Serie A Daily Report - 2026-08-06

Juventus have stepped up their pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee, with multiple reports saying Manchester United are now open to a deal for the 25-year-old forward. Zirkzee joined United from Bologna in the summer of 2024, but his two seasons in England have produced only nine goals in 75 appearances, far below the expectations that followed his Serie A breakthrough. United's willingness to discuss an exit has revived the possibility of an Italian return, and Juventus technical director Ricky Massara is understood to be driving the move from Turin.

The reported formula is a loan with an option to buy, a structure that would suit Juventus as they try to add quality without committing too much cash immediately. Zirkzee's familiarity with Serie A, plus the sense that he remains 'nostalgic' about his time in Italy, gives the Bianconeri a real opening. For Juventus, the chase is also a statement of intent after a disappointing campaign last season that cost them Champions League football, while for United it is a chance to reshape an attack that already includes Benjamin Sesko.

If the talks progress, this could become one of the defining Serie A transfer stories of the final month of the window. Juventus have been linked with several attacking and defensive targets, but Zirkzee stands out because he already knows the league and was once one of its most admired young forwards. A return to Turin would also underline how often Serie A clubs are now trying to reclaim players who left Italy for the Premier League and struggled to replicate their best form.

Fiorentina have struck a full agreement with Real Madrid to bring Franco Mastantuono to Florence on a season-long loan for the 2026/27 campaign. The 18-year-old Argentine is set to spend the season in Serie A before returning to the Santiago Bernabéu in June 2027, with the deal described as a straight loan and no purchase option attached. The move gives Fiorentina one of the most highly regarded teenage talents in South American football, while Madrid retain long-term control over a player they clearly still value highly.

The agreement was finalised on Wednesday morning after negotiations between the clubs, and Fiorentina reportedly beat competition from AC Milan, Roma and other interested sides. That detail matters because it shows the Viola can still win major transfer races even when larger Italian clubs are involved. For Fiorentina, the deal is about upside and visibility: regular Serie A minutes for a player with elite potential, and the chance to develop a future Madrid talent in a competitive environment.

Mastantuono's arrival also fits a broader pattern in Serie A, where clubs increasingly target elite young loanees to raise the ceiling of their squads without taking on permanent financial risk. The absence of a buy option keeps the structure simple, but the sporting reward could be significant if the teenager adapts quickly to Italian football. If he does, Fiorentina may have one of the most talked-about loan signings of the season.

Roma left-back Angelino has completed an emotional season-long loan move to Deportivo La Coruna, returning to the club where he began his career. The 29-year-old, whose full name is Jose Angel Esmoris, came through Deportivo's academy before moving on to Manchester City early in his professional journey and later establishing himself across Europe. His switch to the newly promoted La Liga side ends his latest spell in Serie A, where Roma have now chosen to let him leave on loan for the season.

The move is significant because it removes an experienced wide defender from Roma's squad while giving Deportivo a veteran left-back with elite-level experience. The club framed the transfer as a homecoming, stressing the emotional value of bringing back one of their own rather than simply adding another squad player. For Angelino, the deal offers a chance to reconnect with the club that shaped him, and for Deportivo it is a statement signing as they prepare for life back in Spain's top flight.

Roma's decision also reflects the reshaping of their squad in a busy summer market. With Angelino back in Spain, the club must manage depth on the left side while balancing other transfer priorities. In a window where Serie A clubs are both selling and loaning out established names, this is a reminder that even experienced starters can be moved on when the right sporting and personal circumstances align.

Napoli have moved closer to signing Chelsea defender Benoît Badiashile after reaching an agreement in principle over personal terms, with the French centre-back reportedly accepting a contract framework running until 2031. The proposed move would see the 25-year-old join Napoli on loan for the 2026-27 season before a four-year permanent deal worth €2.8 million per season kicks in. The overall package is said to include an option to buy valued at around €30 million, making it one of the more substantial defensive deals in Serie A this summer.

The transfer makes sense for Napoli, whose new head coach Massimiliano Allegri wants to reinforce central defence and sees Badiashile as a priority. It also reflects Chelsea's willingness to move on a player whose progress stalled amid injuries and selection issues, limiting him to just 16 appearances across all competitions last season, including 11 starts. Juventus had monitored the defender earlier in the window, but Napoli have now taken the lead in negotiations.

If completed, the move would give Napoli a left-footed defender with Premier League and European experience, while offering Badiashile a reset in a league that often rewards tactical discipline and positional intelligence. The structure of the deal shows how Italian clubs are increasingly using loan-plus-option formulas to land higher-value players without overextending immediately. For Napoli, it would be another sign that Allegri's rebuild is already shaping the squad in his image.

