Milan and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has again spoken of his desire to return to Real Madrid once his playing career is over.

“I want to return to Real Madrid and be useful,” said the 41-year-old, who intends to rejoin the Spanish club in a different role after retiring as a player.

Modric spent 13 years with Real Madrid, representing the club from 2012 to 2025. He then moved to Milan, where his current contract runs until next summer.

The Croatia international has not yet decided whether he will retire in 2027.

Experienced Austria international David Alaba has met his new team-mates at Italian club Udinese and is now prepared to speak about his unexpected transfer.

Alaba, who has previously played for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, has joined Udinese after a career at two of Europe’s most prominent clubs. The Austria defender said he was at the club and that the move was the best option for him.

Antonio Vergara is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks, giving Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri another injury concern to contend with.

The news follows the expected two-month absence of Costantino Favasuli, leaving Napoli with another player unavailable as Allegri continues to adjust his plans amid the injuries that have affected the squad since the start of the season.

Vergara’s projected recovery period is particularly significant given Napoli’s schedule. Saturday’s match against Frosinone is the first of nine fixtures the club will play over the month before the November international break, with those matches coming in both the domestic championship and the Champions League.

Alexis Saelemaekers has reassured disappointed supporters after the AC Milan midfielder suffered an injury that will require surgery.

The Belgium international, who joined the Italian club in 2020, said: “It hurts, but I will come back stronger.”

Saelemaekers has spent several seasons away from AC Milan on loan since arriving at the club.

Roberto Mancini, recently back in charge of the Italy national team, was asked which member of the side that won the European Championship in 2021 he most missed.

His reply was: “Vialli...”

Gennaro Gattuso had been Italy’s previous manager. During his time in charge, however, the team failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a dramatic match in Zenica.

Milan could return to the possibility of signing Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde during the winter transfer window, according to Calciomercato.com.

The Italian club considered a move for the 23-year-old Spain international in the summer. At the end of August, agent Jorge Mendes offered Balde to Milan, but the deal did not progress because of Barcelona’s financial demands. The Catalan club were seeking 40 million euros, and Milan opted to focus on strengthening other positions.

The situation could now change. Injuries to Alexis Saelemaekers and Pervis Estupinan have reduced Milan’s options in the wide areas, while Balde has struggled for playing time at Barcelona.

Under Hansi Flick, the defender has made only one appearance, playing 12 minutes in the match against Racing.

The Administrative Court of Lombardy has rejected all five lawsuits connected with Inter and Milan, Calciomercato.com reports.

The cases concerned plans for a new stadium, decisions by the Municipality of Milan to sell the San Siro complex, and the agreement to purchase the arena signed on 5 November 2025.

The ruling brings the legal dispute over the municipality’s sale of the stadium to the two clubs to an end.

The new stadium project can now move towards reality. The arena will be owned by Inter and Milan and will be built next to the current San Siro.

The area surrounding the stadium is also planned for redevelopment.

Lyon are considering making Lois Openda’s loan from Juventus permanent at the end of the season, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

The Belgian forward joined Lyon on a temporary deal for a €3m loan fee, but the agreement does not include an option to buy.

Tavolieri reports that any decision over a permanent transfer will depend on Lyon’s results this season. If the French club performs successfully in Ligue 1 and secures qualification for the Champions League, it could make an offer to sign Openda permanently.

Openda has scored two goals and provided one assist in nine appearances for Lyon.

Lyon are currently second in Ligue 1, two points behind leaders Monaco.

Juventus midfielder Khephren Thuram is continuing his rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on his right knee on 3 September.

Thuram will spend the next two weeks in Lyon, where the operation was carried out, according to Goal. The France international will work through his rehabilitation under the supervision of a local doctor.

The knee problem had prevented Thuram from training without pain and caused swelling. Following his initial two weeks in Lyon, he will return to Turin to begin the next phase of his recovery and prepare for a return to action.

Thuram is not expected to play before January 2027.

Inter head coach Christian Chivu says he does not expect to remain in management for the rest of his life, despite already guiding the club to major honours.

“I don’t think I will be doing this job all my life,” the Romanian said while discussing his approach to coaching.

Chivu also said he still views himself as a student of the profession. He intends to continue improving for as long as he retains the desire to develop.

