Serie A

JUVENTUS have reportedly drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Andrea Pirlo.Sunday’s shock 1-0 defeat to Benevento heaped even more pressure on boss Pirlo after the Old Lady’s disastrous Champions League exit to Porto.
Andrea Pirlo is feeling the heat as Juventus managerCredit: Rex
Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi is reportedly on Juventus’ shortlist to replace PiroCredit: AFP
Italian outlet La Repubblica reports Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, Atalanta manager Gian Pero Gasperini and former Inter and Roma coach Luciano Spalletti are all in the frame.
Juve are chasing a tenth consecutive Scudetto but now sit ten points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan after losing to struggling Benevento at home.
Arthur’s howler allowed Adolfo Gaich to bag a second-half winner to end his side’s run of 11 games without a win.
Before the match, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli presented Cristiano Ronaldo with a commemorative ‘GOAT 770’ shirt to mark his remarkable goalscoring.
The Portuguese superstar, 36, overtook Brazilian legend Pele in the all-time rankings with the World Cup winner tweeting his congratulations.
The Italian press have hammered the reigning champs for their recent displays.
And Tuttosport splashed on Pirlo needing to beat local rivals Torino in the derby next weekend to save his job.
The former Italy midfielder has one game to save his skin or face being axed following the international break.
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Free agent Luciano Spalletti could take over immediately if called upon in TurinCredit: AP:Associated Press
Gian Piero Gasperini has done an impressive job at AtalantaCredit: Getty
Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

Gasperini’s stock has risen greatly after leading Atalanta to the Champions League knock-out stage in back to back seasons.
Last year’s run to the quarter-finals was only ended by eventual runners-up PSG and this year Real Madrid saw off the spirited Italians in the last 16.
Atalanta sit fourth in the league, six points ahead of Inzaghi’s Lazio but the Rome-based side have a game in hand.
Inzaghi has spent five years in the capital, winning the 2018 Coppa Italia.
Unemployed Spalletti would be the easiest to lure to Turin after he left Inter in 2019.
The report states the Bianconeri are not planning to sack Pirlo mid-season but could be forced to replace him with assistant Igor Tudor if things continue to slide.
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Watch Cristiano Ronaldo fume at being subbed as Pirlo says ‘there’s no contract clause that says he can’t be taken off’ More

JUVENTUS handed Cristiano Ronaldo a special ‘GOAT 770’ shirt to mark his record breaking goalscoring achievements before their shock loss to Benevento.The Portuguese superstar, 36, was congratulated by Brazilian legend Pele for smashing his record after a blistering hat-trick against Cagliari last week.
Cristiano Ronaldo poses with his ‘GOAT 770’ Juventus shirtCredit: Getty
Juve president Andrea Agnelli presents Ronaldo with the special topCredit: Getty
Ronaldo fumed as his side slipped to defeat against struggling BeneventoCredit: AFP
Ronaldo took his tally to 770 and was presented with a commemorative top by Juve president Andrea Agnelli – but many thought he had already surpassed all-time great Pele in January.
The 80-year-old’s official tally stands at 757 but Ronaldo revealed he did not celebrate overtaking the all-time great until now because the World Cup winner bagged ten extra goals that are not formally included.
But the day took a serious turn for the worse for Ronaldo and Co as a 1-0 defeat at home put a serious dent in their title aspirations.
The Old Lady are going for an incredible tenth successive Scudetto.
But defeat to struggling Benevento has left them ten points behind pace-setters Inter Milan.
Ronaldo thought he had registered goal 771 but was flagged offside with Juve also having a penalty decision for handball overturned by VAR.
Andrea Pirlo’s side are third in the table and only have 11 games left in the league season to ensure their decade of dominance continues.
Adolofo Gaich’s 69th minute winner was enough for the visiting minnows to take all three points – with their only shot on target.
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Ronaldo cut a forlorn figure as Juve’s title hopes were dentedCredit: Getty
Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club

