Marcello Lippi may select a few new faces for the Cameroon friendly, but Antonio Labbate is hoping an old flame will return to the national fold. More
Blog: City slicker
Antonio Labbate on why Manchester City have a real chance of landing Inter’s Douglas Maicon in the summer. More
Blog: Rejuvenation process
Juventus’ high number of players over the age of 30 is another headache for a club in crisis, writes Antonio Labbate. More
Blog: Premature adulation
Despite their recent success and top four standing, Antonio Labbate is yet to be convinced by the Napoli project. More
Blog: A goal for Buffon
Juventus shouldn’t consider retiring Gigi Buffon’s No 1 shirt when he hangs up his gloves. Antonio Labbate has another suggestion. More
Blog: Another Juventus gamble
Antonio Candreva is a potential star of the future, but Antonio Labbate questions the timing of his arrival at Juventus. More
Blog: No regrets
Despite Juventus’ current crisis, Antonio Labbate insists that the club shouldn’t rue the departure of Claudio Ranieri. More
Blog: Ran out
Antonio Labbate on why the serious injury sustained by Andrea Ranocchia is not just bad news for Bari, but Italy and Juventus too. More
Blog: Foreign matter
Antonio Labbate on how the actions of Manchester City may see a foreigner take over from Marcello Lippi at the helm of the Azzurri. More
Blog: A contract too far
Francesco Totti has signed a new contract at Roma. Antonio Labbate questions the wisdom of the lengthy and costly terms agreed. More
Blog: Ham it up
Parma have taken Serie A by storm so far this season. Antonio Labbate hands a transfer Oscar to the Ducali. More
Blog: Melodrama
Felipe Melo and Diego may be in the line of critics’ fire but, as Antonio Labbate argues, they’re not Juventus’ worst summer signings. More
Blog: Tough love
Sell Mario Balotelli to Arsenal for £20m? No, Antonio Labbate suggests Inter should send him packing back to the Primavera side instead. More
Blog: Only time will tell
Ciro Ferrara’s coaching ability is being questioned after some dodgy performances and results, but Antonio Labbate defends the Juve boss. More
Blog: In the mind of Lippi
There are only a handful of squad places left in Marcello Lippi’s World Cup plans. Antonio Labbate explores the current thinking of the Azzurri boss. More
Blog: Countdown conundrum
Gifted genius or Serie A flop? Antonio Labbate takes a closer look at Palermo enigma Javier Pastore. More
Blog: The boy’s a bit special
Antonio Labbate urges Italy boss Marcello Lippi to call up a kid from Bari – and he’s not talking about Antonio Cassano… More
Blog: Forza Inter or bust
Inter got their Champions League bid back on track in Kiev. Antonio Labbate explains why that is only good news for the 2009-10 Serie A season. More
Blog: Polluting star
Juventus are insinuating that they’ll add a third star after their next Scudetto success. Antonio Labbate urges them to re-count and reconsider. More
Blog: Week 9 that was
The top three all won, but Inter’s case for a fifth straight title is getting stronger and stronger. Antonio Labbate looks back at the latest action. More
Blog: Man for the occasion
Italy will reportedly be looking for a new boss after World Cup 2010. Antonio Labbate thinks one Coach in particular should be seriously considered. More
Blog: Back in 2006
What happened when Antonio Labbate tried to predict Italy’s 2010 World Cup squad just weeks after their 2006 triumph… More
Blog: Irreplaceable Cesar
Manchester United are apparently keen on signing Julio Cesar, a player that Antonio Labbate believes Inter can’t afford to lose. More
Blog: Missing Carletto
Antonio Labbate on why Milan must surely be regretting the departure of Coach Carlo Ancelotti. More
Blog: Week 4 that was
Three men and an Old Lady. Antonio Labbate looks back on the latest intriguing Serie A action. More
Blog: Is he worth it?
Francesco Totti is set to sign a new contract at Roma. Antonio Labbate hopes the figures being reported don’t correspond with the truth. More
Blog: On the offensive
Italy’s problems in front of goal recently are, as Antonio Labbate writes, raising more doubts over Marcello Lippi’s selection policy. More
Blog: The importance of Nesta
Alessandro Nesta has returned to action and, as Antonio Labbate argues, Milan will need him to stay fit if they want to be competitive. More
Blog: Why sell Zanetti?
Antonio Labbate questions how wise it was for Juventus to sell Cristiano Zanetti to Fiorentina. More
Blog: Myth of Aquilani
Alberto Aquilani is on the verge of joining Liverpool in a move which, as Antonio Labbate writes, is as risky as they come. More
Blog: Ferrara’s first
Juventus kicked off their season with a friendly win over Cisco Roma. Antonio Labbate ponders what lessons, if any, were learnt. More
Blog: Waiting for D’Ago
Antonio Labbate on why Juventus and Udinese must agree terms for midfield marvel Gaetano D’Agostino. More
Blog: Flat slack four
Italy’s defensive struggles at the Confederations Cup was also bad news for Juventus, writes Antonio Labbate. More
Blog: Mummy Mia!
The Confederations Cup is producing more questions than answers for Italy, says Antonio Labbate. More
Blog: The Guardiola effect?