Como have officially secured Yan Couto on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund, adding another high-profile name to a squad already preparing for a demanding campaign. The Brazilian right-back, 24, will spend the entire 2026/27 season in Serie A, with reports indicating a €2 million loan fee and a purchase option worth about €20 million. Dortmund's decision to allow the move follows a spell in which Couto, despite making 62 competitive appearances after his loan became permanent, never fully established himself in Germany.

The transfer is important because Como are not acting like a newly prominent club content with survival. By bringing in a Brazil international and Champions League participant, they continue to strengthen with ambition and scale. Couto's pace and attacking thrust down the right flank should suit a side looking to be more dynamic in transition, and the optional purchase gives Como a pathway to make the move permanent if he settles quickly.

For Serie A, the deal is another reminder that the league's middle and upper-middle tier is becoming increasingly attractive to players who want regular football and a central role. Como's ability to beat earlier uncertainty and complete the transfer also speaks to the club's growing pull in the market. If Couto delivers, this could become one of the smarter value moves of the summer.

Juventus are weighing Nottingham Forest defender Nikola Milenkovic as a 'new idea' if their preferred move for Bologna centre-back Jhon Lucumi fails to materialise. Lucumi is understood to be valued at around €25 million, and Juventus are among the clubs chasing him, but the Bianconeri have already started exploring alternatives because of uncertainty around the futures of Bremer and Federico Gatti. Milenkovic, who spent years in Serie A with Fiorentina before joining Forest in 2024, has emerged as a realistic fallback.

The Serbian's profile fits what Juventus are seeking: proven Serie A experience, physical presence, and the ability to step into a back line that may need adjustment before the window closes. Last season he made 53 appearances in all competitions for Forest and contributed two goals, underlining both durability and threat at set pieces. That kind of reliability matters to a club that cannot afford another season of defensive instability as it tries to return to the Champions League places.

The fact that Juventus are considering both Lucumi and Milenkovic also shows how seriously they are approaching the market after a disappointing campaign. Rather than wait for one deal to collapse, they are mapping out multiple options to avoid being caught short in central defence. Whether they go for a younger long-term target or a more familiar Serie A solution, the club clearly wants certainty at the back.

Italian football has secured a major broadcast boost in India after Zee Entertainment acquired exclusive rights for Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana for the next five seasons. The competitions will be available from August 22, 2026 on Zee5 and Unite8 Sports, giving one of the world's biggest football markets direct access to Italy's top domestic league and cup competitions. The deal underlines Serie A's continuing global commercial appeal and arrives just weeks before the new season begins.

The agreement is strategically important because India is one of the fastest-growing digital sports markets, and Zee is clearly betting that Italian football can help drive subscriptions and engagement. By locking in exclusive broadcast and digital rights across five seasons, the company gives Serie A a stable platform in a country where football interest is expanding beyond the traditional European powerhouses. For the league, it is another sign that its brand still carries international value despite ongoing debates over domestic quality.

The timing also matters for clubs such as Inter, Juventus, Milan, Napoli and Roma, whose fan bases are increasingly global. More visibility in India means more commercial reach, a wider audience for stars and transfers, and a stronger platform for the league's new campaign. In an era when media rights are as important as results, this is a meaningful off-pitch win for Serie A.

Gianni Infantino has kept the backing of senior FIFA staff after a crisis meeting in Rabat, even as the governing body apologised for errors surrounding its abandoned plan to sell World Cup commercial rights. The proposal, which involved a commercial entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise and would have opened the door to private investment, triggered widespread backlash and calls for the president to resign. FIFA said Secretary-General Mattias Grafström and members of the management board at the meeting 'reaffirmed their full support' for Infantino's presidency.

The fallout matters for Serie A because European leagues, including Serie A itself, are part of the wider coalition demanding stronger governance and less unilateral decision-making from FIFA. The Association of European Leagues described the approach as deeply concerning, while UEFA and other stakeholders have also questioned the direction of the organisation. FIFA has now promised a review and said a report will be presented to the council at its next meeting, but the damage to trust is already clear.

This is no longer just a dispute over one failed commercial proposal; it has become a fight over who controls the game and how decisions are made. With the next FIFA presidential election approaching in March, the pressure on Infantino is unlikely to fade quickly. For domestic leagues, including those in Italy, the episode reinforces long-running concerns about transparency, consultation and the balance of power in world football.