Chiesa 🔙 to Serie A, Cisse scoop, Pio & Woltemade's time: morning news ☀️
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Serie A's seventh round kicked off last night with Frosinone's win over Sassuolo, thanks to Raimondo's hat-trick and mistakes by Bakola and Murić.
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Today, some of the big clubs are in action: Napoli head to the Penzo at 15:00 to test Davide Nicola's new-look Venezia. At 18:00, Inter visit Bologna without the injured Lautaro Martinez. Tonight, Roma and Genoa round off Saturday's league action.
Below, as usual, are the morning's biggest stories.
Juventus: Woltemade moves up the pecking order
Nick Woltemade is making his mark at Juventus. After scoring against NEC, the towering German also found the net in Vigo, delivering an impressive performance. His style is distinctive: he holds up the ball, links up with his teammates and uses his physical presence without being a traditional centre-forward. "My best performance since I've been here," he said after the win over Celta. As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, his understanding with Kolo Muani is particularly striking: together, the pair make Juventus' attack more unpredictable and dangerous.
The partnership intrigues Luciano Spalletti, who could start both players against Lazio. Woltemade can provide a focal point and create space, which the Frenchman can exploit with runs in behind. That choice would, however, leave fewer places for the wide attackers, from Conceiçao and Nico Gonzalez to Zhegrova and Boga. After the encouraging signs in Europe, the clash at the Allianz Stadium could be the next test for an option Juventus are beginning to consider seriously.
Milan: Cisse could have moved abroad!
From working his way up to the European stage: Alphadjo Cisse is experiencing a major turning point in his career. Yet in January, his future could have taken him away from Milan: according to Tuttomercatoweb, PSV Eindhoven were close to completing a deal, but the Rossoneri moved quickly to reach an agreement, leaving the player in Calabria for another six months to help his development.
Now Cissé is reaping the rewards of that journey and the faith shown in him by Ruben Amorim, who has used him both as an attacking midfielder and a centre-forward. Born in 2006, he wants to seize every opportunity to earn playing time in a highly competitive squad, relying on his eye for goal and ability to adapt to several roles.
Inter: the certainty up front is now... Pio!
The injury to Lautaro Martinez, who has been sidelined for around a month with a left hamstring strain, changes the attacking pecking order at Inter. As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, Pio Esposito will lead the Nerazzurri attack against Bologna and, in all likelihood, against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League too.
It remains to be seen who will partner Esposito out of Thuram and Bonny. Pio has already shown that he combines well with the Frenchman: the former provides a central focal point, while his partner can attack space and run in behind. Bonny, meanwhile, offers a younger partnership that has yet to be tested regularly. In any case, Chivu will need to manage his players' energy during a packed schedule.
Napoli: Venezia clash is the last chance for two!
The match against Venezia is becoming an important test for Lucca and Giovane. Both are expected to start and have the chance to convince Massimiliano Allegri, while also clarifying their futures ahead of the January transfer window. As reported by Il Mattino, the two forwards are approaching what is being described as a last chance. Lucca, who arrived from Udinese for a substantial fee, has yet to establish himself, while Giovane is seeking playing time after limited opportunities under Conte and a spell out following hernia surgery.
There are nevertheless encouraging signs for the Brazilian: against Frosinone, he provided an assist for De Bruyne, though he failed to make an impact in the following match against Villarreal. Allegri wants to give both players another opportunity, but time is running out, and their performances could influence the club's decisions ahead of the winter window. They will need to deliver against Venezia to dispel doubts and earn a place in Napoli's plans.
Roma: time for youth!
Roma are turning to youth to overcome their selection crisis and bounce back from their Champions League defeat. Against Genoa, Gian Piero Gasperini is ready to give six young players a chance: Santiago Castro will lead the attack in place of Malen, Soulé will step into Dybala's shoes and Rodrigo Mora will operate in attacking midfield. In midfield, Pisilli will replace Koné, while Lulli will cover the right flank and Ghilardi could take the place of the struggling Mancini.
It will be an important test for Roma's youngsters, with the chance to earn playing time and trust during a demanding stage of the season. Gasperini wants no excuses after the matches against Inter, Como and Real Madrid: Roma must show character in their response, proving that even their youngest players can make a decisive contribution towards their goals.
Lazio: a January move for Chiesa?
Federico Chiesa's future at Liverpool is uncertain once again, and Serie A could become a realistic option as early as January. After another difficult start to the season, the former Juventus player is reportedly considering leaving the Reds, where his latest attempt to get back on track has also failed to deliver the hoped-for results. According to CaughtOffside and some local English media outlets, Inter, Lazio and Atalanta are among the most interested clubs, ready to consider a deal in the winter window. For Chiesa, a return to Italy would offer the chance to play regularly again and revive his career.
However, the three options present different obstacles. Inter could step up their pursuit if Luis Henrique leaves, while Atalanta must contend with the previously difficult relationship between Chiesa and Cristiano Giuntoli. For Lazio, meanwhile, the main hurdle is financial: the player's salary of more than €6 million per season would weigh heavily on the club's finances. A return to Italy therefore remains some way off, but the January transfer window could offer Chiesa a fresh opportunity for a change of scenery.
Fiorentina: Paratici had lined up Mandas
Before committing to David De Gea again, Fiorentina had explored a move for Christos Mandas. The Greek goalkeeper, born in 2001, emerged as a target for the Viola in mid-June, when the Spaniard's future was still undecided. Juventus were also interested, while Bournemouth reportedly wanted to keep him after his loan spell. However, the prospect of having no guarantee of a starting spot had prompted Mandas to consider alternatives in search of more playing time.
The decision to retain De Gea changed Fiorentina's plans and led Fabio Paratici to abandon the pursuit of the Greek goalkeeper. That decision benefited Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani's Lazio, who kept a goalkeeper who now has one of the best defensive records in the league. Mandas' future therefore remained with the Biancocelesti, while Fiorentina chose to continue relying on De Gea's experience and dependability.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.