Serie A

ETHAN AMPADU will miss Wales’ warm weather training camp this week in a bid to keep Spezia in Serie A.The Dragons are off to Portugal on Thursday to prepare for this month’s Euro 2024 double-header against Armenia and Turkey.
Welshman Ampadu will be involved in the relegation play-off in Serie A this weekendCredit: Getty
Ampadu’s international team-mates will be in Portugal preparing for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Armenia and TurkeyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
But Chelsea’s on-loan defender Ampadu, 22, will be involved in the relegation play-off between Spezia and Verona scheduled for Sunday in Italy.
Both clubs finished the regular Serie A season level on 31 points following final-day defeats to Roma and AC Milan.
So that means there will be a play-off for the first time since Bologna faced Parma in 2005.
The one-legged match will take place at a neutral venue with the kick-off time and stadium yet to be confirmed.
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Wales have used Portugal for a number of years as their favourite warm weather training camp prior to their summer fixtures.
But Ampadu, who has 41 Welsh caps, has club commitments rather than training with his international pals.
Robert Page’s side, with four points from their opening Group D fixtures against Croatia and Latvia in March, host Armenia in Cardiff on June 16.
Then Wales face Turkey in Samsun three days later.
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Ampadu, who joined Chelsea from Exeter in 2007, has had loan spells at RB Leipzig, Sheffield United and Venezia before his second stint in Italy.
He signed a new three-year contract with the Blues in 2021.
Ampadu signed for Spezia on a season-long loan last August. More

NAPOLI fans have rewarded departing manager Luciano Spalletti by returning the steering wheel they stole from him two years ago.The Italian is leaving the Naples side after leading the club to their first Serie A title since 1990 this season.
Luciano Spalletti was greet by Napoli’s Ultras as he left Napoli
They gave him a present as a thank you for winning the title
And he was given back the steering wheel and CDs that were stolen from him two years ago
He led the club to its first Serie A title since 1990Credit: Reuters
Napoli stormed to the league title, with Lazio the closest to them while still being 16 points behind.
After lifting the trophy, Spalletti will leave his post as manager and take a sabbatical.
Club owner Aurelio De Laurentiis confirmed that he was asked by the 64-year-old if he could take the break and admitted that he could not refuse him the chance.
It all came despite Spalletti having one year left to run on his contract with Napoli.
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But club fans have continued their support of the Italian and even gave him a parting gift.
The club’s ultra group presented him with the steering wheel from his Fiat Panda and CDs they stole from him in 2021.
The group took the manager’s car in October 2021 after he first arrived at the club.
They promised that he would get them back when he left the club.
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And they have now stuck to their word and gifted the items to Spalletti.
The moment was captured on video, as Spalletti opened his present and revealed the gifts inside could not contain his excitement.
The departing manager burst out in laughter and held them up to the ceiling.
In the background, the Ultras are holding up the same banner that they displayed back in 2021, which read: “Spalletti, your Panda will be given back, as long as you leave!”
The ultras then hugged the manager before removing their balaclavas. More

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has brutally scribbled out a long-serving Manchester United star in his handwritten best XI of stars he has played with.The Swedish icon has hung up his boots from playing after announcing his decision AC Milan’s final game of the Serie A season on Sunday.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic brutally scribbles out Man Utd star as he shares incredible handwritten best XI of team-matesCredit: Instagram / @zlatanibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic removed a Man United star from his best team-mate XICredit: Reuters
David De Gea was ejected from the team as he was scribbled outCredit: Getty
The two played together for two years at UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
Zlatan was visibly moved by the reception he received and choked back tears.
Emotional supporters were spotted crying in the stands, as their hero said goodbye.
He has previously named the best team of players that he had the pleasure of playing alongside in a post on Instagram.
The team included some of football’s biggest stars over the last two decades, including Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Gianluigi Buffon.
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Lilian Thuram, Thiago Silva, Alessandro Nesta, Patrick Vieira, Pavel Neved and Brazilian defender Maxwell were the other stars named in the first team.
While also naming himself in the starting XI, Ibrahimovic did name a subs bench. However, United star David De Gea has had his name scribbled out.
The Spaniard played alongside Ibrahimovic during his two-year stint at Old Trafford between 2016 and 2018.
During this period De Gea put in some of his best performances as United’s goalkeeper.
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The club won the EFL Cup and the Europa League in 2017, while De Gea was named in the Premier League team of the season in both campaigns.
The subs bench included the likes of Andrés Iniesta and Fabio Cannavaro.
However, Ibrahimovic appears to have swapped out De Gea for former Inter Milan and QPR goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
De Gea is set to extend his stay at Old Trafford but is expected to sign a contract that will see his wages slashed. More

