Germany international Jamal Musiala has collapsed during a match for the second time in four days. He was helped off the pitch looking dazed just six minutes after coming on as a subsititute in Bayern Munich’s 4-2 friendly win at Heidenheim on Tuesday. Musiala collapsed in similar fashion in a match against RB Leipzig a few days earlier.
After the Heidenheim game, Musiala explained in an Instagram post that the blackouts were caused by a “neurological dysfunction” known as “absence seizures.”
“I’ve been diagnosed with temporary, brief, but easily treatable absence seizures, which are due to a neurological dysfunction,” he wrote in the post, which drew support from many in the football world, including Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer and former Germany and Bayern forward Thomas Müller.
“These can lead to the recent episodes, like the one against Leipzig or now in Heidenheim. I know they seem scary at first glance but for me, they’re currently just part of my everyday life.
“I’m receiving excellent medical treatment and am very optimistic. FC Bayern and my family and friends are always by my side and supporting me on this journey.”
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What are absence seizures?
Once known as “petit mal” seizures, absence seizures are split in to two types — typical and atypical. It is not yet clear which of these Musiala is experiencing.
Typical cases cause a person to stop anything they are doing in an instant and appear to “switch off.” Sometimes their eyes may look upwards or flutter. They last between 10 and 20 seconds, and may cause some confusion for a few seconds afterwards, before the person returns to their usual state.
Atypical cases usually last a little longer and may also include chewing or lip smacking movements, hand motions or repetitive blinking.
How to manage the stigma around epilepsy
Both are a type of epilepsy and, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, are caused by “brief abnormal electrical activity in a person’s brain.” They are most commonly found in children but can occur in adults, and the foundation said they can be occurring for a long time before being diagnosed, depending on the environment in which they occur.
The foundation added that some people may have “hundreds of brief absence seizures a day.” Treatment is not generally required, but some medicines are available for more serious cases.
Is Jamal Musiala’s career at risk?
Bayern Munich told German press agency DPA that the absence seizures were no threat to Musiala’s career, but it seems apparent that collapsing on the pitch will be difficult to manage if it doesn’t clear up.
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Although very different in nature, the seizures are another setback for a player who has struggled with fitness in recent years. Musiala, 23, broke his leg in the Club World Cup last July and found it difficult to regain fitness and form. In March he was hit by an ankle injury.
He did make the Germany World Cup squad in June, but looked off the pace for much of the tournament. He then required a small operation to remove a metal plate from his foot, left over from last year’s leg operation.
What’s next for Jamal Musiala and Bayern Munich?
Bayern’s season begins on Saturday with the German Super Cup, rebranded as the “Franz Beckenbauer Supercup” this season. The match usually pits the German champions against the German Cup winners but, with Bayern having won both last year, they face league runners up Borussia Dortmund. They open their Bundesliga title defense the following Friday, August 28, against Stuttgart in Munich.
Bayern Munich players and medics rushed to help Musiala after his first collapse against RB Leipzig, only for it to happen again days laterImage: Bernd Feil/MIS/IMAGO
It’s unclear whether Musiala will play any part in either of these games and how Bayern and the player will manage the seizures, but Musiala remains upbeat.
“It has been my personal desire to take on this challenge and, with the approval of the neurologists, to continue focusing on what helps me most in my recovery: simply living my everyday life and continuing to pursue my passion for playing football,” he wrote.
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“I have taken responsibility for this. Overall, I feel very positive and am on the right track. What helps me most on this journey is continuing to chase victories and titles with my team and your amazing support.”
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has responded to recent criticism of Manchester City’s case in relation to 115 alleged breaches of financial rules
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has responded to criticism of the ongoing wait for an outcome from an independent commission into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of financial regulations, stating the panel “need time and space to do their work.”
Masters admitted the process was “taking longer than expected” earlier this week, yet maintained the verdict remains firmly in the hands of the independent commission. It’s now more than three-and-a-half years since City were first charged, with the club having always denied any wrongdoing.
