MILAN — Italian Olympic Committee president Giovanni Malagò is confident everything is on track for the country’s first Olympics in two decades but admits that the past few years have been akin to “running a marathon with a backpack.”
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo will stage the 2026 Winter Games and the country’s preparations have been hampered by the coronavirus pandemic as well as political upheaval.
But Malagò hailed a productive first in-person meeting with the International Olympic Committee’s Coordination Commission for the Games, which spent three days in Milan.
“In the past three years since we won the Games, I have met with four governments, four different institutions and structures, four people with whom to deal with … without forgetting COVID, inflation and the international crisis,” Malagò said at a news conference on Wednesday.
“It was like running a marathon with a backpack. Now I am happy because the appointment of Andrea Varnier finally shows that the government is on board … we all know very well what are the difficulties and the problems, but I think most of these will be resolved soon.”
Varnier was named chief executive of the Milan Cortina 2026 organizing committee last month, ending a considerable period of limbo as his predecessor, Vincenzo Novari, left several months ago.
The 59-year-old Varnier, who has also been an adviser to the IOC, was managing director of image and events for Turin 2006 — the last time Italy held the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
“Andrea Varnier is the light at the end of the tunnel,” Malagò added. “His collaboration as adviser to the IOC and more than 30 years of experience in the industry are the key to accelerating our roadmap. His appointment represented a fundamental step.”
During the three days in Milan, the Commission visited a number of venues across the city, including San Siro, which is slated to hold the opening ceremony.
However, there are question marks over what the stadium will look like in three years with AC Milan and Inter Milan — the two teams which play their soccer home games there — keen to build a stadium of their own, most likely either on the site of the existing arena or nearby.
“There doesn’t seem to be another venue in Italy that can hold 80,000 spectators, it’s not just a question of spectacle but also revenue,” Malagò said. “But as we’ve said from the beginning it’s not something that concerns us, even if we are obviously very interested spectators.
“Anything is fine for us. It’s fine if the current San Siro remains, although certain things need to be fixed … we’re also open to a new San Siro, although we don’t know if it would be ready in time, it’s not up to us to say, we trust the city management.”
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Inter Milan vs. AC Milan. Where are the mirrors? (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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When you’re in desperate need of capital, every Champions League win matters.
Inter Milan has qualified for the Champions League round of 16, but the Italian soccer team will need much more success in the world’s most lucrative annual sports tournament to get a coveted $1 billion valuation in either a complete or partial sale that’s being led by investment banks Raine Group and Goldman Sachs.
That’s because the team is losing tons of money. In 2022 and 2021, Inter Milan’s parent company, Group F.C. Internazionale Milano, posted losses of $140 million and $246 million, respectively. The team’s balance sheet is also a mess, with a $408 million bond loan with a 6.75% interest rate and a negative net worth of $87 million.
Winning matters. If Inter Milan fails to advance past the round of 16, its Champions League earnings will be less than $30 million. If it can win its fourth Champions League, it could pocket around $90 million.
RedBird Capital Partners led the $1.28 billion acquisition of Inter Milan rival AC Milan in June. That has an impact on the sale of Inter Milan. One sports banker familiar with the team’s finances told Forbes, “The way RedBird scratched and clawed to put together expensive capital for AC Milan is going to make it difficult for Inter Milan.” Inter Milan doesn’t look very good by comparison. AC Milan announced its 2021-22 financial results last week and is in much better shape financially. AC Milan lost just $30 million last year and has only $28 million in net debt versus $354 million for Inter Milan.
Inter Milan’s chairman denied the team is for sale recently. Either way, another $60 million or so of Champions League money would certainly come in handy for Inter Milan.
After winning twice in a week, Juventus were brought back down to earth on Saturday evening as they were beaten 2-0 by AC Milan at San Siro. Indeed, if fans of the Bianconeri had been given hope by victories over Bologna and Maccabi Haifa, then this latest outing delivered a heavy dose of reality.
