Serie A Daily Report - 2026-08-28

AC Milan preserved their 100 per cent Serie A start by beating Venezia 2-0 at San Siro on Friday. Gonçalo Ramos scored his first goal at the stadium with an angled drive after Alexis Saelemaekers provided the assist. Saelemaekers then sent Ardon Jashari through, with the second goal going in off Redouane Halhal for an unfortunate own goal. The result followed Milan’s 2-1 victory away to Torino in the opening round and gave Ruben Amorim’s side another maximum return in their new coach’s first home league fixture.

Milan again found it difficult to break down a stubborn opponent, making the contribution of the substitutes particularly important. Saelemaekers supplied the decisive energy from the bench, while Ramos’s finish offered an encouraging moment for the forward after his move to the Rossoneri. Ramos said Milan wanted to win every match while also enjoying their football, and Yunus Musah pointed to the team’s “clear ideas”. The early results have provided Amorim with momentum, although the two victories have both required patience and late attacking inspiration.

Rafael Leão was reported to have agreed a move from AC Milan to Galatasaray on Friday, ending his seven-year spell with the Italian club. The reported fee was €43-45 million, plus €2 million in add-ons and a 20-25 per cent share of any future sale. Leão was expected to earn €12 million per season in Istanbul. Milan had also received interest from Aston Villa, but their proposal did not satisfy either the club or the player. He was left out of the squad for the 2-0 win over Venezia and did not make the planned appearance at San Siro.

Leão said he would have preferred to say goodbye on the pitch in front of Milan supporters, while describing his love for the club as lasting. The forward had earlier indicated that he wanted a new challenge in a different league. Amorim had already said Leão was free to leave, arguing that sometimes it was better for a player and club to move on. His departure removes one of Milan’s most recognisable attacking figures, leaving the club to reshape its forward options before the transfer window closes.

Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini confirmed that Kenan Yildiz will miss several months after undergoing surgery on a fractured metatarsal. The forward is expected to be unavailable until late November, creating a significant early-season setback for Luciano Spalletti’s side. Yildiz had played 69 minutes of competitive football this season, featuring in Juventus’s 1-0 Serie A victory away to Frosinone last weekend. Chiellini described the injury as an “annoying hitch”, while offering the encouraging assessment that it should not become a recurring problem or damage the player’s long-term development.

Yildiz’s absence is likely to create an immediate opportunity for other attacking options. Chiellini identified Jeremie Boga and Kerim Alajbegovic as players who could benefit, while Spalletti also discussed alternatives before Saturday’s home fixture against Parma. Juventus will additionally be without Weston McKennie, who is fatigued, and Kenan Yildiz is unavailable for selection; Khéphren Thuram was due to be assessed after a niggle. The defensive stability shown at Frosinone now needs to be matched by flexibility in attack.

Atalanta will begin their 2026-27 Conference League campaign away to Ajax after Friday’s league-phase draw. Maurizio Sarri’s side were also paired with Pafos at home, Borac away, Kairat Almaty at home, Riga away and Mjällby at home. The draw followed Atalanta’s qualification through the play-offs, secured on Thursday when Gianluca Scamacca scored the only goal in a 1-0 second-leg victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv. It confirmed the club’s European schedule after they finished seventh in Serie A last season.

The Ajax fixture immediately gives Sarri a prominent opening challenge in his first European adventure with Atalanta. The six confirmed opponents provide a mixture of established continental experience and less familiar trips, with travel to the Netherlands, Bosnia and Latvia included in the programme. Atalanta’s route into the competition came after they finished 10 points behind Juventus in the Europa League positions, so the Conference League represents an opportunity to extend their European season while building a new campaign under Sarri.

Roma and Bologna have reportedly made approaches for Watford attacker Rocco Vata, according to reports cited by Balls.ie. The two Serie A clubs are said to have inquired about the 21-year-old’s transfer status during the week, with the Italian transfer window closing on Tuesday at 7pm British and Irish time. Vata joined Watford from Celtic in 2024 and impressed during his first Championship campaign, although injury problems restricted him to 12 appearances last season. He is currently working his way back to full fitness.

The reported interest gives Vata a possible route back into a higher-profile competition after his difficult second season in England. Roma finished fourth in the previous Serie A campaign and are presented as potential Champions League participants, while Bologna are also considering attacking reinforcements. Any move would need to be completed quickly because of the approaching deadline, but the approaches remain exploratory rather than a confirmed transfer. Vata’s recovery and availability will be central to whether either club progresses beyond its initial inquiry.

Fiorentina remain in discussions over a possible deal for Everton striker Beto, according to a report carried by Yahoo Sports Canada. The 28-year-old is understood to be open to returning to Serie A, where he previously played for Udinese. Fiorentina are exploring forward options with Moise Kean expected to depart, and Beto is among the names being considered. Everton are reportedly preparing for a sale if an acceptable offer arrives before the transfer window closes, while no completed agreement had been reported.

Beto’s position at Everton has reportedly changed because Thierno Barry is now ahead of him in the pecking order. That could make a return to Italy attractive for the striker, particularly if Fiorentina need a replacement in their forward line. The situation remains dependent on a suitable bid and the clubs’ ability to reach terms before the deadline. For Fiorentina, the talks underline the pressure to find attacking cover; for Everton, they offer a possible route to resolve a player’s uncertain role.