Inter Milan

Inter Milan President Steven Zhang has said the Italian club will not change its position on selling Mauro Icardi. 

The Argentinian forward looks to have no future with the Nerazzurri, and he is training on his own while the rest of the squad are on a pre-season tour in Asia with new manager Antonio Conte.

According to Football Italia, Icardi has turned down offers from Napoli and other clubs because he believes he may be able to convince Conte to keep him.

But when asked whether Inter would have a change of heart about getting rid of the 26-year-old, Zhang told Corriere della Sera (h/t Football Italia): "No." 

He added: "Icardi is a great player, a good person and he helped the club with many goals in the past. We're sure we'll find a good solution for him."

Icardi has been Inter's top goalscorer for each of the past five seasons.

In February, he was stripped of the Inter captaincy after a contract dispute.

He subsequently spent almost two months out of the side, returning in April against Genoa, when he scored in a 4-0 win.

It looked as though the relationship between Icardi and Inter had been repaired, but it now seems clear his time at the San Siro is over.

Inter have been trying to sign Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United this summer but have yet to make a bid the Red Devils find satisfactory:

Latest @Inter_en offer for Lukaku is €60m. Made a couple of days ago. Rejected.

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) July 20, 2019

Icardi's sale will be vital in raising the funds needed to land the Belgian, who saw his game time limited last term after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment as United manager in December.

Lukaku has previously said it would be "a dream" to play in Serie A, so he is clearly open to the move. 

But Inter may well have to get Icardi off their books before they can seal the signing of his replacement.

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte has said Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku can be an "important player" for his club, insisting Mauro Icardi is still headed for the San Siro exit.

The Nerazzurri will face United at Singapore's National Stadium on Saturday to kick off their 2019 International Champions Cup involvement. Conte spoke to reporters and was up front about his longstanding admiration for Lukaku, via the Press Association's Simon Peach:

“You know very well that I like this player" - #Inter boss Antonio Conte on #MUFC striker Romelu Lukaku pic.twitter.com/SCfea0ibD2

— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) July 19, 2019

The 49-year-old said:

"I think 'frustrated' is a big word. And Lukaku is a United player and this is the reality. You know I like this player. In the past when I was Chelsea's coach (2016-2018) I tried to bring him to Chelsea.

"As I said before, I like this player and consider him an important player for us to have a good improvement but at the same there is a transfer market.

"We know very well which is our situation in this moment and we will see what happens but for now Lukaku is a United player."

Lukaku joined the Red Devils from Everton in 2017 for a £79 million sum, but Sky Sports reported Inter are some way from matching that fee as United look to recoup as much of their investment as possible.

The Belgium international has been ruled out of Saturday's friendly due to a knock, giving the likes of Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial another chance to impress up front for United.

Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was straight to the point when asked about Lukaku's unavailability to face Inter, via the Manchester Evening News:

👉 The future of Romelu Lukaku
👉 Getting the best from Paul Pogba
👉 The importance of a good start to the season

Here are some the 🔑 talking points from Solskjaer's press conference ahead of the @IntChampionsCup fixture against Inter #MUTOUR 🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/aZP4dc4VnC

— Man United News (@ManUtdMEN) July 19, 2019

Icardi's situation developed quickly after Conte was confirmed as the new Inter manager following Luciano Spalletti's sacking. He and his agent (and wife), Wanda Nara, have been locked in a contract dispute with the club for some months and now appear to be headed for the exit.

The manager remained steadfast on his initial judgement of the former club captain and said: "The situation is very clear, the club was very clear that Icardi is out of Inter's project. This is the reality."

Lautaro Martinez is yet to return for Inter after he represented Argentina at the 2019 Copa America, leaving Inter relying on youth and reserve options to lead their line in a 2-1 friendly win over Lugano on Sunday.

Conte made it known he wasn't pleased to be entering another pre-season fixture with no fit senior striker available, per Paul Hirst of The Times:

Conte not a happy bunny here in Singapore. Annoyed at club's failure to sign Lukaku or another forward. "I will play against United with no strikers."

— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) July 19, 2019

Sky Sports News reported the Nerazzurri would be willing to offer Lukaku a five-year deal worth £41 million if he signs, and reporter David Reed laid out the current landscape at Inter:

"He's put all his eggs in the Romelu Lukaku basket"@david_reed explains the conundrum facing Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte with Mauro Icardi still on the books.

📝 Follow the latest news in Transfer Centre LIVE! https://t.co/7xvCGc9UIj pic.twitter.com/sujLSg5rpD

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 19, 2019

The transfer could hinge on Icardi leaving the club before they can afford to splurge so heavily on Lukaku, who certainly appears to be high in the plans of Conte.

Mauro Icardi's future looks increasingly likely to be away from Inter Milan after the Serie A club revealed the striker won't be part of the preseason trip to Asia.

Inter confirmed the news with a tweet on Saturday (h/t BBC Sport): "Mauro Icardi will today return to Milan from our training camp in Lugano. The club and the striker have come to this decision by mutual agreement. Icardi will continue his pre-season training over the next few days and will take no part in our summer tour in Asia."

Icardi has been linked with move to Inter's rivals Juventus. His wife and agent, Wanda Nara, was said to have met with Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici in Ibiza in early July, per Jaime Candil and Jonathan Meaney of AS.

However, Inter managing director Giuseppe Marotta has since ruled out allowing Icardi moving to Turin, per Goal: "I'd exclude it right now. There aren't the conditions to do that."

If Icardi isn't joining Juventus, he's also unlikely to play for another prominent member of the Italian top flight after Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis appeared to rule out a move:

Napoli's president puts an end to the Mauro Icardi rumours. pic.twitter.com/ZwWqa0VRUr

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) July 12, 2019

Marotta once worked for the Bianconeri, along with Inter manager Antonio Conte. Both have been open about their willingness to move Icardi on during the transfer window.

Icardi and midfielder Radja Nainggolan will be allowed to leave this summer, Marotta recently told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia).

Letting Icardi walk is a risky strategy considering the prolific No. 9 has been a consistent source of goals for the Nerazzurri in recent seasons.

Mauro Icardi has scored 10+ goals in all-but-one of his Serie A campaigns:

2012/13: 10 goals
2013/14: 9 goals
2014/15: 22 goals
2015/16: 16 goals
2016/17: 24 goals
2017/18: 29 goals
2018/19: 11 goals

Proven scorer. pic.twitter.com/AKG7PELaEI

— Squawka (@Squawka) July 6, 2019

Replacing those goals won't be easy, with Romelu Lukaku heavily linked as Inter's main target. The Manchester United forward told reporters after the Red Devils beat Perth Glory 2-0 in a friendly on Saturday: "You guys will know something next week," per BBC Sport's Simon Stone.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wouldn't confirm or deny Lukaku will still be in the squad once the new season starts:

After Solskjaer's latest comments, where does Lukaku's future lie? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Y6Ht48WBuj

— GOAL (@goal) July 13, 2019

Inter are likely to be buoyed by United's lack of conviction over Lukaku, especially if Icardi moves on. The latter is undoubtedly a talented forward, but disciplinary issues have blighted his stay in Milan. The Argentina international was stripped of the club's captaincy in February and was dropped from matchday squads entirely at times during last season.

Inter Milan have announced the signing of Nicolo Barella from Cagliari Calcio on Friday.

The club's official website confirmed the 22-year-old has arrived on a 12-month loan deal, with Inter obliged to complete his permanent transfer next summer.

Barella made his Italy debut in 2018 and has developed into one of his country's most promising midfielders.

OFFICIAL: Inter Milan sign 22-year-old midfielder Nicolo Barella from Cagliari on loan with an option to buy ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/s8Hkf7Csq3

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 12, 2019

According to Inter's website, Barella regained possession more than any other player in Serie A last term, and he has also won the most duels in the league over the past two campaigns.

The youngster appeared in 35 Serie A games last season, and is ready for the next jump in his career.

Inter are under the guidance of new manager Antonio Conte, with the addition of Barella an important building block for the former Chelsea coach.

Inter Milan chief executive officer Giuseppe Marotta has said the Italian club "cannot rush" in regards to their pursuit of Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku. 