The home side dominated this game from the outset, with two first-half efforts from Rafael Leao both hitting the post, and another seemingly deflected wide by Dušan Vlahović’s elbow.
There would be more controversy when Milan did eventually take the lead, the referee missing a foul by Theo Hernández on Juan Cuadrado as the Rossoneri won a corner. Fikayo Tomori would net from the resulting set piece and, despite the circumstances, it was impossible to say his side didn’t deserve that lead.
Brahim Diaz would double their advantage with a superb solo run, but with just 54 minutes gone when the Spanish midfielder struck, there was plenty of time left for the Old Lady to mount a comeback.
Yet despite Juve controlling the ball for much of the game – statistics taken from WhoScored.com show they had 60.5% possession – there was absolutely no cutting edge to Max Allegri’s side.
The same website shows that they managed just 10 shots to Milan’s 21, repeatedly going backwards rather than seeking an attacking advantage, as the Coach explained during his post-match interview.
“It is strange, at a certain point we just stop playing and start to back down. After Leao hit the post, we started going backwards. And there are also some passes that are just impossible to get wrong,” Allegri told DAZN.
“We’ve got to be more determined in the challenges and shake off our fear, as otherwise we won’t have the balance to go far this season. If we shake off the fear, we can turn things around.
“When you pass the ball backwards, the other side will push forward and don’t even need to press you that hard. We need to work on that and improve.”
While there is no doubt that he is right, this is a Coach who has been in charge of this team for the past 16 months and he is the one responsible for doing the “work on that” rather than being merely an observer.
It is not good enough to repeatedly highlight the issues that anyone watching these performances can see easily enough for themselves, surely it is Allegri’s job to correct them or find solutions to overcome them?
Instead, Saturday’s clash at San Siro saw the Juve boss tactically outwitted by Stefano Pioli. The Milan Coach tweaked his formation slightly, opting for a three-man midfield rather than his usual two-man unit, immediately flooding an area where the Bianconeri had only deployed Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot.
It was the kind of shift that Allegri used to make himself, a simple but subtle move that could easily have been nullified, yet he did nothing but watch as Sandro Tonali, Ismaël Bennacer and Tommaso Pobega gave Milan a platform on which they could build their attacks.
Juve repeatedly found no way beyond those superior numbers in the middle of the park, Locatelli finding the match particularly difficult as he was constantly overrun defensively and under relentless pressure whenever the Bianconeri had possession.
It was the latest example of Allegri’s set up putting his players in position to fail, and it was a similar story in attack where the duo of Vlahović and Arkadiusz Milik might’ve had enough individual quality to secure wins over lesser opponents, but obviously offered no way through a well-organised Milan backline.
Without the brilliance of the suspended Ángel Di María and the injured Federico Chiesa, Juve simply have no creativity, and the Coach seemingly has little idea about how to set up his team to help alleviate that.
It continued a trend of woeful displays against top opposition since Allegri returned to Juve last May, with the tweet above highlighting just how inept the Bianconeri have been in the toughest games.
When a team is so devoid of solutions, has no viable tactical plan and so clearly lacks self-belief, the finger must be pointed at the man responsible for instilling those things. When that man repeatedly offers none of the above, and instead simply points out the obvious problems at press conferences, you have to wonder how long he can remain at the helm.
The Milan game didn’t just highlight the struggles Juventus are enduring, it laid bare exactly who is responsible for them. There are more crucial games ahead too, with a must-win Champions League encounter with Maccabi Haifa and the derby against Torino awaiting them this week.
Those are followed by fixtures against Benfica, PSG, Inter and Lazio before club football stops for the World Cup, and if Max Allegri continues to fail in big matches, one wonders just how much longer the Old Lady can stand by her man.
