Real eye McTominay in Jan, Pio 100m 🤑 and Woltemade flop: morning news☀️
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The wait is almost over: league football is back. After the international break, Serie A is ready to resume, and so are its big clubs. Today's papers are full of talking points, both on the pitch and... in the transfer market!
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Let's take a look at this morning's top stories.
👎 Juventus, Woltemade already written off?
Nick Woltemade's Juventus adventure has only just begun, but the German is already under scrutiny after his glaring miss for Germany. As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, the forward born in 2002 has yet to fully convince in a Juventus shirt either: his tendency to drop deep and get involved in the build-up makes him more of a nine-and-a-half than an out-and-out striker, which is exactly what Spalletti's team currently lacks. His straight loan from Newcastle, officially running until June 2027, also makes his future in Turin far from certain.
That is why Juventus have already started looking around ahead of next season. The players being monitored include Retegui, Balogun and Raimondo, while the winter window could offer opportunities to act immediately. Woltemade will still have time and opportunities to prove himself, but the centre-forward question remains unresolved in Turin: if the aim is to challenge at the top again, they will need to establish whether the German can really become the number nine who delivers goals and a constant presence in the opposition box.
💡 Milan, Amorim plans a new-look Diavolo
Ruben Amorim has always promised an aggressive Milan side that controls games, but maintaining balance has often meant making compromises so far. However, Saelemaekers' injury could push the coach to be bolder against Sassuolo: as La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, a 4-2-3-1 with Chukwueze, Pulisic and Moreira behind Gonçalo Ramos, or Cisse replacing the Portuguese striker, is becoming an increasingly likely option. It would be the Rossoneri's most attacking setup, albeit with a few extra risks against a team dangerous on the counter.
The decision will also depend on the fitness of those returning from international duty and the recovery of Estupiñán and Bartesaghi, with the latter ready to step in if the Ecuadorian misses out. Modric should feature in midfield, while Jashari and Musah are competing for the other spot, with Rabiot a possible more cautious option on the left flank. Loftus-Cheek remains another alternative, but after the win over Lecce, Amorim seems determined to stick with the 4-2-3-1: the Sassuolo game could be the moment to see just how far Milan are willing to go on the attack.
💎 Inter, is Pio already worth €100M?
His goals for Italy have sent Pio Esposito's value soaring even higher, with the striker now considered one of the most exciting centre-forwards of his generation. As La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, the question is how much the player born in 2005 might be worth on today's market: Inter have no intention of selling him, but a figure of €100 million no longer seems so unrealistic. Comparisons with other youngsters signed for big money by Premier League clubs, from Hojlund to Sesko, support the idea of an ever-higher valuation for the Nerazzurri academy graduate.
Esposito's age, performances and potential for improvement are the main factors driving his value up. Roberto Mancini has already compared him to great centre-forwards of the past such as Vieri and Toni, while at Inter the young striker will need to keep carving out playing time alongside Lautaro and Thuram. After scoring 10 goals last season, the next step will be greater consistency, but the club have already decided to put their faith firmly in him: a long-term investment that underlines just how much the Nerazzurri believe in their gem.
⚠️ Napoli, does Mou want McTominay as early as January?
Scott McTominay's future could hold a surprise. According to Il Mattino, Real Madrid have approached the Scottish midfielder's representatives, while Napoli continue working on an extension to his contract, which expires in 2028. If no agreement is reached, the situation could gather pace and lead to a possible sale as early as January.
However, the club do not appear willing to let their midfielder go easily, considering him central to Allegri's plans. Besides Real Madrid, some Premier League clubs could also take advantage of the stalled contract talks to make a move. The final decision will rest with Napoli, who must choose whether to secure McTominay's future with a new deal or postpone any assessment until the summer.
💪 Roma, Malen fully recovered
Roma return from the break with two huge fixtures: Como and Real Madrid in just four days. As Forzaroma.it reports, Donyell Malen is ready to take centre stage again after recovering from his knee problem and returning to training with the squad. The Dutchman has already scored 6 goals in 5 games and is targeting the record of 36 league goals set by Higuain and Immobile. What's more, nobody in Serie A has scored more than him in 2026: 20 goals, compared with 13 each for Douvikas and Lautaro.
Dybala will play alongside him, while Pellegrini is the favourite ahead of Soulé and Rodrigo Mora for the third attacking spot. The Argentine, who only returned today along with Balerdi and Castro, could initially be rested ahead of the clash with Mourinho's Real. In defence, meanwhile, Ndicka appears to be ahead of Balerdi. Roma are looking for a strong restart in Como to defend their lead at the top, with the home side's sporting director Ludi describing the fixture as “extremely difficult” and exciting.
💥 Lazio, Noslin is Gattuso's latest masterstroke
Lazio resume their campaign at the top of Serie A alongside Inter and Roma, with a team very different from the one seen at the start of the season. Much of the credit goes to Rino Gattuso, who has revitalised several players previously considered peripheral figures in just a few weeks. As Il Corriere dello Sport reports, the latest example is Tijjani Noslin, who scored two decisive goals in the last two games before the break and is set to start up front again against Monza. Pinamonti should start on the bench, although the pair could play together later in the game.
Noslin is merely the coach's latest successful gamble: before him, Mandas, Nuno Tavares and Belahyane all regained key roles and rediscovered their form. The Greek goalkeeper currently has Lazio's highest average match rating, while Tavares is their highest-rated outfield player after five rounds; Belahyane has also become a key figure in dictating play. The challenge now is to stay at the top: Gattuso is relying on a strong work ethic, discipline and a desire to improve to keep springing surprises.
🚀 Fiorentina, De Gea back to his best! His future...
Fiorentina are enjoying a David De Gea who is back to his very best. As Corriere dello Sport highlights, the Spanish goalkeeper has rediscovered his sharpness after a difficult season, proving decisive in recent outings against Venezia, Pisa and Napoli. At 36, the former Manchester United player continues to impress with his ability to bounce back and compete at the highest level. Now, as the league resumes against Genoa, he will also be looking to make amends for last year's performance at Marassi, when he saved a penalty from Colombo but also had some shaky moments.
His current form also reopens the discussion about his future. De Gea is under contract with Fiorentina until 2028 and relations with the club are excellent, but next summer could prove decisive: a departure was already considered a few months ago, partly because of wages amounting to around €3 million net per season. The desire to continue together prevailed, but the situation will be reassessed at the end of the season. Also waiting in the wings is Tommaso Martinelli, who came through Fiorentina's academy and is currently on loan at Avellino, tipped as a potential successor.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.