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The Premier League is facing mounting pressure to bring the “hugely complex” case to a conclusion with the new Premier League campaign just days away. Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick is among the latest prominent figures to demand clarity.
It’s now been over 18 months since the disciplinary hearing was brought to a close. When asked on Wednesday whether the case risked simply fading into the background, Masters said: “It will resolve itself, but as you know, I literally can’t say anything about it.
“There’s only one available option, which is to allow the process to reach its natural conclusion and I can’t talk about the substance of the case, I can’t talk about the timing of the case.
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“Our rules are very clear about that. Yesterday, I accepted that it would take longer than perhaps anyone had expected. The knowledge that people wanted to know – what the outcome was – needed to know what the outcome was. But the process was the process. I literally can’t answer beyond what I’ve already said.”
Masters denied that other clubs are pressing for a verdict, at least, that isn’t the impression he gets from his conversations. He said: “I obviously speak to clubs all the time. It’s not necessarily a topic of conversation that is top of the list.
“(There are) lots of other things to talk about and do. As you say, the Premier League moves on. It’s starting (again) on Friday evening.”
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Masters was also challenged on whether the Premier League could do anything to speed things up, to which he said: “We’ve always said that the commission needs time and space to do their work, and in the end, as you know, it’s the league’s job as the regulator to provide the evidences there, to put serious allegations in front of the independent commission, the independent process, to establish the truth.”
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He was also transparent about the frustration that has plagued the case, explaining: “I just have to accept the fact that people are frustrated and want to know and I can’t add anything further.”
Earlier this week, Arsenal CEO Garlick told the BBC that “everyone” around the Premier League was eagerly awaiting an update.
“He said: “It has gone on for a while. Everybody, the league and the teams, would want the clarity around what’s going to happen next.
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“But it’s not something that I can control. It’s not something that I can speculate on. And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly.”
Manav Suthar left everyone impressed with a sensational bowling performance as India registered a commanding 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series in Galle on Wednesday. The 24-year-old spinner, playing only his second Test for India, picked up six wickets in the second innings to finish with a remarkable 10-wicket match haul. Having made his Test debut against Afghanistan in June, Suthar had already announced his arrival on the international stage with a five-wicket haul. He followed it up with another outstanding display in Galle, playing a key role in India’s victory.
With India taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara urged Suthar to remain focused on red-ball cricket rather than chasing an IPL contract. Pujara also appealed to the Indian team management to “preserve” the young spinner for the longest format of the game.
“Try to preserve him. We have had this discussion in the past that, yes, all the young players might want to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format. Yes, he might want to play the IPL, but don’t go there. I mean, yes, if he gets the opportunity to play the IPL, that’s fine, but don’t change your strength,” Pujara said on the Sony Sports Network.
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“I think he doesn’t need to change his bowling much. Just when it comes to white-ball cricket, you need to have that flatter trajectory, and I don’t mind him playing in the IPL. If he plays in the IPL, if he’s successful in the IPL, that is fine, but don’t change your strength,” he added.
Pujara further stated that Suthar does not need to alter his bowling action, as his natural ability and skill set are already helping him thrive in red-ball cricket.
“For someone like Manav Suthar, who is flighting the ball, who is willing to go a little slower, when it comes to red-ball cricket, you don’t need to change that. Don’t change yourself just for the IPL. I can understand, but don’t change your natural ability, which is to flight the ball,” said Pujara.
Speaking about Suthar’s T20 credentials, the Rajasthan-born spinner has featured in five IPL matches and picked up two wickets. He is currently a member of the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans squad.
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“Winning World Cup Most Beautiful thing”: Golden Ball Winner Rodri
With former MVP Nneka Ogwumike announcing her retirement following the 2026 WNBA season, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has spoken about her incredible career.
Once she retires following the 2026 WNBA season, fans will be able to truly appreciate Nneka Ogwumike’s impact on women’s basketball as well as the league.
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Following the 36-year-old’s announcement on Wednesday, there was an outpouring of appreciation and tributes from the WNBA world for the former champion.
