Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti addressed Italian players in the dressing room after the Azzurri’s World Cup play-off elimination: ‘He knew what we were going through,’ said Manuel Locatelli.

Juventus midfielder Locatelli held a press conference on Saturday to comment on his contract extension until 2030.

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Click here to read the full press conference.

The Italian midfielder also answered a question about his coach Spalletti, who was appointed at the end of October and has recently signed a new deal until 2028.

Locatelli was part of the Italy squad last month, alongside his Juventus teammates Andrea Cambiaso and Federico Gatti.

UDINE, ITALY – MARCH 14: Luciano Spalletti, Juventus manager, reacts during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Juventus FC at Stadio Friuli on March 14, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

“The weeks after the penalty [against Sassuolo] and the missed World Cup were better,” he said.

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“The coach immediately spoke to us Italians and said he was sorry. He knew what we were going through. He knows what it means to represent the national team.

“But he told us we had to put it behind us right away. The thing about football is that the next match gives you the chance to react, and we tried to do that.

“I think with the national team, we didn’t know each other very well, even on a personal level. When he [Spalletti] arrived, I made myself fully available,” continued Locatelli.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Manuel Locatelli, Federico Gatti and Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy interact after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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“When he arrived, he spoke to me in his office on the first day, and what he said was very meaningful. He knew I had become important for Juventus, he asked different things of me, and I’m at his disposal. The nice thing is that he showed trust in me right away.”

Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row.

Spalletti had been the Italy coach from 2023 until last June, when he was sacked after a 3-0 defeat against Norway in the first match of the World Cup qualifiers.

Oleksandr Usyk has revealed why he may no longer pursue a third instalment of his enthralling rivalry with Tyson Fury.

Usyk handed Fury the first and second defeats of his professional career, simultaneously claiming the Briton’s WBC heavyweight world title to become the first undisputed four-belt champion in the history of the division.

Shortly afterwards, Fury retired from the sport for a fifth occasion, but made a successful comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov this month following a 16-month lay-off, calling for both a clash with Anthony Joshua and Usyk during the aftermath.

Along with Fury voicing his intentions to face Usyk for a third time, the Ukrainian has also previously named ‘The Gypsy King’ on his three-fight pre-retirement plan.

Yet, in an interview with Daily Mail Boxing, Usyk revealed that he may no longer target a third triumph over Fury, instead hoping to help Joshua overcome his bitter rival in their long-awaited grudge match.

“My plan has not changed, I have three fights. But, now I understand that Tyson has not signed [for a fight] with ‘AJ’.

“If ‘AJ’ and ‘Greedy’ [Fury] sign contract, I just stay back, ‘okay, [you are fighting each other instead], because I want to help AJ beat Tyson Fury.”

Joshua is set to make his ring return in July as part of a two-fight deal that will see him fight Fury later in the year should he win. The pair of British sporting icons will likely have a rematch if the contest is competitive.

Meanwhile, Usyk will attempt to defend his WBC heavyweight world title against Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza on Saturday, May 23.

United Rugby Championship round 15

Stormers (10) 24

Tries: Roos, Mchunu, Feinberg-Mngomezulu Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 3 Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Connacht (7) 33

Tries: Hurley-Langton, Boyle, Devine, B Murphy, Naughton Cons: Gilbert 4

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Connacht scored three tries in the final 16 minutes to stun the high-flying Stormers in a United Rugby Championship thriller in Cape Town and boost their hopes of making the end-of-season play-offs.

Stuart Lancaster’s side scored five tries in their bonus-point win to bounce back from their elimination from the European Challenge Cup at the hands of Montpellier last weekend and make it six URC wins in a row.

The Stormers lost Deon Fourie to a yellow card in just the third minute and Connacht capitalised within a few minutes as flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton went over in the corner despite the attempts of three Stormers defenders.

The try was awarded after a lengthy consultation with the television match official [TMO], who adjudged that the Connacht player had not been in touch before grounding the ball. Sam Gilbert added the extras.

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The hosts – who began the day four points off leaders Glasgow – responded well eight minutes later when Evan Roos exploited a gap in the Connacht defence and raced through to score behind the posts.

Having converted Roos’ try, Springbok fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s penalty on the stroke of half time, after the Irish province were penalised at the scrum, gave his side a three-point lead at the interval.

Ntuthuko Mchunu went over for Stormers’ third try eight minutes into the second half and soon after Paul Boyle barged over from close range for the visitors, both tries converted.

Mngomezulu added the South African side’s third try but Connacht centre John Devine replied immediately when he powered over at the other end.