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC stunned fans with one last piece of trademark arrogance after announcing his retirement from professional football.The 41-year-old revealed he was hanging up his boots following AC Milan’s Serie A clash with Verona on Sunday.
Ibrahimovic told Verona fans to ‘keep booing’Credit: AP
The striker announced his retirement from football on SundayCredit: Getty
In a touching speech, he said: “So many memories and emotions inside this stadium. The first time I arrived you gave me happiness, the second time, you gave me love.
“I want to thank my family and those close to me for their patience. I want to thank my second family. The players, the coach and his staff for the responsibility they gave me.
“I want to thank the directors for the opportunity they gave me. Last but not least, from my heart, I want to thank you, fans. You welcomed me with open arms and I will be a Milanista my entire life.
“It’s time to say goodbye to football, but not to you.
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“It’s too difficult, there are too many emotions. I’ll see you around if you are lucky. Forza Milan and goodbye.”
Following his emotional farewell, Ibrahimovic then immediately snapped back into his brash persona to address the travelling Verona fans – who had booed him.
He said: “Keep booing. This is the biggest moment in your year seeing me.”
The striker burst onto the scene with Swedish side Malmo in 1999 and scored three goals in eight appearances before sealing a move to Ajax.
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He spent three years with the Eredivisie giants before joining Juventus in 2004.
Ibrahimovic also enjoyed spells with Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, LA Galaxy and AC Milan throughout his illustrious career.
The Sweden Legend is not only admired for his goalscoring prowess, but also his iconic comments.
Arsenal had attempted to sign Ibrahimovic from Malmo before he eventually moved to Ajax in 2001.
However, Arsene Wenger wanted him to trial before they considered any offers.
The striker subsequently refused to join the north London side.
When speaking about the situation to Sky Italia, he said: “I went to London for an appointment with Wenger, who asked me to audition for the Gunners. I told him ‘I will not do a trial: either you take me or not, I’m not here to waste time’.
“I already had that kind of trust, because in my mind I was the strongest of all even when I was young. I met Wenger because I expected him to tell me to start with them right away. But Ibra does not test.”
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Ibrahimovic also once described himself as a “Ferrari” when speaking about his one-year spell at Barcelona.
He said: “When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari. If you drive a Ferrari you put premium petrol in the tank, you hit the motorway and you step on the gas. [Pep] Guardiola filled up with diesel and took a spin in the countryside. He should have bought a Fiat.” More

THIS is the bizarre moment a supporter catches a FISH during an Italian Serie A match.The hilarious incident occurred during Fiorentina’s trip to rivals Sassuolo on Saturday.
A football fan stunned people by catching a fish at a gameCredit: TIKTOK/MODICA.MAURIZIO
The Fiorentina fan landed the fish at Sassuolo’s stadiumCredit: TIKTOK/MODICA.MAURIZIO
A moat separates away fans from the pitchCredit: TIKTOK/MODICA.MAURIZIO
The visitors prepared for Wednesday’s Europa League final against West Ham by sealing an impressive 3-1 win.
But the most exciting action of the game came in the away end.
Sassuolo’s pitch famously has a moat in front of the visiting supporters to prevent them from rushing onto the pitch.
The novel idea was first installed in 1995 and has so far done its job.
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However, the waterway has since acquired a number of live fish.
And away fans tend to make a habit of trying to catch them during games.
An Inter Milan was famously successful as he landed a fish 18 months ago.
But one Fiorentina fan joined the exclusive club as he hooked into one on Saturday.
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The delighted supporter received a raucous response as he waved the creature towards the crowd.
But fans left at home were left completely baffled by the surreal experience.
One said: “What in the Captain Birdseye is going on here?”
Another declared: “Bro just wanted to watch the football.”
One noted: “Yeah mate I have no clue either.”
Another added: “Fish and chips and watching Fiorentina.” More