The Nerazzurri have been linked with Lukaku in recent weeks, but Marotta suggested the financial implications of the deal must be properly accounted for. When asked about the United frontman, the Inter chief told reporters:

"The transfer market is a work in progress. We are working hard to get the best squad possible for the new season. We are ambitious and want the best team possible. We also must find ways to respect all financial perimeters too.

"We cannot rush things because that can lead to mistakes. We have clear ideas, but we need to be patient. We have important goals and transfer targets in mind."

Lukaku moved to Old Trafford in 2017 for an initial £75 million, but the Belgium international hasn't been the success many at United would have hoped for and could be sold this summer.

The links with Inter have been strengthened after Antonio Conte was appointed their new manager this summer. Journalist Kristof Terreur recently noted Conte had a serious interest in Lukaku (then at Everton) when he was manager of Chelsea in 2017:

Jurgen Klopp was texting and calling Kevin De Bruyne when he was still a Dortmund coach. Antonio Conte called Romelu Lukaku a few days before he signed for Man United, after Jose Mourinho had convinced him ... during a phone call... https://t.co/UYWcz5qtiK

— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) July 7, 2019

Lukaku also encouraged speculation in June when he told Sport Mediaset (h/t Evening Standard's Vaishali Bhardwaj) Conte was "the best manager in the world" and that he wanted to play in Italy:

"I was always a big fan of the Italian league. People close to me, they know I have two leagues that I always dreamed about—the English league and Serie A. So, for me, Serie A is my favourite league as well. 

"The transfer of [Cristiano] Ronaldo, the Italian league is now coming back. Now Antonio Conte going to Inter Milan, which is really good because he is, to me, the best manager in the world. 

"And then you have Maurizio Sarri going to Juventus, [Carlo] Ancelotti at Napoli, so I think Serie A will be really exciting next year. I'm really happy for Italian football."

The 26-year-old scored 15 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions last term and has enjoyed patches of success. James Robson of the Evening Standard wrote the Red Devils are also open to keeping their man:

Inter have offered at least two players in part ex for Lukaku. Solskjær has his eyes on replacements elsewhere so #mufc are insisting on cash only. They’re also confident Lukaku won’t be disruptive if forced to stay https://t.co/mITX0tNI7n

— James Robson (@jamesalanrobson) June 26, 2019

Marotta's comments suggest the two parties could still unite this summer, though Lukaku has joined the rest of United's squad on their pre-season tour of Australia.

Mauro Icardi's potential departure could free up the funds and squad space necessary to accommodate Lukaku's arrival. Marotta also confirmed Icardi and midfielder Radja Nainggolan "are not part of our project," with each likely to be sold this summer.

Lukaku enjoyed a fruitful first season at United and returned 27 goals in 51 appearances. Sky Sports Statto recently pointed to his strike rate as one of the club's best in recent times, having joined around 18 months after team-mate Marcus Rashford made his debut:

📊 Most goals for Manchester Utd in all competitions since Marcus Rashford's senior debut in Feb 2016:

⚽️ 45 - MARCUS RASHFORD
⚽️ 42 - Romelu Lukaku
⚽️ 38 - Anthony Martial#MUFC pic.twitter.com/e7fSC2lY0V

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) July 1, 2019

Inter seemingly have a strong desire to comply with financial fair play regulations, though a drawn-out transfer saga could also work in their favour if they want United to drop their valuation of Lukaku.

The Premier League transfer window will close on August 8, while Serie A clubs have a couple more weeks to make signings and won't see their window shut until August 23.

Inter Milan director Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed Mauro Icardi and Radja Nainggolan will each leave the club this summer, suggesting the pair don't possess "the right profiles" for the team.

Both players were at the centre of controversy during the 2018-19 season, and Marotta told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia) Icardi and Nainggolan will leave during the summer transfer window:

"When building a project, you have to find the right profiles. 

"We had the opportunity to speak to the players themselves, with full respect for their contractual situations, but explained the position of the club, which I think is the most important thing.

"Both players know full well they are not part of our plans. That doesn't mean we doubt their talent or capabilities, as I consider them to be two excellent players."

