Indies in Kolkata and 31 off 20 against England in Birmingham earlier this year. Rohit and coach Dravid have also given the rest of the India batters the freedom and security to bat in similar fashion, despite the odd failure.In T20Is in 2022, India have scored at a rate of 9.29 per over, their best in a year where they have played more than one match. Only New Zealand (9.83) have scored at a faster rate.”When he [Dravid] became the coach here, we met and we sat together in a room for a while and we discussed how we want to take this team forward,” Rohit said.” He was pretty much on the same thought process of what I was thinking. So, it made it [a] little easier for me to give out the clear messages to the boys because we don’t want to create any confusion amongst the group.”That is something we spoke about and of course we wanted to change our style of cricket as well. We wanted to play in a certain way in all three formats and he was ready to accept all of that. So far, it has been really, really good. I’m looking forward to achieving something really, really great under his coaching.”India have won six of their seven bilateral T20I series since the last T20 World Cup – the one against South Africa was shared after rain had washed out the decider in Bengaluru in June – with their new approach.Can they sustain it and achieve that greatness when a world title is on the line in Australia? That will be the biggest challenge for Rohit and co.
Chelsea and Todd Boehly have splashed the cash in recent years on a number of new players, with the Blues winning the Club World Cup in 2025. Following their triumph in the USA, those at Stamford Bridge once again spent big in the transfer window.
Here at Football FanCast, we’ve taken a look at Chelsea’s most expensive signings in their history, as per Transfermarkt and news reports, with a detailed look at the top 10.
Chelsea’s most expensive signings of all time
Rank
Player
Fee
Signed from
Year
1
Moises Caicedo
£115m
Brighton
2023
2
Enzo Fernandez
£107m
Benfica
2023
3
Romelu Lukaku
£97.5m
Inter
2021
4=
Kepa Arrizabalaga
£71m
Athletic Club
2018
4=
Kai Havertz
£71m
Bayer Leverkusen
2020
6
Wesley Fofana
£70m
Leicester
2022
7
Mykhailo Mudryk
£62m
Shakhtar Donetsk
2023
8=
Marc Cucurella
£60m
Brighton
2022
8=
Alvaro Morata
£60m
Real Madrid
2017
8=
Joao Pedro
£60m
Brighton
2025
11=
Romeo Lavia
£58m
Southampton
2023
11=
Christian Pulisic
£58m
Borussia Dortmund
2019
13
Pedro Neto
£54m
Wolves
2024
14
Christopher Nkunku
£52m
RB Leipzig
2023
15=
Fernando Torres
£50m
Liverpool
2011
15=
Jorginho
£50m
Napoli
2018
17
Jamie Gittens
£48.5m
Borussia Dortmund
2025
18=
Raheem Sterling
£47.5m
Manchester City
2022
18=
Timo Werner
£47.5m
RB Leipzig
2020
20
Joao Felix
£46.3m
Atletico Madrid
2024
Here's a detailed look at Chelsea's 10 most expensive signings:
10
Joao Pedro
£60m from Brighton
Chelsea’s biggest signing in 2025 was centre-forward Joao Pedro, who was signed in time to link up with the Blues during their Club World Cup campaign.
The Brazilian became an instant hit with his goals in the USA, and he is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2033.
9
Alvaro Morata
£60m from Real Madrid
The oldest arrival in this top 10 is Alvaro Morata, who joined Chelsea in a club-record £60m transfer from Real Madrid back in 2017. The striker’s move to England ultimately didn’t work out, though, with the Spaniard returning to La Liga with Atletico Madrid on loan in 2019 before making that move permanent a year later.
Morata is currently the captain of the Spanish national team and scored 24 goals in 72 games for the Blues.
8
Marc Cucurella
£60m from Brighton
Chelsea won the race ahead of Manchester City to sign left-back Marc Cucurella from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 for just over £60m, with the Spaniard making the left-back role his own at Stamford Bridge.
A former Barcelona youngster, Cucurella impressed in his first year in England with the Seagulls under Graham Potter, and the pair would soon be reunited when the Blues brought in the latter as manager a month later.
7
Mykhailo Mudryk
£62m from Shakhtar Donetsk
Mykhaylo Mudryk for Chelsea
Chelsea swooped in ahead of Arsenal to sign winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023 for £62m, with the Ukraine international signing a huge eight-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
His Chelsea deal could reach a total of £89m, but having not had much success thus far, Shakhtar look set to miss out on nearly £30m worth of bonuses.
6
Wesley Fofana
£70m from Leicester City
Centre-back Wesley Fofana was brought to Stamford Bridge from Leicester City in 2022, but the Frenchman’s stay with Chelsea so far has been hampered by injury.
However, considering he signed a seven-year deal, the Blues still have plenty of time to get the best out of the Frenchman, who cost the west Londoners a handsome £70m – proving Leicester sure know how to get a decent sum for a promising centre-back.
5
Kai Havertz
£71m from Bayer Leverkusen
Kai Havertz Chelsea
Versatile attacker Kai Havertz was brought to England by Chelsea in 2020, joining in a big-money £71m deal from Bayer Leverkusen.
The German went on to score the winning goal for the Blues in the 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City before being sold to rivals Arsenal in 2023, with Chelsea bringing in the majority of the fee they spent on the player.
Chelsea's most expensive sales of all time
A look at the record departures from Stamford Bridge.
By
Charlie Smith
Oct 8, 2025
4
Kepa Arrizabalaga
£71m from Athletic Club
Kepa Arrizabalaga is the most expensive goalkeeper in history, but he only sits 4th in Chelsea’s record signings list, showing the Blues’ spending power in the years that have followed.