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The first overall draft pick in 2012, Ogwumike has enjoyed an exceptional career. And with her peers showing her love, league commissioner Cathy Engelbert wasn’t far behind.
Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images
Cathy Engelbert praises Nneka Ogwumike’s ‘grace and conviction’ in heartfelt tribute
The Los Angeles Sparks legend has achieved much more in the W than just her exploits on the court. As the WNBPA President for 10 years, Ogwumike has been instrumental in shaping the league.
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In her role and as an extremely prominent voice in the league, Ogwumike has interacted a lot with Engelbert. Thus, it is not surprising that the latter’s statement about the retirement seems very heartfelt.
“There is no telling the story of the WNBA’s recent growth and evolution without Nneka Ogwumike,” Engelbert’s official statement read. Her extraordinary career has been defined not only by excellence, but by the way she has led and lifted those around her.
“She is a champion and MVP, one of the most accomplished players of all time, and a fierce competitor who has represented the very best our game has to offer.
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“For 15 seasons, Nneka has led with grace and conviction, competed with an unmistakable spark, and carried herself with a generosity and thoughtfulness that have earned the admiration of everyone across our game.
“Nneka will retire at the end of this season leaving the WNBA much better than she found it — a testament not only to the player she has been, but to the person and leader she is.
Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images
“I have been fortunate to work closely with Nneka over the years and have been inspired by her passion and unwavering commitment to the players.
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“It has been a privilege to watch her remarkable journey, and while there is still more basketball to be played this season, we congratulate her on an extraordinary career and look forward to celebrating her in the months ahead.”
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The 11-time All-Star’s retirement will leave a definite gap in terms of leadership among the league’s players. Hopefully, she has inspired enough of the younger stars to follow in her footsteps.
As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our series on the records of each top CFB program in the West against all others in the region.
Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.
For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.
We continue with UNLV, which has played 409 games against regional foes, winning 151, losing 256, and recording 2 ties, for a winning percentage of .372.
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The Rebels have recorded the most wins (23), played the most games (51), and lost the most games (28) against Nevada.
Here is a breakdown of UNLV’s records vs. the region’s teams.
UNLV Football Wins vs. the Top Programs in the West
Former India player Mohammad Kaif has expressed concern about Kuldeep Yadav’s place in the playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka. He pointed out that the visitors had to use Devdutt Padikkal with the ball in the first Test because they lacked an off-spinner.
India registered an emphatic 165-run win in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The second Test will be played in Colombo from Sunday, August 23, onwards.
During a discussion on Sony Sports, Kaif opined that Saransh Jain might replace Kuldeep in the playing XI for the second Test.
“I am worried about one player – Kuldeep Yadav. He might not play the next match. That’s also possible. Whenever he was given bowling, he was given short spells. He didn’t get long spells. Saransh Jain is an off-spinner. Why did Padikkal come to bowl? It was because the lack of an off-spinner was seen in the middle,” he said.
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The former India batter pointed out that an off-spinner’s absence was felt in Galle and Kuldeep wasn’t used effectively either.
“When the two left-handers were batting, they were searching for an off-spinner. If they get a turning track and a slow pitch, considering that the absence of an off-spinner was felt and the way Kuldeep was used, I feel that decision might have to be taken. I feel Kuldeep Yadav might not get a chance in the XI. Saransh Jain might get an entry in Colombo,” Kaif observed.
Kuldeep Yadav registered figures of 1/65 in 14 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings of the Galle Test. He went wicketless and conceded 38 runs in 11 overs in the second innings.
“I want Team India to back Kuldeep Yadav” – Ajinkya Rahane
In the same discussion, former India batter Ajinkya Rahane urged the team management to persist with Kuldeep Yadav if the second Test is played in similar conditions.
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“If the wicket is like this, I want Team India to back Kuldeep Yadav because he is a high-quality bowler. He is a match-winner and a wicket-taker. He will have to be played here because he has come into the team after a long time. So he will have to be given a chance again,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the left-arm wrist-spinner needs to be backed to boost his confidence.