Marotta concluded by saying: "Talent can win you games, but the squad wins you the league, which is the main objective we are setting out for. They are not part of our project, with all due respect."

Icardi was stripped of the Inter captaincy in February and sat out six weeks on the sidelines because of his disciplinary issues. He fell out with then-manager Luciano Spalletti, and it was reported soon after Antonio Conte's arrival at the helm this summer that he wanted the striker to be sold.

Despite the intensifying pace regarding an exit, commentator Adam Summerton doubted there was any truth to the speculation of a divide regarding Icardi:

Hope Napoli aren’t being used to draw out Juve ... That said, Icardi will probably be at San Siro come September. We’ve been here before #FCIM

— Adam Summerton (@adamsummerton) July 5, 2019

Nainggolan was also suspended by Inter this term and sat out a Serie A game against Napoli in December, which the Nerazzurri went on to win 1-0 without their midfield star. Sportmediaset (h/t Calciomercato.com) explained Nainggolan went clubbing after a 1-1 draw with Chievo and was late to training the next day.

There were rumours earlier this summer that the Belgium international could be sold, and Sport Witness said in June there were English top-flight teams showing interest:

Radja Nainggolan | Inter have put him on the market, say TMW, even a loan is possible.

And there's been 'very cautious' enquiries from Premier League clubs.

— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) June 26, 2019

Icardi, 26, is by a distance the more valuable of the pair and boasts a prolific record of 124 goals in 219 appearances for Inter. 

Milanese journalist Tancredi Palmeri reacted to Marotta's recent remarks and suggested the admission over their exit doesn't give Inter the best bargaining stance ahead of selling:

BOOM! Inter director Marotta telling explicitly: “Icardi and Nainggolan ain’t anymore part of our project”.
Now that’s not exactly the best way to sell them

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) July 6, 2019

Juventus blogger Arjun Pradeep provided a breakdown of the Italian media's reaction to the decision over Icardi's fate, with Serie A champions Juventus and runners-up Napoli said to be interested:

Gazzetta are saying today that Icardi is really open to joining Napoli but ADL will take a few weeks to complete the operation. He's ready to start with a €60m offer.

In contrast, Il Giornale say that Juventus have practically reserved Icardi.

— Arjun Pradeep (@IndianRegista) July 6, 2019

Corriere dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) reported Napoli might even be willing to offer star winger Lorenzo Insigne in order to tempt Inter into a sale.

Speculation has followed both players for some time now, but former Juventus director Marotta has now provided clarity on Icardi and Nainggolan's futures at the San Siro.

Inter Milan "are seriously trying to sign" Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United, but it is "a complicated dream," according to the striker's agent, Federico Pastorello. 

Pastorello met with Inter executives in Milan on Wednesday, and afterwards he told Sky in Italy (h/t MailOnline's David Wood) Lukaku is a key target for the Nerazzurri:

"It was just a chat. I spoke with the director [Giuseppe Marotta] to understand the club's intentions with the player. They will take the decisions. We can't put a time frame on it. We will see the decisions they will take. We do not decide them: It is clear that if they want to buy the player, they have to move.

"Inter are seriously trying to sign him, they are all out for him. Goals are not always there to be reached, but it's a declared target. At the moment, it remains a complicated dream."

Lukaku would likely be open to a move to the San Siro.

Per Sky Italia's Lords of Football (h/t Goal's James Westwood), he has previously said it is "a dream" of his to play in Serie A, and he has also lost his starting spot at United.

Under manager Jose Mourinho, Lukaku was United's preferred No. 9. But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who succeeded Mourinho last December, has shown a clear preference for Marcus Rashford as his main striker.

Belgium international Lukaku has netted 28 goals in 65 Premier League games for United since signing from Everton for £75 million in July 2017.

According to Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol, United are willing to let the 26-year-old leave Old Trafford, but they want to recoup all the money they spent on him:

Romelu Lukaku's agent tells Sky Italy it's "a difficult dream" for Inter Milan to sign Lukaku. Manchester United willing to listen to offers but want £75m. Lukaku has returned early to United for preseason training

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) July 3, 2019

Inter would have to pay a club-record transfer fee in order to meet that valuation.

