Serie A Weekly Transfer Market Recap

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The transfer market moves along pretty slowly, waiting for the completion of some massive deals and especially for the final week. Some minor but relevant moves still went down in the past few days. Serie A teams are making it a habit of securing transfers for next season and Fiorentina pulled off an intriguing one: the central midfielder Hamed Traorè, who showed great promise and is just 18-year-old. He will finish the year at Empoli and was acquired for €12M.

With the same formula and for around €4M, Cagliari purchased the defensive prospect Sebastian Walukiewicz from Pogon Szczecin, while Sampdoria, for much cheaper, completed the signing of centre-back of Ernesto Mulè from Trapani. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 16

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Juventus: Joao Cancelo has a torn meniscus and will return after the break. Juan Cuadrado hyperextended his knee against Young Boys and he will not play in the weekend, while Medhi Benatia (knee soreness) has recovered. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended, Sami Khedira will not come back from his ankle injury. Andrea Barzagli is out with a quad strain.

Napoli: Mario Rui subbed off against Liverpool due to a muscular injury that has yet to be evaluated, while Simone Verdi should make the squad list after being on the mend for a good chunk due to a pair of injury, the latest being an ankle sprain. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 15

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Juventus: Emre Can made the squad list, approximately two months after suffering the thyroid issue. Rodrigo Bentancur is dealing with a back problem, but he was called up. Alex Sandro (thigh) and Sami Khedira (ankle) have been ruled out, same for Andrea Barzagli, who is rumoured to have suffered a severe quad injury, and Moise Kean, who has some muscle fatigue.

Napoli: Simone Verdi will remain on the mend because of an ankle sprain, while Adam Ounas missed the last game with a minor muscular ailment. Alex Meret should be ready to start. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 14

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Juventus: Federico Bernardeschi is expected to be called up after shaking off an adductor problem, while Alex Sandro subbed off in Champions League because of a thigh issue that has not been disclosed yet, so he is questionable for the Fiorentina game. Sami Khedira (ankle) and Emre Can remain out for this week.

Napoli: Raul Albiol suffered a mild ankle sprain against Red Star Belgrade and he is at risk for the Monday game. After picking up the same injury, Amin Younes should be at the coach’s disposal, while Simone Verdi is set to skip another one, and likely few more, because his was more severe. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 13

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Juventus: Federico Bernardeschi and Sami Khedira will not play this week because of an adductor issue and an ankle sprain. Miralem Pjanic should be available after a little muscular ailment with Bosnia. Emre Can is recovering from thyroid surgery. The two German players could return within a couple of weeks, the Italian winger sooner.

Napoli: Simone Verdi worked his way back from a thigh problem, but rolled his ankle in practice and could miss some time. Amin Younes has shaken off the Achilles injury, but he had the same problem of his teammate, even though his one is considered milder. Alex Meret is dealing with a sore shoulder on top of going through a bumpy rehab from a forearm fracture. Dries Mertens got a bruise in practice. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 12

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Juventus: Sami Khedira (hamstring) and Mario Mandzukic (ankle) played in Champions League, while Douglas Costa was ruled out for another thigh problem, same for Moise Kean. They are unlikely to be available for the weekend. Federico Bernardeschi is questionable for the muscular ailment that has been bugging him for a while.

Inter:  Radja Nainggolan started against Barcelona, but he is still less than 100 percent because of the recent ankle sprain so he could be rested.

Napoli: Dries Mertens subbed off versus PSG because of a bruised shoulder, but he avoided further complications and should be good to go for the weekend. Continue reading

Serie A Injury Report – Round 11

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Juventus: Mario Mandzukic has practiced fully this week so he has recovered from an ankle sprain. Sami Khedira has resumed training regularly in the last couple of days after a hamstring strain and he could be available in limited capacity on Saturday. Giorgio Chiellini and Federico Bernardeschi are fatigued and have been ruled out by coach Allegri. Emre Can will miss 30-40 days after having his thyroid removed for some nodules.

Inter:  Radja Nainggolan has worked his way back from an ankle sprain and he could play few minutes on Saturday.
Continue reading

Goal filled Genoa’s inconsistency continues

Genoa CFC v Juventus - Serie A

Genoa’s roller coaster Serie A season continued at the weekend, as they lost 4-1 away at Lazio.

Davide Ballardini’s side have enjoyed an inconsistent start to their 2018-19 campaign, with high scoring wins and losses so far, seeing them sitting in 11th place in the Serie A table.

After beginning the season with a 4-0 Coppa Italia win over Lecce, they then beat newly promoted Empoli, and Bologna, in the opening four games of the season.

However either side of the Bologna victory, there has been defeats to Sassulolo and Lazio, 5-3 and 4-1 respectively.

Continue reading

Serie A Player Status Updates – Round 36

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Injuries pile up at the end of the season and unfortunately some top players got caught.

Juventus: Miralem Pjanic is suspended, while Mario Mandzukic will be held out due to a cut on the ankle. Giorgio Chiellini, Stefano Sturaro and Mattia De Sciglio are out with their previous injuries. Benedikt Howedes suffered yet another muscular ailment. 

Napoli: Kalidou Koulibaly is disqualified and Faouzi Ghoulam continues to rehab his fractured patella.  Continue reading

Serie A Player Status Updates – Round 35

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Here are the updates on few players’ conditions ahead of the upcoming round.

Juventus: Giorgio Chiellini suffered a hamstring (biceps femoris) strain just above the knee and will miss at least three weeks, with the risk of not returning this season. Mattia De Sciglio is out with a plantar fascia injury, Stefano Sturaro with a sore Achilles.

Napoli: no absentees other than the usual one Faouzi Ghoulam.

Roma: Diego Perotti and Kevin Strootman have already been ruled out due to an ankle sprain and a rib contusion. El Monito’s ailment is more severe since there is some ligament damage. Gregoire Defrel and Rick Karsdorp remain out following knee surgeries.  Continue reading