Italy’s front pages on Wednesday celebrate a golden day for the nation’s athletes at the European Championships, with the football confined to a frantic transfer market and the aftermath of Juventus’s final tour friendly.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, and Tuttosport, Italy enjoyed an extraordinary haul across swimming and athletics.
Nicolò Martinenghi (100m breaststroke), Simona Quadarella (800m freestyle) and Nadia Battocletti (5000m) all struck gold, part of six Italian medals in a single day that also brought a historic 100m freestyle bronze for Sara Curtis.
The joy was tempered by a nightmare for Marcell Jacobs, who pulled up injured in the 100m final having dominated his semi.
Inter’s wing-back revolution centres on Spence
On the football front, Inter dominate the transfer coverage. Under “Inter, non solo Spence,” Corriere reports that Djed Spence has become Cristian Chivu’s priority as heir to Denzel Dumfries, with personal terms agreed and the clubs closing on a fee of around €30m.
Lyon’s Malick Fofana is being weighed for the left, and Curtis Jones remains an option, but the key to funding it all is the sale of Davide Frattesi, for whom Lazio have asked about a loan. On the way out, meanwhile, is Luis Henrique, closing on a €27m move to Roma.
Juventus, fresh from a 2-0 friendly win over Filippo Inzaghi’s Palermo in Perth through Kenan Yıldız and Arkadiusz Milik, are equally busy. Tuttosport reports Luciano Spalletti in confident mood, “we’ve raised the level,” he said, adding that Douglas Luiz can stay, as the club firms up an agreement with Jhon Lucumí and prepares a fresh bid to Bologna.
In goal, Zion Suzuki’s move to PSG has been completed, clearing the way for Juventus to pursue the loan they have long targeted.
Roma, too, are advancing on several fronts. Corriere‘s “Roma, Mora più due” has the Giallorossi closing on Porto’s Rodrigo Mora on a loan with obligation, alongside the €27m capture of Luis Henrique, with Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie a further target.
And in Naples, Romelu Lukaku’s exit is sealed, the striker off to Fenerbahçe, freeing Napoli to chase their dream of Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus, even as Benoît Badiashile remains the defensive priority.