Gaich took advantage of Arthur’s awful pass before slotting past former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Benevento had seven shots to Juve’s 21 with the Bianconeri registering a third of those on the goal.
The home side dominated possession with 74 per cent of the ball but couldn’t convert any of their opportunites.
The surprise victory saw the visitors end an 11-game streak without a win at the Allianz Stadium.
Ronaldo’s future in Turin remains uncertain after reports he may quit the cash-strapped club this summer with his enormous £28million annual salary burning a hole in the Juve’s Covid-hit pocket.
After the shock Champions League exit to Porto, it is believed Juve chiefs will not prevent Ronaldo from leaving.
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Cristiano Ronaldo shares video of his glittering career after beating Pele’s goal tally by scoring his 770th More

AC MILAN are reportedly chasing Nikola Vlasic for a £26million summer transfer.Manchester United knocked the Serie A side out of the Europa League on Thursday, cutting off one route to next year’s Champions League.
Nikola Vlasic is a rumoured £26million target for AC MilanCredit: Reuters
If Stefano Pioli can guide Milan back to the premier club competition after seven years away, a spending spree could be green-lit.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Croatian forward Vlasic and Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic are being eyed by the Rossoneri if they qualify.
Vlasic has excelled at CSKA Moscow following a short spell with Everton.
The 23-year-old cost £10m when signed from Hajduk Split in 2017 but didn’t score a league goal in a quiet year on Merseyside.
Sent out on loan to CSKA, Everton actually turned a profit on the winger when he left permanently for £14m in 2019.
This season has seen Vlasic hit 11 goals for the Russian club and he will likely line up versus England in the Euro 2020 group stage.
Latest reports also outline plans for Milan to sign Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea if they reach the Champions League.
The loanee centre-back has impressed at the San Siro and can be signed for £26m.
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Vlasic hit just two Europa League goals during a year at EvertonCredit: PA:Press Association
Fikayo Tomori is also wanted for a permanent stay at the San SiroCredit: Getty

Talks are also underway to extend the contracts of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Rival clubs are reportedly circling for the Italian goalkeeper with Udinese’s Juan Musso and Emil Audero of Sampdoria said to be the favoured alternatives if Milan wave goodbye to their academy product.
Pioli’s side face Fiorentina on Sunday knowing a defeat could leave them teetering on the brink of losing their Champions League spot.
A recent dip in form has seen Milan’s title bid fade and fifth-placed Napoli are just six points behind, with a game in hand.
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Some clubs still splashed out despite Covid-19
Solskjaer confirms Man Utd will recall Diogo Dalot after impressing and ‘keeping fit’ during AC Milan loan spell More

CRISTIANO RONALDO faces a  £17million tax hit if he rejoins Real Madrid – unless on just a one-year contract.The £345,000-a-week Juventus attacker, 36, has also been linked with another old club in Manchester United.
Ex-Real Madrid and Man Utd frontman Cristiano Ronaldo has much more advantageous tax laws in Italy than he would have in SpainCredit: Reuters
But despite Bernabedu chief Zinedine Zidane admitting a switch back to Real was possible, the move would be tricky financially for both Real and Ronaldo.
Marca quote Himnus Football Lawyers CEO Toni Roca as saying: “Ronaldo enjoys a special tax regime.
“He did not go to Italy by chance, since the transalpine country has the most favourable tax treatment of the five major leagues on the continent.”
Manager Andrea Pirlo only pockets £1.6million-per-year after taking charge of the club
Roca believes Italy receives only around £200k a year in tax from Ronaldo’s annual £35million wages.
But in 2015 Spain scrapped the Beckham Law, which gave wealthy foreigners a large tax allowance.
And tax rates are also higher in Spain than in Italy.
Roca added: “For those 40 million euros £35m that [Ronaldo] receives per year for image rights, Cristiano would have paid 100 times more taxes in Spain.
“This means [an increase] from those 225,000 (£200k) euros that he now pays in Italy to a whopping 20 million euros a year in our country, and that’s without counting the salary.” 
Ronaldo has just been named 2020 Serie A player of the year but has been criticised recently amid Juve’s Champions League last-16 exit against Porto.
And asked on Sky Sports last week about a Ronaldo reunion, Zidane said: “Yes, it may be.
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“We know Cristiano, we know the person he is and everything he has done here.
“But now he’s a Juventus player and we must respect this.
“Now, let’s see what the future will be. I was lucky enough to coach him and he is very impressive. Right now, he’s helping Juventus.”
Cristiano Ronaldo shares video of his glittering career after beating Pele’s goal tally by scoring his 770th More