Antonio Labbate on why Barcelona’s appointment of Pep Guardiola has little to do with the future plans of Milan and Juventus. More
Blog: Life after Paolo
How will the Italian game replace Paolo Maldini after Sunday afternoon? Badly, worryingly states Antonio Labbate. More
Blog: He had to go
After an alarming slump in results, Antonio Labbate feels that Juventus had little option but to show Claudio Ranieri the door. More
Blog: The Nedved that got away
Juve had found the perfect replacement for Pavel Nedved last summer. Antonio Labbate criticises the decision to not sign Dejan Stankovic. More
Blog: Bargain of the season
Genoa made the most astute signing of the season. But, as Antonio Labbate states, it wasn’t for their fine capture of Diego Milito. So who was it? More
Blog: Too good for Udine
Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella have their admirers, but Antonio Labbate thinks that Udinese have another player worth swooping for. More
Blog: Back him or sack him
If Juve’s project consists of hiring Marcello Lippi, then Antonio Labbate urges them to consider the position of Claudio Ranieri now – and not later. More
Blog: Stuck in the past
Juventus, argues Antonio Labbate, are about to make another transfer blunder if they do indeed net Fabio Cannavaro. More
Blog: A victory for Mancio
After another early Champions League exit, Antonio Labbate asks whether there was any point in Inter hiring Jose Mourinho. More
Blog: Defending the indefensible
Massimo Moratti’s attempt to justify the penalty awarded against Roma has done more damage than good for Inter, says Antonio Labbate. More
Blog: Hail Cesar
Who is the finest goalkeeper in Italy at the moment? It’s probably not Gigi Buffon as Antonio Labbate notes. More
Blog: Back to basics
After wasting money on players they don’t need, Antonio Labbate urges Milan to reinforce their dubious defence. More
Blog: A gamble too far?
After Juventus extended the contract of transfer chief Alessio Secco, Antonio Labbate questions how wise that decision is. More
Blog: The price of Becks
If Milan sign David Beckham then they’ll have to agree a transfer fee. But, asks Antonio Labbate, how much would the Englishman cost? More
Blog: Shrinking violets
Fiorentina’s much-hyped youth policy was a recipe for success but, as Antonio Labbate suggests, it has left a bitter taste in the mouth. More
Blog: Money talks
Kaka may still be at Milan but, as Antonio Labbate argues, the transfer saga has brought an end to the era of the priceless player. More
Blog: Doubting Kaka
Kaka’s future is again in doubt after Man City’s trip to Italy. Antonio Labbate explains why he wouldn’t be surprised to see a Milan summer exit. More
Blog: Fame academy
Where should football’s giants go shopping in January? Antonio Labbate points towards one Serie B club in particular. More
Blog: Draw of truth
It’s Italy versus England in the last 16 of the Champions League. Antonio Labbate explains why it’s a dream draw for Serie A. More
Blog: Doubting Dunga
Amauri is seemingly edging closer to an Azzurri future, a situation that Antonio Labbate condemns Carlos Dunga for. More
Blog: Finally Atomic
Sebastian Giovinco took his first step towards becoming Juventus’ new Alex Del Piero at Lecce, says Antonio Labbate. More
Blog: Signing of the summer
It’s not Ronaldinho, it’s not Amauri and it’s not Alberto Gilardino. Antonio Labbate reveals who has turned out to be the signing of the season. More
Blog: Cassano Royale
Antonio Cassano was again stellar on Sunday, but Antonio Labbate can’t help but feel he is one of Italian football’s greatest wasted talents. More
Blog: The void behind Buffon
Italy may have Gigi Buffon but, as Antonio Labbate states, they are on the verge of a goalkeeping crisis. More
Blog: Top of the flops
Which summer signing has been the biggest waste of space in Serie A so far this term? Antonio Labbate takes his pick. More
Blog: Silent protest
Inter boss Jose Mourinho, as Antonio Labbate notes, will have to silence his critics with a football rather than a finger. More
Blog: Oh brother!
As Mauro Zarate continues to shine at Lazio, Antonio Labbate looks back with horror at the brief Serie A career of brother Sergio. More
Blog: False prophets
The Serie A standings suggest that Milan are the team to beat, but Antonio Labbate feels that may be premature. More
Blog: Lone frontman
No matter how good Zlatan Ibrahimovic is, Antonio Labbate urges Jose Mourinho to make peace with his sidelined strikers. More
Blog: Why Diego?
Juventus are apparently interested in signing Diego. Antonio Labbate offers a theory or two behind the Old Lady’s courtship of the Brazilian. More
Blog: Remember 1981
Live in hope fans of Juventus. Antonio Labbate recalls when they made an even worse start to Serie A and still took home Lo Scudetto. More
Blog: Welcome Beck
Milan claim they’ll sign David Beckham in January. Antonio Labbate reveals why Serie A should greet the Englishman with open arms. More
Blog: Broken promise?
Have Juventus misled their fans to the club’s own detriment? Antonio Labbate picks up on the outfit’s potentially damaging own goal. More
Blog: He’ll be back
Luca Toni has been derided by critics since flopping at Euro 2008. Antonio Labbate defends the big Italian international. More