“How do you build a player’s confidence? Replacing someone is very easy. When there are three spinners, one guy will bowl fewer overs. Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja bowled very well here, but if the conditions are the same, I feel Team India should back Kuldeep Yadav and increase his confidence,” Rahane observed.
Manav Suthar (4/76 in 21.4 overs in the first innings and 6/55 in 23.4 overs in the second innings) was the visitors’ star performer with the ball in the first Test. Ravindra Jadeja registered figures of 3/57 in 21 overs in the first innings and 1/71 in 23 overs in the second innings.
Xabi Alonso is at Stamford Bridge with the Blues. Chelsea and Napoli are in contact over a potential transfer for striker Nicolas Jackson, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Napoli manager Max Allegri has made signing a new striker his top priority for the final weeks of the transfer window. Following Romelu Lukaku‘s permanent move to Fenerbahce, Napoli are keen to add depth and competition for Rasmus Hojlund. Alongside exploratory enquiries for Arsenal‘s Gabriel Jesus and Manchester United‘s Joshua Zirkzee, Jackson has emerged as a highly feasible and attractive option for the Partenopei.
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Chelsea are open to selling the Senegal international, provided their steep valuation is met. Jackson spent the 2025/26 season on loan at German champions Bayern Munich, but they opted not to make the deal permanent. Since returning to West London, Jackson’s place in Xabi Alonso’s plans is uncertain, especially after being omitted from Chelsea’s final pre-season fixtures.
With the Blues keen to trim their squad and generate funds, Chelsea have placed a £65 million price tag on the forward. Napoli’s entry into the race could prove highly beneficial for the Blues, as it threatens to spark a genuine bidding war.
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Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have all monitored Jackson’s situation this summer, but so far, interested parties have been reluctant to meet Chelsea’s asking price.
Napoli and Chelsea enjoy a good relationship, having recently agreed a loan-to-buy deal for French defender Benoit Badiashile earlier this summer.
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While direct talks remain ongoing, Napoli must clear squad space before making a concrete move for Jackson.
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Noa Lang is the prime candidate to be moved, with Turkish giants Galatasaray and Dutch side Ajax both showing interest.
Napoli begin their 2026/27 campaign with an away fixture against Genoa on Saturday.
VANCOUVER — The red-hot Houston Dynamo climbed to the top of Major League Soccer’s Western Conference standings with a 1-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night.
Franco Negri gave the visitors the lead in the 34th minute and the Dynamo (12-6-2) didn’t look back, claiming their fifth straight victory in MLS play.
The ‘Caps (11-4-4) appeared to score midway through the second half but Rayan Elloumi’s goal was called back after video review.
The home side controlled 61.9 per cent of possession across the game and outshot the Dynamo 16-7, but managed just one shot on target.
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Vancouver came in sitting first in the conference standings following a 2-0 victory over their regional rival Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
Houston is unbeaten in its last eight contests and has not conceded a goal since battling D.C. United to a 1-1 draw on July 22.
The Dynamo nearly opened the scoring in the 16th minute Wednesday off a free kick in the midfield.
The ball fell in the penalty area and rolled to Hector Herrera, who hammered a shot on target, but ‘Caps centre back Mathias Laborda blocked it on the goal line.
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Houston had a breakaway later in the half where Laborda poked the ball off the foot of Mateusz Bogusz just above the 18-yard box.
It then popped out to Negri, who fired a long bomb into the top corner of Vancouver’s net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute.
The Whitecaps got a prime opportunity to respond five minutes later after Agustin Resch was shown a yellow card for taking down Cheikh Sabaly, gifting Vancouver a free kick inside the penalty arc.
Oliver Larraz took the set piece, sending his attempt into Houston’s wall.
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Sabaly came close to levelling the score in first-half injury time with a shot from the top of the six-yard box that pinged off the left post.
Vancouver controlled 57.3 per cent of possession across the first half and outshot the visitors 5-4, but Houston had the edge in on-target shots at 2-0.