Lukaku, meanwhile, could likely benefit from a move to Inter, where he could rediscover his best form under manager Antonio Conte.

While the former Chelsea forward has struggled recently in the Premier League, his international record is proof of his continuing knack for goalscoring:

⚽️ Romelu Lukaku’s goal record since the start of June 2018
Belgium - 14 goals in 15 games
Man Utd - 15 goals in 45 games pic.twitter.com/yZB49w5OQt

— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) June 11, 2019

If Lukaku could transfer his Belgium form to Serie A, he could be a valuable purchase for Inter as they aim to compete for the title again.

Inter Milan confirmed the signing of Diego Godin on Monday almost two months on from the defender's revelation he would leave Atletico Madrid this summer.

The Italian giants announced the signing on Twitter:

🚨 | ANNOUNCEMENT

There's a new sheriff in town 🤠

⚫🔵 @diegogodin is an Inter player!#WelcomeDiego 🇺🇾 #NotForEveryone#FCIM pic.twitter.com/7XMbNYH1vH

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) July 1, 2019

Godin, 33, had been playing for Uruguay at the 2019 Copa America before they were knocked out in the quarter-finals on penalties by Peru on Saturday.

Born in Rosario, Uruguay, Godin has played in Spain since 2007.

He spent three seasons at Villarreal before joining Atleti in 2010, where he established himself as one of the world's best centre-backs.

Godin was a key part of Diego Simeone's Atletico side that spectacularly won La Liga in 2013-14, and he also won two UEFA Europa Leagues with the club, as well as reaching two UEFA Champions League finals.

He opted not to renew his contract with Atletico, so Inter have signed him as a free agent.

Godin's peak years are arguably behind him. But he still made 30 appearances in La Liga last season and could be part of a strong defence at Inter under manager Antonio Conte next season:

For years Juventus had the best defense in Serie A with their BBC, now we have Napoli looking to pair Manolas with Koulibaly while Inter is adding Godin to go with De Vrij & Skriniar

— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) June 15, 2019

As well as the defensive acumen Godin will take to the Milan club, his influence as a leader is also likely to be valuable.

The Uruguayan has led both his club and country with confidence in recent seasons, and he could be exactly the man Inter need to provide inspiration as they look to compete for the Serie A title once again.  

Inter Milan chief executive Giuseppe Marotta wasn't willing to answer questions regarding the future of striker Mauro Icardi on Friday as rumours mount that he could be sold this summer.

The Argentina international has had a difficult 2019 and ended this season in poor standing with the Inter fanbase. Marotta spoke to the media as the Nerazzurri announced their summer training camp, but the topic of Icardi brought a negative reaction.

"Icardi? Let's move on to the next question," Marotta said. "Evaluations of the squad are premature. There will be a special press conference scheduled to illustrate what the team will look like. I prefer not to answer now for a question of correctness."

Antonio Conte was appointed Inter manager in May after Luciano Spalletti was sacked at the end of the season. Icardi was dropped from the latter's matchday squads throughout February and March amid a contract dispute with the club, and Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano said the new boss wants rid of the forward:

#Inter Antonio Conte doesn't want Mauro Icardi into his team. He wants Icardi OUT from Inter. The player today asked to stay again... but Conte wants him out. Game over. 🔵 #transfers

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 7, 2019

It doesn't appear as though Icardi has done his utmost to resolve the situation, either. Calciomercato.com reported he and his wife, Wanda Nara—who also acts as Icardi's agent—recently left Milan for a family holiday despite knowing talks with the club were scheduled.

The 26-year-old scored 17 goals in all competitions last season, but only 11 of which came in Serie A, representing his second-lowest-scoring campaign in the league since he arrived at Inter in 2013.

The player was regularly seen attending Inter matches in the stands during his time out of the team, but journalist Siavoush Fallahi noticed the right attitude was still lacking after his return:

Icardi is embarrassing to watch. He's not in the game. You can complain all you want about Perisic and the others but they're sweating and giving what they got. Icardi is totally checked out. Really needs a goal

— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) May 13, 2019

It appears as though Inter already have an attacking replacement lined up. La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Metro) reported terms have been agreed with Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku, who could join in a deal worth £62 million.

