It is reported that Lazio want to tie up a deal for Genoa’s Diego Laxalt before the start of the World Cup.

The attacking-midfielder is part of the Uruguay squad for the tournament in Russia and is valued at €15m by his current club.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the Biancocelesti, who finished fifth in Serie A this season, are reluctant to pay more that €10m to secure the 25-year-old’s signature.

However, their hand may be forced by the World Cup’s imminent start.

Former Argentina Coach Alfio Basile blamed Gonzalo Higuain for their 2014 World Cup Final defeat to Germany. “He soiled himself.”

The phrase is in his new autobiography, titled ‘Generacion Lio’ and the Juventus striker does not come out well from this book.

“Of all the players, the one that was most singled out by the people for blame was Gonzalo Higuain. They do not want him in their squad because when that World Cup is remembered, the chance he missed at the start is what cost us the title.

Cesare Prandelli defends his Italy record - “every good thing we did in four years was forgotten because of a single game”.

The Azzurri reached the final of Euro 2012 under the former Fiorentina Coach, but suffered an embarrassing Group Stage elimination at the World Cup four years later.

The CT carried the can for the failure, along with Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano, and discussed the disappointment with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Football is like that,” Prandelli sighed.

Cesare Prandelli looks back over the failed World Cup campaign, Mario Balotelli and how Italy go into Euro 2016.

“The elimination in Brazil remains an open wound,” the former Italy Coach told La Repubblica newspaper.

“I am still irritated by certain articles. The pain is because the World Cup wiped out four years of work. But going back, I’d do it all again, including my resignation.

Marco Verratti discussed the Scudetto race, Antonio Conte, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carlo Ancelotti, Euro 2016 and what went wrong in Brazil.

The midfielder is still only 23, but shot to fame at Zdenek Zeman’s Pescara with Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne, moving to Paris Saint-Germain without ever playing a Serie A game.

“There are regrets that I never got to play in Serie A, but you never can say what will happen in the future,” Verratti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Former Italy CT Cesare Prandelli reveals he hasn’t had ‘any kind of offer’ from Serie A clubs, after leaving Galatasaray.

The former Fiorentina Coach stood down from his position with the Azzurri after a disastrous World Cup, taking over the Turkish side, before being dismissed in November.

“I’ve had good offers in Europe,” Prandelli told Corriere dello Sport.

“But I had this dispute with Galatasaray, and if you ask for time not all of them will wait for you. I haven’t had any kind of offers from Italy.

Giorgio Chiellini explained why it’s “impossible” for Juventus to be sated and has “no problem” with Luis Suarez.

The Bianconeri go into the Coppa Italia Final with Lazio tomorrow night, then face Barcelona in the Champions League on June 6.

“We are so proud to be in this position after everything we’ve been though,” said the defender in his Press conference.

Luis Suarez says Giorgio Chiellini must take part of the blame for being bitten by him, calling him ‘irritating’.

The Barcelona forward infamously took a chunk out of the Juventus defender’s shoulder during Italy’s clash with Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup, with Italy eventually crashing to defeat.

“I have people who help me solve the problem,” Ivanovic told Cadena Cope when asked about his numerous biting incidents.

“Some of the blame in the past was mine, some of it must go to the defenders who provoked me.

James Rodriguez has won the FIFA Puskas Award for best goal of 2014 with his strike for Colombia against Uruguay at the Brazil World Cup.

The midfielder was nominated for his chest control followed by an outside-the-box volley that went in off the crossbar.

He won the award ahead of the Netherlands’ Robin van Persie for his diving header against Spain and Peamount United’s Stephanie Roche for her control, flick and volley against Wexford Youths.

Ex-Algeria and Trabzonspor Coach Vahid Halilhodzic confessed he “regrets declining” an offer from Milan.

The tactician impressed at the World Cup and opted for Turkish side Trabzonspor, but was fired this morning.