The home side had another solid chance early in the second half when captain Ryan Gauld sprang Elloumi with a long ball up the middle of the field.
The teenage striker sprinted through a pair of defenders to get to it and took a couple of strides into the area before sending a rocket just wide of the post.
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The ‘Caps briefly appeared to knot the score at 1-1 in the 64th minute.
Emmanuel Sabbi put a shot through a pair of defenders and Elloumi slid in from just above the goal line to direct it into the Houston net.
Referee Ricardo Montero Araya went to a sideline monitor for a video review and the play was overturned for a foul by Larraz in the buildup.
There was pushing and shoving in the game’s final moments after Larraz was taken down inside the penalty area without a call, prompting chants of “ref you suck!” from the announced crowd of 22,849.
Tommy Paul saved a match point on the way to a 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 upset of top seed Alexander Zverev on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters. The match was interrupted for 90 minutes in the seventh game of the second set by rain and had two more five-minute pauses as drops were dried from the court. French Open champion Zverev had a chance to close out a victory at 6-5 in the second-set tiebreaker but stuffed a volley into the net.
The German again gained an edge in the deciding set with a break for 4-2, but Paul broke back in the next game and again for a 5-4 lead.
He served out the victory with confidence for his third win over Zverev in their last four meetings.
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“I’m not sure how I did it,” Paul said. “I put some returns in, he gave me some looks at second serves and he threw in a few doubles (faults). That always helps a ton.
“I went after the ball a bit more, I was having fun out there. I hope I can keep building on this and peak at the US Open.”
Paul next faces Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli, who labored two and a half hours to engineer a turnaround against red-hot Spaniard Rafael Jodar 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
Cobolli has won all three of his matches in Cincinnati in three sets.
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The durable Italian reached his second Masters-level quarter-final of the season after Madrid, and he prevented 19-year-old Jodar from reaching an eighth quarter-final in nine events.
“At the end of the second set and start of the third I told myself to believe, try on every point,” Cobolli said. “I knew I had a chance.
“Rafa has had an unbelievable season but maybe he was a bit tired. At the end I deserved to win as I was fresher than him.
“I pushed to my limit to get through. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m really strong.”
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Thiago Tirante, who upset Novak Djokovic in the second round, continued his surprise run at the last big event prior to the August 30 start of the US Open.
He recovered to defeat Jakub Mensik 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 and book his first Masters quarter-final.
Australian Alex de Minaur was no match for Frenchman Arthur Fils, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the fifth seed.
Solid Swiatek
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Defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek needed four match points to get past Diane Parry of France 6-3, 6-3.
The seventh-seeded Pole claimed her fourth consecutive quarter-final in Cincy and her 30th at the 1000 level.
She now faces a re-run of last week’s Toronto final against Elena Rybakina, who beat Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-4.
Swiatek was broken as she served for victory leading a set and 5-2.
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It took three additional chances in the next game to break Parry, who hit the net with a backhand to lose in 88 minutes.
“I was solid, even if I had to put more energy into my shots since she was hitting so much slice,” said six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, who captured her first title of 2026 with her victory over reigning Australian Open champion Rybakina in last week’s Toronto final.
Two other current Grand Slam champions bowed out.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk rallied from a set down to beat fifth seeded French Open winner Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-0, 6-2.
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Sixth-seeded Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova fell to Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-4 in another weather-disrupted match.