Icardi made 37 appearances in all competitions but had a major drop-off in goals after the turn of the year, as noted by sports writer Sacha Pisani:

Via @OptaPaolo:

The only two Serie A goals Mauro Icardi scored in 2019 both came from the penalty spot, away from home.#NapoliInter

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) May 19, 2019

Marotta joined Inter's backroom in December and enjoyed great success with Conte during their time together at Juventus.

It's difficult to imagine the pair will have different approaches on how to deal with such matters, and Marotta's comments may suggest there's a united willingness to sell the player.

New Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte has said "courtesy and respect" will be key values during his tenure at the club, and explained the Nerazzurri's ambition and history were reasons why he chose the project. 

The former Juventus and Chelsea boss finally completed his long-awaited move to the Italian fashion capital on Friday:

📃 | OFFICIAL

Antonio Conte will be Inter's new Coach!#WelcomeAntonio pic.twitter.com/kFk8tktl7z

— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) May 31, 2019

Conte did an interview with the club's official YouTube channel (h/t Football Italia) after he was officially introduced:

"My first impressions have been positive. For me, it's a new experience, a new chapter in my life, a new challenge. This is what I live for and I'm really excited to begin this new chapter.

"I would like to thank the president for his wonderful words. Through my work, I'll try to repay all of the trust that the club and directors have placed in me.

"What struck me was the clear aims of the project, the professionalism, the ambition, the club's history – this is a top club, one of the best in Italy and throughout the world – and the desire that the owners have to bring Inter back to where it belongs. [...]

"We need to have the same ambition, the same hunger, the same determination, the same enthusiasm to bring Inter back to winning ways, back to where it deserves to be.

"I constantly like using two words to ensure that the message is very clear and simple: courtesy and respect. I show courtesy and respect and demand courtesy and respect at the same time.

"I think these are two key words if you want to build something important in general and always have respect for the different roles."

The 49-year-old will start his new job with massive expectations after finding tremendous success with Juventus and Chelsea. He guided the Bianconeri to three straight titles between 2011 and 2014, their first since they were relegated to Serie B as part of the Calciopoli scandal.

After a spell with the Italian national team, he joined Chelsea, winning the Premier League title in his first season. While the Blues only finished fifth the following year―a result that led to his departure―his spell in England was still an impressive one:

Antonio Conte was the first manager to win 30 Premier League games in a single season, the first manager to complete a league double vs Pep Guardiola & the first manager to beat José Mourinho in an English domestic cup final.

If you’d forgotten how good he was, he’s back. 🔵⚫️ pic.twitter.com/ibmVaexrUX

— Squawka (@Squawka) May 31, 2019

He patiently waited for the right move during the past season, and after it became clear Massimiliano Allegri would leave Juventus this summer, he was linked to his old club. Sport Mediaset, La Stampa and La Repubblica all reported on the news, per Football Italia.

Instead, he has reunited with Giuseppe Marotta in the Italian fashion capital. Marotta and Conte were seen as the two driving forces behind Juventus' rise back to the top of Italian football. 'Beppe' left Turin last year.

By joining Juventus' biggest rivals, Conte will add a ton of pressure and excitement to the Derby d'Italia, one of the biggest rivalry matches in Serie A. A large section of Juventus fans are already calling for his star in the club stadium to be removed:

UPDATE: There are now over 7,000 signatures! https://t.co/DaJl3hAsts

— Football Italia (@footballitalia) May 31, 2019

Before he became Juventus coach, he was a star midfielder and captain for the Bianconeri, winning five Serie A titles and the UEFA Champions League. Managers have moved from Turin to Milan in the past, but the hatred between the two clubs has grown significantly since Calciopoli:

He's not the same as Lippi or Il Trap. He represented us on the pitch, on 5 maggio, he was Mister Lippi's mouthpiece on the field. He was a Juventus captain. Sign the petition if you want. Feel something about his decision. Ignore people saying otherwise. The hell with Conte

— JuveFC (@juvefcdotcom) May 31, 2019

In all likelihood, Conte will not see much courtesy and respect when he returns to the Allianz Stadium for the first time.