A look at what’s happening in the Champions League on Wednesday:
GROUP E
Chelsea is one of the top teams in early trouble in the group stage heading into a double-header against AC Milan, with the first match taking place at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea has just one point from its first two games and has a recently hired manager, Graham Potter, who is still working out his best team and best formation just two matches into his tenure. In the 1-1 draw with Salzburg in the second round of group games, Potter went with a 3-5-2 but reverted to a 4-3-3 for the win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday. He has some tough choices in defense, with Kalidou Koulibaly — one of Chelsea’s many expensive offseason signings — yet to play a minute under Potter and the likes of forwards Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech pushing for starts. Marc Cucurella could return from illness. Milan leads after collecting four points from games against Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb, who meet in Austria in the other game.
GROUP F
Real Madrid can take full control of the group with a home win against Shakhtar Donetsk, which would give the defending champions a five-point lead after only three matches. Madrid got off to a perfect start to the season in all competitions but was held 1-1 at home against Osasuna in the Spanish league on Sunday for its first setback. Leipzig hosts Celtic for a clash between the two bottom teams in Group F. Leipzig is bottom after losing both of its games so far, but new coach Marco Rose has restored some confidence and overseen a marked improvement since taking over. Leipzig warmed up for Celtic with a 4-0 win over Bochum at the weekend.
GROUP G
Manchester City can move to the brink of qualification for the last 16 with a home win over FC Copenhagen and might not need Erling Haaland to do so. The Norway striker, who has taken the Premier League by storm with 15 goals in eight games, played the entire match in the 6-3 win over Manchester United on Sunday while a number of key players were brought off midway through the second half. Haaland may be kept fresh for bigger matches ahead, while City manager Pep Guardiola has injury concerns over right back Kyle Walker and holding midfielder Rodri. City has already beaten Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund in the group stage and would advance with back-to-back wins over Copenhagen. Dortmund is in second place on three points and travels to Sevilla in the other match.
GROUP H
With Presnel Kimpembe out injured for several weeks, Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier doesn’t have many options at center back for the trip to Benfica for a match between two teams on a maximum six points. After missing out on signing Milan Skriniar this summer, PSG has to deal with makeshift solutions until the next transfer window opens, with midfielder Danilo Pereira or right back Nordi Mukiele available to play alongside Sergio Ramos and Marquinhos. In contrast, Juventus has zero points after losing its opening two Champions League matches for the first time. Massimiliano Allegri’s side travels to Maccabi Haifa, which is also pointless. Juventus is also struggling in Serie A but appears reinvigorated after the international break and beat Bologna 3-0 this past weekend.
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The summer transfer window is closed for the major leagues in Europe. However, with an eye on January, there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Juve, AC Milan, Barca eye Man Utd’s Dalot
Part of the appeal will be that the Portugal international — who has started every game this season for United — has entered the final year of his contract, meaning there is the possibility that he could leave Old Trafford as a free agent in the summer.
However, the Red Devils have the option to extend Dalot’s contract by another year, with it previously being reported by various outlets that United are likely to take up that option.
Nevertheless, AC Milan are hoping that they will be able to permanently bring in the 23-year-old after he spent the 2020-21 season on loan with the Rossoneri.
Juventus are another club looking at him, states the report, with Dalot likely being seen as a replacement for Juan Cuadrado, whose own contract expires in the summer and is deemed unlikely to be renewed.
Finally, Barcelona are also interested in Dalot, although the situation of United States full-back Sergino Dest— on loan at AC Milan — could also play into the thinking of the Blaugrana.
LIVE BLOG
12.28 BST: Chelsea have been linked with a move for AC Milan forward Rafael Leao and, with two clubs facing each other in the Champions League on Wednesday, the story is back.
Corriere della Sera reports that the Serie A side “received several informal offers” to sign the Leao over the summer, with Chelsea one of them.
The 23-year-old Portugal international has been in superb form and the report claims that Milan won’t accept less than €100m, even with his contract expiring in 2024.
11.44 BST: Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic has a host of top clubs interested in signing him, reports Il Bianconero.
Vlahovic, 22, only joined Juve for €70m in January 2022 and has scored 14 goals in 30 games for the club since.
Premier League clubs Arsenal and Chelsea are interested in his services, while Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are also in the market for a No. 9 after the exit of Robert Lewandowski.