Anisimova will face third-seeded fellow American Jessica Pegula, who missed a chance to serve out a quick win but held on to beat Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cricket League (KCL) enters its third season on Thursday with a question that goes beyond who will lift the trophy: Who steps up to own Kerala’s T20 stage in the absence of Sanju Samson?Sanju, the league’s biggest star and a key figure in Kochi Blue Tigers’ title-winning campaign last season, has opted out citing “personal reasons”. It leaves a void, but also opens the door for a new generation to seize the spotlight. Kochi, led by Sanju’s brother Saly Samson, will have to prove they can defend their crown without their biggest match-winner.“Sanju will be missed. His experience was invaluable last season during our title-winning run. But we have a core team of 10 players who performed for us, with seniors like Basil Thampi,” Saly said.The defending champions, who face Kollam Sailors on Thursday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, however, are not looking beyond the immediate task. “There’s added pressure on us because of the defending champions tag, but we’re confident. We have prepared well for this tournament,” he said.The search for the next breakout star could be the defining subplot of KCL 3. Young players will have an opportunity to turn the league into a springboard to Kerala’s senior side, the IPL and beyond. Saly reckoned the tournament’s unpredictable nature could produce a surprise package.“I believe that KCL has a knack for throwing up surprises. How you perform on the given day is what makes it count. Some young, relatively unknown player might come good and score a ton or pick up a five-for,” he added.The auction has added another layer of intrigue. Alleppey Ripples’ ₹11.8-lakh purchase of Sibin Gireesh made him the league’s most expensive player, while Krishna Devan and Sachin Baby also commanded big bids. Baby’s move to Alleppey, where he will captain the side, adds another interesting storyline as the former Kerala skipper begins a new chapter.The KCA has assembled a 15-member umpiring panel, including former Kerala captain and ICC elite panel umpire K N Ananthapadmanabhan and BCCI Level 2 umpire Tony Emmatty. Two BCCI-panel umpires will officiate in every game.Adding another layer of technology is the Hawk-Eye, which will be used to assist reviews and improve the accuracy of decision-making. With four umpires assigned to every game and Hawk-Eye enhancing the review process, KCL is aiming for greater professionalism.As six teams converge on Greenfield, the moot question remains: Without Sanju, who becomes the new face of Kerala’s T20 cricket?
Thus far, 2026 has been chastening for the fallen giants of world football. For Italy, it has been the year of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bodo/Glimt, the Balkan team meaning a third consecutive World Cup took place without the Azzurri, the Norwegian side eliminating Internazionale from the Champions League. There were other indications of decline – a Champions League table with the reigning Scudetto winners Napoli in 30th or Italy’s sole representatives in the last 16, Atalanta, going down 10-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich – and they combined to paint a bleak picture.
So if Serie A returns with the sense its best days are behind it, some of its historic forces have the same feel. And yet that provided some of the drama last season: two of Italy’s three most decorated clubs, AC Milan and Juventus, spurned promising positions to miss out on Champions League qualification. They will instead be the biggest clubs in the Europa League after being leapfrogged by Cesc Fabregas’ insurgents from Como. The third of Italy’s traditional powers, Inter, cruised to their 21st Scudetto in Cristian Chivu’s first campaign in charge; equalling his predecessor Simone Inzaghi’s total of Serie A titles was at least compensation for faring far worse in Europe.
His rivals this year are set to be a mixture of the familiar, with Serie A’s capacity to recycle its managers, and an intriguing newcomer. A division where clubs have been starved of funds features two expensive arrivals from Paris St-Germain, charged with bringing goals to the underachievers, and a further influx of English defenders.
Chivu will share San Siro with Ruben Amorim who, in the way Serie A’s fortunes have nosedived, seemed the man AC Milan ended up with rather than perhaps wanted, given interest in Oliver Glasner and Andoni Iraola. It is nevertheless an opportunity the Portuguese did not earn with his wretched spell in charge of Manchester United.
He will presumably import his flagship 3-4-3; whether Luka Modric, who turns 41 next month, wants to be in a central-midfield duo remains to be seen but Milan have backed Amorim by allowing him to make the biggest signing in the Serie A summer: his fellow Portuguese Goncalo Ramos for a club record €74m (£63.3m). It at least should ensure wingers Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic are no longer an ersatz strike duo, even if Amorim’s record with centre-forwards was better in Portugal than England.
