Juventus are keeping a close eye on Parma youngster Jose Mauri.
The 18-year-old, who made his debut for Parma last season, has maintained his progress this term, earning two starts under Roberto Donadoni and scoring his first Serie A goal in the 4-2 defeat to Udinese on Monday.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Argentine’s rise through the youth ranks at the Parma has alerted Juventus.
Asked about his future plans, Mauri, who has represented Italy at youth level, was non-committal: “I signed a contract until 2016 with Parma. The rest we will see.”
Podolski hints at transfer move
Frustrated Arsenal winger Lukas Podolski hinted he might leave the Premier League club before his contract expires in 2016 because he was not playing enough.
“I am a full blooded player, a street player and I love competition,” the 29-year-old said.
“If I don’t have this competition every weekend then a change must occur.”
Podolski, who has scored 47 goals for Germany, joined the north London club in 2012.
He was not involved in the opening four matches of the season following Germany’s successful World Cup in Brazil, and has been an unused substitute four times in Arsenal’s last eight matches.
Liverpool display angers Gerrard
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard lambasted his side’s poor defending once again after their 1-0 Champions League defeat in Basel.
Marco Streller scored the only goal of the game from a corner in the 53rd minute to leave the Reds stunned.
“We didn’t deserve anything out of this game,” Gerrard told Sky Sports.
“I thought we were too soft all over the pitch. I thought they wanted it more, which is very disappointing.
“Conceding again from a set-piece isn’t good enough, so we need to get it right.”
England to face Italy in friendly match
England will take on Italy in a glamour friendly next year, the FA has announced.
Roy Hodgson’s team will play the Azzurri, who beat the Three Lions 2-1 in the World Cup, on March 31 at an Italian venue which is yet to be decided.
England will return the favour by hosting the Italians in a friendly after Euro 2016 and before the 2018 World Cup.
The friendly next March will be the 26th time the Three Lions have played Italy, who, like England, failed to qualify from their group in Brazil.
The last time England played in Italy was 14 years ago, when Gennaro Gattuso’s strike won the game at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
Simeone lauds ‘special’ Arda Turan
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone singled out Arda Turan as a “special” player after the Turkey midfielder fired the La Liga side to a 1-0 win at home to Juventus in Champions League Group A.
A tight contest at the Calderon between the Spanish and Italian champions was settled when Arda poked the ball into the net in the 75th minute.
“Arda is a special player,” Simeone told a news conference, adding that they had practised the move that led to the goal in training.
“Juanfran did very well with the cross,” Simeone said.
“Mandzukic missed but Arda arrived as we had practised.”
Strootman to return for Man. City game
Kevin Strootman could make his comeback from injury for Roma’s Champions League match with Manchester City on December 10.
The Dutch midfielder has been sidelined since damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee on March 9.
“Is Strootman for sale? The club has been very clear on this: Kevin is a very important player for us,” Roma coach Rudi Garcia told Dutch media.
“I hope to have him back for the return match with Manchester City on December 10, a fundamental game.
“Kevin is a midfielder of the highest level. We are waiting for him to return on the field, hopefully soon.”
Montolivo set for November comeback
Riccardo Montolivo’s has reportedly suffered a minor setback in his recovery from injury but Milan doctors are still hopeful that the midfielder will return to action some time next month.
Montolivo fractured his shin-bone in Italy’s World Cup warm-up match against Ireland at the end of May.
Initially Montolivo was expected to be out until December but recent indications were that an early November return was possible.
Reports in the Italian media yesterday said that results from tests carried out earlier this week showed that the bone in Montolivo’s leg had not yet 100 per cent healed.