Italy’s sport pages on Thursday balance the first Milan derby of the summer, played out in Australia with a poignant Baresi tribute, against a transfer market moving at full tilt, led by Juventus’s spending and Fiorentina’s capture of Franco Mastantuono.
As noted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport, Stadio and Tuttosport, the Perth derby ended 1-1, Federico Dimarco firing Inter ahead before a soft Christopher Nkunku penalty levelled it for Milan.
The occasion was framed by tributes to Franco Baresi, the players gathering around his No. 6 shirt for a minute’s silence and pausing again at the sixth minute; Luka Modrić, introduced to a warm ovation, later called the late captain “the essence of the club.”
Gazzetta leads on Dimarco, “Ci metto la firma”, noting his fine form as Inter push to tie him to a new deal.
Juventus’ market blitz dominates the front pages
For Corriere and Tuttosport, though, the day belongs to Juventus.
Under “All in Juve” and “Lampi di Juve,” the two papers report a 1-0 friendly win over Chelsea, settled by an Edon Zhegrova strike, and a flurry of activity from chief executive Giovanni Carnevali.
Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki is set to arrive from Parma via PSG, defender Jhon Lucumí remains a target, and Manchester United have reportedly opened the door to striker Joshua Zirkzee, with Luciano Spalletti nudging Jonathan David towards the exit.
Fiorentina, meanwhile, have pulled off a coup of their own. Corriere‘s “Tuono Viola” confirms the loan signing of Mastantuono from Real Madrid, the Spanish club covering half of the Argentine’s reported €9m wages, with sporting director Fabio Paratici already chasing his next target.
Roma have also been busy, sealing a €13m-plus deal for Atlético Madrid right-back Nahuel Molina as they continue to pursue Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa.
Elsewhere, Gazzetta reports that Rúben Amorim is relaunching Rafael Leão at Milan even as Galatasaray persist, while Corriere notes Inter are closing on Cristian Romero, pending Benjamin Pavard’s exit. Napoli, 2-1 winners over Osasuna through Matteo Politano and Lorenzo Lucca, appear set to lose Romelu Lukaku, with the Belgian linked to Atlanta United in MLS.
