INTER NEWS
There are discussions for a ‘solidarity fund’ created from docking the wages of some Serie A and B players to help cover salaries of Serie C squads.
Plans are taking shape for how to get Serie A going again in May or June, with blanket coronavirus tests for squads, quarantine periods for those coming from abroad and structured training.
The number of deaths in Italy from coronavirus remains relatively stable, with 760 over the last 24 hours, reaching 13,915 in total.
Players’ Association President Damiano Tommasi insists cutting wages is “not a priority” right now, but rather a protocol for returning to duty and dealing with contracts if the season goes beyond June 30.
Chelsea are ready to battle Barcelona for Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, according to reports in Spain, but the Blaugrana could use Arturo Vidal to lower the fee.
Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora announced there is “an extraordinary plan for sport to resume from May,” as Italy eye an easing of lockdown measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Jupiler Pro League in Belgium has become the first major European competition to assign a winner, terminating the season early due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Napoli sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has revealed that Inter loanee Mauro Icardi is ‘far beyond our financial reach’.
Defender Alessandro Bastoni said ‘it’s a dream come true’ to play for Inter and has reassured fans that he is not looking to move. ‘Inter are my home’.
Barcelona are reportedly planning to use Philippe Coutinho and Arturo Vidal to bring both Inter’s Lautaro Martinez and Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar to Camp Nou.
Olivier Giroud did not join Inter in January only because “Chelsea couldn’t find a replacement,” said an agent who worked on the deal. “Antonio Conte could still be decisive” in the battle with Lazio.
A new Government decree in Italy has banned training in sporting facilities for professionals until at least April 13 due to the coronavirus lockdown, effectively ending the debate between clubs.
A leading epidemiologist running one of Italy’s coronavirus taskforces warns it is “difficult” to see sport resume in Italy before the summer, although self-isolation prevented “tens of thousands more deaths.”
Diego Godin has given the highest praise to his Inter teammate Lautaro Martinez. “He has something of Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero about him, showing skills of players with 10-15 years more experience.”
Fiorentina director Giancarlo Antognoni admits Federico Chiesa and Gaetano Castrovilli have received “many offers, but Rocco Commisso won’t sell.”
UEFA have announced an easing of the Financial Fair Play rules during the “current exceptional circumstances” of the coronavirus shutdown.
FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has confirmed that “the idea is to restart Serie A on May 20 or early June. Scrapping the season would be a grave injustice.”
Serie A clubs spent almost €200m on agent fees throughout 2019, with Juventus leading the way on €44.3m.
Romelu Lukaku’s agent has revealed just how close Juventus star Paulo Dybala was to joining Manchester United. “It was on the verge of happening.”
The Lega and the Players’ Association are, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, still far away from reaching an agreement regarding a proposed pay cut.
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