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With 10 minutes remaining, the away side edged ahead 26-24 thanks to a converted score from Ben Murphy.

Shayne Bolton picked up a loose ball and offloaded to the scrum-half, who sprinted away to touch down under the posts.

Sean Naughton’s intercept try extended the advantage, with Gilbert’s fourth successful kick ensuring a nine-point winning margin and Connacht’s sixth consecutive URC win.

Line-ups

Stormers: Gelant; Willemse, Nel (capt), du Plessis, Zas; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Reinach; Mchunu, Ntubeni, Porthen; Smith, Schickerling; Fourie, Dixon, Roos.

Replacements: Venter, Kebble, Fouche, van Heerden, Theunissen, de Villiers, Ungerer, Simelane.

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Connacht: Gilbert; West, J Devine, Forde, Bolton; Naughton, B Murphy; Bohan, Heffernan, Illo; O’Connor, D Murray; Prendergast (capt), Hurley-Langton, Jansen

Replacements: Victory, Dooley, Aungier, J Murphy, Boyle, Reilly, Carty, Gavin

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Naoya Inoue is now far more likely to face a fellow pound-for-pound star, but must first take care of business against Junto Nakatani on May 2.

The pair will collide in an all-Japanese clash at the Tokyo Dome, with Inoue making the seventh defence of his undisputed super-bantamweight crown.

But despite entering their showdown as a clear favourite, many believe that three-weight world champion Nakatani represents his toughest test thus far.

Like Inoue, the 28-year-old boasts an unbeaten record and comes off a successful, albeit hard-fought, super-bantamweight debut against Sebastian Hernandez in December.

While the result has been somewhat disputed, Nakatani ultimately claimed a unanimous decision victory on the undercard of Inoue’s one-sided title defence against David Picasso.

But while Nakatani has certainly earned his position at the top table, some would argue that Inoue is likely to encounter his most formidable foe elsewhere.

More specifically, a potential clash with unified super-flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez has been widely discussed as one of boxing’s most mouth-watering matchups.

It was also announced just yesterday that Rodriguez will face WBA bantamweight titlist Antonio Vargas on June 13, bidding to become a three-division world champion.

After that, ‘Bam’ and head coach Robert Garcia may target the Inoue fight at 122lbs, with Garcia having previously outlined his plan in an interview with Xicana Boxing.

“We could get the Inoue fight early next year, or maybe [at] the end of this year. So the fight will happen – I know it is going to happen.

“That’s a fight ‘Bam’ wants, too, but he also understands that we’re going to do our job, building him to get used to the 118 pounders.

“Then he’ll feel better to know that he’s ready for 122[lbs].”

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While Inoue represents his most lucrative and legacy-defining option, ‘Bam’ could equally decide to remain at 118lbs or drop back down for an undisputed title opportunity at 115lbs.

Recognised as an all-time great by almost every boxing fan, Manny Pacquiao is undeniably one of the most talented and adored fighters to have graced the sport. When asked to name his own top three greatest fighters, there was a common theme amongst the names selected by the Filipino icon.

Pacquiao remains as boxing’s only eight-division world champion, having first claimed world honours as a flyweight and then repeated the feat as high as super-welterweight during an arduous and ongoing three-decade long career.

At 47-years-old, ‘Pac Man’ is attempting to further enhance his legacy, with plans to break his own world record as the oldest welterweight champion in boxing history, having previously won the title at the record-breaking age of 40 years and 215 days, and held it for two additional years.

Whilst unsuccessful in his challenge for Mario Barrios’ WBC welterweight crown upon his comeback to the sport, Pacquiao had been rumoured for a shot at Rolando Romero’s WBA title, before talks collapsed.

Although, Pacquiao is now preparing for a shock rematch with perennial rival Floyd Mayweather, but there remains some uncertainty surrounding that bout, as to whether it will be an exhibition contest or a fully professional encounter.

Pacquiao continues to build hype for the event and pile pressure on Mayweather to agree to a sanctioned bout and in an interview with Inside The Ring, the beloved veteran refused to name Mayweather amongst his top three fighters of all time.

Instead, Pacquiao picked those who, like himself, were truly loved by fight fans around the globe during their respective careers.

“Excluding me; Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez.”

It’s no surprise to see the Filipino icon select the legendary trio, with each of Ali, Leonard and Chavez widely regarded as three of the greatest boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

Pacquiao is scheduled to face Mayweather on Saturday, September 19, with further details regarding the fight expected to emerge in the coming weeks.