11.00 BST: Can Steven Gerrard get Aston Villa back on track?
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Steve Nicol reacts to Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw against Leeds United in the Premier League.
09.47 BST: Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli snubbed interest from Manchester United during the summer, claims Sportmediaset.
Locatelli, 24, helped Italy to Euro 2020 success and had been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal after impressing over recent years.
However, United reportedly made a move and the midfielder turned down the chance to move to Old Trafford as he wanted to prove himself at Juve.
09.24 BST: Valencia coach Gennaro Gattuso is confident that captain Jose Luis Gaya will remain at the club beyond next summer.
Gaya, 27, who becomes a free agent in June 2023, has been offered a new five-year contract.
“I think that Jose, our captain, is happy and I look forward to his renewal because the club has made a great effort,” Gattuso said. “We have spoken and I think he is going to sign the renewal. I hope he does because in the proposal the club has made a great effort according to his value.”
The Spain international gained promotion to Valencia’s first team in 2014.
08.53 BST: Former Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez is among the candidates Sevilla are considering should Julen Lopetegui be dismissed, says Mundo Deportivo.
Sevilla have won one and lost five of their nine games this season and Lopetegui is under fire heading into Wednesday’s Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.
Benitez, 62, has been out of a job since being sacked by Everton in January. The former Valencia and Real Madrid boss has not coached in LaLiga since his departure from Madrid in 2016.
Ex-Valencia coaches Jose Bordalas and Javi Gracia are also reportedly in the running while Jorge Sampaoli, who guided Sevilla in the 2016-17 campaign, is also being considered.
08.25 BST:The Athletic reports that RB Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku has signed a pre-contract agreement with Chelsea to move next summer.
Nkunku, 24, has been tracked by the top clubs in Europe — including Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. And sources told ESPN last week that the France international underwent private medical tests Frankfurt, with a Chelsea orthopaedist present, ahead of a proposed transfer next year.
The Athletic report claims that Chelsea will pay a transfer fee in excess of Nkunku’s €60m release clause in order to land their man ahead of rivals.
08.00 BST: Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench during the side’s 6-3 defeat to Manchester City out of “respect” for the striker, he said.
Ronaldo was an unused substitute at the Etihad Stadium despite United finding themselves 4-0 down at half-time.
Victor Lindelof, Anthony Martial, Fred, Casemiro and Luke Shaw all came off the bench ahead of Ronaldo, with Ten Hag insisting afterward the 37-year-old did not deserve to be subjected to humiliation at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s champions.
“I wouldn’t bring him in out of respect for Cristiano, for his big career,” Ten Hag said. “The other thing was the advantage that I could bring on Anthony Martial. He needs the minutes, but I don’t want to point it out like that.”
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Steve Nicol debates whether Wolves could target a “big name” manager to replace Bruno Lage.
PAPER GOSSIP (by Danny Lewis)
– Romelu Lukaku is already looking towards the summer and has decided that he doesn’t want to go back to Chelsea when his loan deal with Internazionale comes to an end, as reported by Calciomercato. The Belgium international left Stamford Bridge in the offseason and will aim to find a way of persuading Todd Boehly and the club’s executives to let him leave again. The hope is that another loan spell could be an option considering the amount of money Chelsea spent to sign him.
– Fabrizio Romano has reported that discussions between RB Leipzig and Chelsea are taking place about a fee and payment terms over striker Christopher Nkunku‘s transfer. Chelsea aim to trigger the Frenchman’s €60m clause in 2023.
– AC Milan and Juventus are looking at Spezia‘s Jakub Kiwior and Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Evan N’Dicka, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The former has impressed for his club as well as the Poland national team and has a contract that runs until 2025, while the latter’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2023, meaning he would be available as a free agent.
– Lazio signed Luis Maximiano from Granada in the summer, but Calciomercato has suggested that he could already leave in the summer after failing to impress Maurizio Sarri. The 23-year-old was sent off six minutes into his debut against Bologna on the opening day and has not played since.