CRISTIANO RONALDO was named Serie A player of the year for 2020 after scoring 31 goals in 33 games for Juventus. The Portugal forward, who helped the club to a ninth consecutive league title, got the nod following a vote by players, referees and coaches. 
Cristiano Ronaldo was named Serie A player of the year for 2020Credit: https://www.instagram.com/juventus/
Ronaldo, 35, said: “I would like to thank my teammates, who made this award possible. And to all the players who voted for me.
“Consistency, confidence in my strength, hard work and passion for the game are the secrets to enjoying football, as well as motivation and discipline.
“Without which you can’t think about carrying on playing when you’re 35, 36 or 40.”
Ronaldo was named to the team of 2020 too, which was also made up of: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Robin Gosens, Stefan de Vrij, Lenardo Bonucci, Theo Hernandez; Luis Alberto, Nicolo Barella, Papu Gomez; Paulo Dybala, Ciro Immobile.
He said on his second season in Italy: “It was positive and strange at the same time. At the team level we won the Scudetto, so we did well.”
The forward revealed his header in Juve’s 2-1 away win against Sampdoria was his favourite of the season.
Ronaldo leaped an incredible 8ft 5in to connect with the ball, scoring the winner in the process.
He said: “That was the best header of my career, there’s no doubt about that.”

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Despite Ronaldo and Juve’s achievements last season, under new boss Andrea Pirlo this term, things are not going so well.
The champions currently sit third, ten points behind leaders Inter Milan, despite having a game in hand.
Antonio Conte’s Inter are running away with in, nine points ahead of second-placed rivals AC Milan.
Cristiano Ronaldo shares video of his glittering career after beating Pele’s goal tally by scoring his 770th More

AC MILAN winger Ante Rebic has been banned for two games for allegedly telling a referee: “I saw your mother being a prostitute in Naples”.The Croatia star was sent off after verbally abusing ref  Fabrizio Pasqua in stoppage time as Milan fell nine points behind Serie A leaders Inter with Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to Napoli.
Ref Fabrizio Pasqua responds to Ante Rebic’s outburst by sending him off in stoppage time of last Sunday’s 1-0 home defeat to Napoli in Serie ACredit: Getty
Ante Rebic won little sympathy after seeing red at the San Siro for his outburstCredit: Getty
The 27-year-old will now miss his second-placed team’s games against mid-table clubs Fiorentina and Sampdoria, following what informazione.it claim were personal comments about the official’s mum.
But it comes just a month after Rebic showed the other side to his personality – off the field.
Having already paid off the debts of 500 villagers in his hometown Donji Vinjani in 2018, he donated £8,000 to help autistic children in Slavonski Brod.
Meanwhile, the Disciplinary Commission also fined Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma 10,000 euros (approx £8,558)  fine for “threatening and offensive attitude” towards Napoli players.  
The Italy ace, 22, has been linked with Manchester United and especially Chelsea over the past year.
And earlier this month Italian website Libero claimed the Blues were willing to pay Donnarumma £9million a YEAR – after his Milan contract expires this summer.
So unless Donnarumma agrees a new deal he could be one of the most sought-after free transfer recruits in the next window.
DALOT FORTUNES REVIVED
But there has been little to suggest the 22-cap stopper is unhappy in Serie A.
And although neighbours Inter look poised to break Juventus’ nine-season title stronghold, Milan boss Stefano Pioli has turned the giants around in his second term in charge.
Milan have also helped revive the fortunes of United right-back Diogo Dalot.
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The Portugal Under-21 man’s impressive loan spell in Italy has prompted Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to insist Dalot will back in Manchester next season.
Solskjaer said: “Now he’s kept fit all season; he’s been available for them. He’s playing at a big club, big expectations, great history… so it’s been a good year for him.
“So of course I’ve been very pleased with his development this season, and he’s our player and we’re looking forward to having him back.”
Solskjaer confirms Man Utd will recall Diogo Dalot after impressing and ‘keeping fit’ during AC Milan loan spell More