Serie A

INTER MILAN have completed the signing of Arturo Vidal from Barcelona for just £900,000.
The Chilean reunites with manager Antonio Conte, who he previously worked with at Juventus between 2011 and 2014.

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Vidal’s final appearance for Barcelona came against Bayern MunichCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Vidal, 33, will look to add to his amazing tally of 11 league titles in four different countries.
The combative midfielder left Juventus a year after Conte, spending three years at Bayern Munich before arriving at Camp Nou in 2018.
He made 96 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 11 times and making ten assists.

Vidal took to social media to thank Barca for “two wonderful years”, while the club itself placed on record its thanks for his “commitment and dedication”.
And stars Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez also paid tribute to their departing fellow South American.
The former wrote: “I only knew you from facing up against each other and you always seemed a phenomenon, but after I was lucky enough to get to know you personally and you surprised me even more.
“They were two years sharing a lot and you made yourself noticed a lot. The dressing room will miss you, Arturo.”

While Suarez, who himself appears set for Atletico Madrid, added: “To have you as an opponent was unbearable because of how great you are as a player, but to have you as a team-mate, friend and to know you as a person, you are even greater!”

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Vidal links up with Chilean compatriot Alexis SanchezCredit: Reuters

Vidal’s final appearance for Barcelona came in the 8-2 drubbing against Bayern Munich, and he immediately did not feature in new manager Ronald Koeman’s plans.
He has been let go for under £1m because of Barcelona’s sheer desperation to offload high-earners in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic – while also only having nine months remaining on his contract.
Vidal joins compatriot Alexis Sanchez at Inter Milan, as Conte attempts to mould a squad capable of ending Juventus’ Serie A dominance… that he started.

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Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both paid tribute to their departing friendCredit: Getty – Contributor

Barcelona’s Arturo Vidal looks close to vomiting as Bayern Munich celebrate one of their eight goals More

CRISTIANO RONALDO began where his record-breaking last season left off by clinching Juventus’ 3-0 opening-day win over Sampdoria in boss Andrea Pirlo’s first match.
And it was Aaron Ramsey who teed up Ronaldo’s late goal, suggesting the Arsenal legend can make up for his patchy debut campaign in Serie A.

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Cristiano Ronaldo fires home Juventus’ third goal late on against Claudio Ranieri’s SampdoriaCredit: Reuters

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Ronaldo scored late in the 3-0 win to give Andrea Pirlo a win in his first match as a managerCredit: Reuters

Former Atalanta winger Dejan Kulusevski grabbed a debut opener early on.
But Claudio Ranieri’s Sampdoria defended well for the rest of the first period and created reasonable chances after the break.
That all changed, though, once Leonardo Bonucci doubled the champions’ lead on 78 minutes, pouncing on a rebound when Weston McKennie’s shot was saved.

Ronaldo’s fine finish then made up for him hitting the bar earlier as the home side impressed in their first match since Maurizio Sarri’s sacking as manager in August.
Sampdoria can feel slightly hard done by to lose so heavily.
But they had no-one in front of goal like Ronaldo.

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Juventus goal-taker Cristiano Ronaldo takes the congratulations of goal-maker Aaron RamseyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Aaron Ramsey notched an assist to reward Juventus legend Andrea Pirlo for starting himCredit: AFP or licensors
The ex-Real Madrid and Manchester United frontman, 35, ended last term with Juve’s highest individual tally for a season – 37 goals.

And on the way he reached 50 Serie A strikes quicker than any player before, needing just 61 matches.
This time out, his match-sealer against Sampdoria rewarded Juventus’ dominance after they spluttered over the line in the title race last month.

Cristiano Ronaldo throws lavish party for girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez More

JUVENTUS have made a record £75million loss on striker Gonzalo Higuain, after they allowed him to join Inter Miami on a free transfer.
The Argentine joined the Old Lady from Napoli for what was, at the time, a record fee for the club.

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Inter Miami have unveiled Gonzalo Higuain as their latest recruit

But four years on, they’ve let him leave for nothing, just to get his £270,000-a-week salary off the wage bill.
This ranks as the biggest loss ever made by a club on a transfer, as pointed out by journalist Richard Jolly.
Higuain, 32, now joins up with David Beckham’s Inter Miami, MLS’ newest franchise.

The ex-Real Madrid forward was signed by Juventus after an astonishing spell with Napoli.
Higuain bagged 91 goals in 146 games for Juve’s Serie A rivals.
And this tally included a record-breaking 36 in just 35 league games in his final season at San Paolo.
He initially hit the ground running at Juventus too, bagging another 36 in his first season in Turin.

But his importance began to wane at Allianz Stadium.

And when Cristiano Ronaldo joined from Real Madrid in 2018, Juventus tried to flog their former star attacker.
He initially moved to AC Milan on loan, scoring six times in 15 appearances – before finding himself at Chelsea in the second half of the 2018-19 campaign.
His five goals in 17 games at Stamford Bridge were largely forgettable, however, with two coming in one game against Huddersfield.
Following the arrival of Maurizio Sarri at Juve upon his return, Higuain was given an unlikely reprieve with the Italian giants.
But eight strikes in 32 Serie A games later, and with Sarri having been given the boot, Higuain has finally said his Juventus goodbyes for good.

He joins an Inter Miami side struggling badly at the bottom of MLS’ Eastern Conference.
Becks’ team, featuring ex-Stoke winger Brek Shea and Scotland international Lewis Morgan, are bottom of the table having won just two of their 11 games under coach Diego Alonso.
But with Higuain now among their ranks, they will expect to swiftly add to their measly tally of just nine goals scored.

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Higuain had an underwhelming spell at Chelsea in 2019Credit: Reuters

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Pirlo confirms Higuain’s Juventus contract will be terminated with striker free to find a new club this summer More