Famously remembered in a Chelsea shirt for refusing to be substituted in extra time of an EFL Cup final under Maurizio Sarri, Kepa signed for the Blues back in 2018 from Athletic Club for just over £71m and was allowed to join Arsenal for just £5m in 2025.
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Stephan Georgiou
Feb 8, 2024
3
Romelu Lukaku
£97.5m from Inter
Striker Romelu Lukaku returned to Chelsea for a second Stamford Bridge stint back in 2021, with the Blues paying Inter what was a club-record fee of £97.5m for the Belgian.
It appeared to be a masterstroke at first, with Lukaku scoring freely back in a Chelsea shirt, but over time, it has proven to be a costly mistake, with the player spending recent years on loan in Italy with Inter and Roma before finally being sold by Chelsea for the second time, this time to Napoli.
2
Enzo Fernandez
£107m from Benfica
Midfielder Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea in a £107m deal from Benfica in 2023 shortly after winning the World Cup with Argentina.
It was a British record at the time, and although the midfielder is arguably still working to pay off that price tag, he has become a vital member of the team under Enzo Maresca, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Reece James.
1
Moises Caicedo
£115m from Brighton
Moises Caicedo
Central midfielder Moises Caicedo only made 53 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion between 2021 and 2023, but that was enough for Chelsea to spend big on the Ecuador international.
The Blues won the race ahead of Liverpool for Caicedo, who endured a tough start to life at Stamford Bridge before eventually showing his best form. He’s under contract until 2031, so he has plenty of time to become an important Chelsea star.
Lionel Scaloni has shut down speculation linking Roma forward Matias Soule with a potential switch to Italy, calling such talk “impossible”. The Argentina boss made it clear that the 21-year-old remains firmly in his plans for the Albiceleste. Scaloni hailed the youngster’s growth at Roma and described him as Argentina’s “future” ahead of their friendly against Puerto Rico.
Soule waiting for Argentina debut amid Roma heroics
The 21-year-old, who has represented Argentina at youth level, has not yet made a senior appearance for the Albiceleste, though he has been included in several provisional squads. His form at Roma since joining from Juventus in the summer of 2024 has only strengthened his case, with the forward emerging as one of Serie A’s standout performers this season.
His agent, however, recently cast doubt over his international future, hinting he could take advantage of his eligibility for Italy by declaring himself available for Gennaro Gattuso's side due to the wait for his Argentina debut. That notion has no relevance as far as Scaloni is concerned as he said the youngster will get his chance eventually.
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Scaloni praises Soule’s progress and reveals close monitoring
“Soule called up to the Italy squad? I don’t think it’s possible; he’s been in our sights for some time,” Scaloni said during a press conference. “We see him as the future of the Argentine national team, and he’ll soon get his chances. He’s growing a lot and I’ve been following him for a while. If he continues like this, there won’t be any problems."
According to reports in Argentina, Scaloni even called Soule personally to reassure him that he was always part of the national team's plans.
Agent’s remarks sparked speculation
The speculation emerged after Soule’s agent publicly questioned Argentina’s selection policy, suggesting that his client could switch his allegiance to Italy.
"Argentina has never called him, yet so many young players have made their debuts in recent months. Matias deserves a chance for what he’s doing at a major club like Roma,” the agent said in an interview with . “What if the situation doesn’t resolve itself? He can legally be called up by Italy; anything is possible."
Soule had previously turned down an approach from former Italy coach Luciano Spalletti, reports say, with the attacker’s dream being to play for Argentina, and Scaloni’s latest remarks suggest it's just a matter of time before he gets his chance.
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Focus turns to Argentina’s friendlies and World Cup build-up
With the speculation now settled, attention turns to Argentina’s ongoing preparations for the 2026 World Cup. The reigning champions face Puerto Rico in Miami, Florida after edging Venezuela 1-0 in Miami last week. Superstar Lionel Messi missed that game due to club commitments with Inter Miami, and it remains to be seen whether he will feature in the second friendly.
Scaloni is expected to rotate his squad, offering opportunities to younger players like Soule in the coming months. The 21-year-old could finally make his senior debut before the end of the year, potentially in the next international window. For Argentina, the goal remains clear, to build a competitive core for their World Cup title defence in North America next summer.
Fabio Capello blasted the lack of courage from both Juventus and AC Milan in a 'boring' affair, a sentiment shared by Juve fans who booed their side off the pitch after a fifth straight draw.
Did Juventus and AC Milan fail to entertain?
Capello has delivered a scathing assessment of the goalless draw between his two former clubs Juventus and AC Milan, labelling the Serie A clash as "very boring" and criticising both teams for a lack of courage. Speaking to Radio anch'io Sport via Football Italia, the legendary Italian coach did not hold back after the disappointing stalemate at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
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What Capello said about the goalless stalemate
Capello, who enjoyed successful spells managing both clubs, was left unimpressed by the lack of attacking intent and risk-taking from either side. He felt the contest failed to live up to its billing as a heavyweight clash. "Juve-Milan was not a great show," Capello said. "A very boring first half, the two teams didn’t have the courage to take any risks. We saw a little bit more in the second half. From two teams like that, we were expecting more of a spectacle."
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Missed chances and frustrated fans
The match was a cagey affair with few clear-cut opportunities, though Milan had the best chances to secure all three points. Christian Pulisic missed from the penalty spot, while Rafael Leao spurned a late opportunity to win the game. The home supporters made their feelings clear at the final whistle, booing their team off the pitch, a reaction Capello endorsed. "They were all rightly booed at the end," he added.
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League implications for both clubs
The result was a damaging one for both teams' ambitions. For Juventus, it marked their fifth consecutive draw across all competitions, a concerning run of form that leaves them fifth in the Serie A table. The draw was a missed opportunity for Milan, who failed to reclaim top spot and now sit in third place, two points behind leaders Napoli and Roma, heading into the October international break.