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Goncalo Ramos is the big-money signing of the summer (Reuters)
Randal Kolo Muani spearheads a new-look Juventus attack (Getty)
Ramos was liberated from the PSG bench. He used to be joined there, before an unsuccessful loan at Tottenham, by Randal Kolo Muani, who has returned to Juventus, another to borrow him before. A potential €50m (£42.8m) fee means he has to spearhead a new-look attack, with the younger talents of Kenan Yildiz and Kerim Alajbegovic, a €32m (£27.4m) arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. Luciano Spalletti, who walked into a struggling side when Igor Tudor was sacked, is reshaping his forward line with Dusan Vlahovic going after an underwhelming and expensive spell and after last year’s striking additions Jonathan David and Lois Openda struggled.
Inter, meanwhile, already had the capocannoniere last season, Lautaro Martinez, and the player with most assists, the division’s MVP Federico Dimarco. The presence of players at their peak allows Chivu to continue his task of making the nerazzurri younger. Buying back his old teammate Dejan Stankovic’s son Aleksandar is a nod to a Champions League-winning past. Four of Inzaghi’s veterans are gone, in Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian, Yann Sommer and Stefan de Vrij, who have a combined age of 146. The buccaneering wing-back Denzel Dumfries, who has joined Real Madrid, may be the greatest loss of the departures. Djed Spence, less of a goalscorer but fresh from a remarkable World Cup, makes for a different replacement.
Como manager Cesc Fabregas during a pre-season friendly against Liverpool (Getty)
Even with Spence, Inter’s defence may not be that youthful next season. Signing John Stones, and reuniting him with Manuel Akanji, gives them a player who should suit the pace of play as well as Chivu’s 3-5-2. It also provides Thomas Tuchel with reasons to visit Italy on defensive scouting trips, with Trevoh Chalobah moving to Como, though it remains to be seen if Fikayo Tomori, potentially the latest in the list of players exiled by Amorim, will still be at AC Milan.
At Como, Fabregas has also kept the precocious Nico Paz, though Real Madrid retain an option to buy the playmaker back. A challenge for the Spaniard will be to juggle domestic and European football. Roma, propelled by the goals of the mid-season arrival Donyel Malan, will join them in the Champions League. Gian Piero Gasperini, who won his power struggle with Claudio Ranieri, has further bolstered his attack with the €35m (£30m) signing of Bologna’s Santiago Castro, while Portuguese wonder kid Rodrigo Mora brings more potential to the Eternal City.
Djed Spence arrives at Inter after a fine showing at the World Cup (Getty)
Napoli’s big summer striking signing was one set up last summer: Rasmus Hojlund, after a successful loan, and his purchase triggered now. An issue for new manager Massimiliano Allegri, however, is that his predecessor Antonio Conte’s capacity to spend big meant much of his transfer budget was already committed. Though Romelu Lukaku is gone to Fenerbahce, Allegri, sacked by Milan, will have to use many of his predecessor’s players, Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne among them, in his search for his seventh Scudetto. That the sixth came back in 2019 suggests he is in decline; Napoli may be too.
But Serie A can specialise in finding new homes for its familiar faces on the managerial merry-go-round. Maurizio Sarri, who left Lazio for a second time, is now at Atalanta, and shorn of the Chelsea-bound Marco Palestra. Ivan Juric, who joined the Bergamo club last year, is now at promoted Monza; it may not bode well that his last three jobs have only spanned 12, 16 and 15 games respectively.
Ruben Amorim will rebuild his reputation in Italy after a torrid spell with Man Utd (Reuters)
There are reminders of the happier days when Italy were World Cup winners; of the 2006 team, Gennaro Gattuso is now manager of Lazio, replacing Sarri, and Fabio Grosso has joined Fiorentina, who have moved on from Paolo Vanoli, even though he kept a team who failed to win in their first 15 games up. They should not be in a second successive relegation battle: the Viola have spent heavily and also borrowed Franco Mastantuono from Real Madrid.
That seven different clubs have finished in the top four in the last three seasons can offer encouragement to the ambitious. That Inter look overwhelming favourites suggests the battle for fourth could be contested more than the one for first; Juventus may be their closest challengers. But while Serie A can be compelling in itself, its standing and self-esteem will depend in part on results against outsiders. The Italians could do with making the right kind of impression in Europe again.
Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.
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