The 45-year-old has already enjoyed success with Inter, who won the championship and Coppa Italia under his leadership last season.

Real Madrid forward Endrick has emerged as a renewed transfer target for Milan, with the Italian club considering a loan move for the Brazilian during the winter transfer window.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milan are interested in bringing the 20-year-old to the club after previously trying to sign him during the summer. That proposed move did not go ahead after Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho blocked the deal.

Milan are not the only Italian side monitoring Endrick’s situation. Roma also want to negotiate for the Real Madrid player and are expected to hold talks over a possible move.

However, Milan are understood to have an advantage because of their strong relationship with the agency representing Endrick.

The forward has made only one appearance in the Spanish championship this season and has not recorded a goal or an assist.

Roma are interested in signing Dutch central defender Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce, according to football insider Ekrem Konur.

The 25-year-old could move to Serie A, with the Italian club keen on bringing him to the capital. Oosterwolde is valued at €17m by Transfermarkt, while his contract with the Turkish club runs until the end of June 2028.

Oosterwolde made 31 appearances for Fenerbahce in last season’s Turkish league campaign. He received 11 yellow cards and was sent off once.

Trevoh Chalobah says he is still close to former Chelsea team-mate Thiago Silva, despite the pair now being thousands of miles apart and playing for clubs in different countries.

Silva joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and helped the club win the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

The Brazilian was named Chelsea Player of the Year in 2022/23, establishing himself as a key figure at Stamford Bridge while also influencing a younger generation of defenders, including Chalobah.

Chalobah made his first-team breakthrough during the 2021/22 season, Silva’s second campaign with Chelsea. The defenders played alongside one another regularly before Silva left the club in 2024.

Silva now plays for Brazilian side Fluminense, while Chalobah is continuing his career with Como. However, the England defender says their relationship remains strong and that they communicate frequently online.

“Thiago has been a person I have always looked up to.

“All the time when I was in school I used to watch YouTube videos of him, compilations of his game, from the time he was at AC Milan. To finally play with him at Chelsea was amazing and another dream come true.

“I'm always in contact with him. When he was at Chelsea, I used to study his recovery and how he performed and operated.

“That’s what I learned from him: the ‘what if’ situation. He always used to say: what if this happens or (that happens)?

“We talk online a lot, on Instagram. Funnily enough, he was at the England-Spain game watching, so that was good.”

Chalobah’s admiration for Silva began long before they became team-mates. He watched videos of the defender during his school years, including compilations from Silva’s time at AC Milan, making the opportunity to work with him at Chelsea particularly significant.

He also studied Silva’s approach away from matches, paying attention to how the experienced defender recovered and prepared, as well as the way he performed and operated during games.

The principle Chalobah says he took from Silva was the importance of anticipating different scenarios. Silva’s repeated focus on asking “what if” helped shape the way Chalobah assesses situations on the pitch.

At 27, Chalobah is entering his prime while working under Cesc Fabregas at Como. His time alongside Silva at Chelsea has provided one of the key influences on his development as he continues his career in Italy.

Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has explained why Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will be absent from Lionel Messi’s farewell match for Argentina.

The forward and defender were not given permission by their club to take part in the significant occasion. Argentina are scheduled to face Benin in Buenos Aires overnight on 6-7 October.

Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina since making his international debut in 2005.

Arsenal are not currently planning for Noni Madueke to leave the club, despite reported interest from Juventus and Atletico Madrid and the winger’s limited playing time this season.

Both clubs are understood to be monitoring Madueke’s situation as his opportunities have reduced significantly since joining Arsenal. The potential for a departure could become a talking point when the January transfer window opens, particularly if his lack of minutes continues.

Madueke has played only 23 minutes in the Premier League so far, appearing as a substitute against Coventry and Chelsea. His involvement has been affected by Bukayo Saka’s return to full fitness, while Madueke’s only start came in the Carabao Cup against Ipswich.

Despite those circumstances, sources close to Arsenal do not expect his departure to form part of the club’s plans.

Manager Mikel Arteta remains keen to retain Madueke as an alternative to Saka and the other attacking options in his squad. Arteta believes the 23-year-old can still make an important contribution during a season in which Arsenal are competing on several fronts.

Madueke moved to Arsenal from Chelsea in July 2025 for an initial £48.5 million. The fee could rise to about £52m through add-ons, and the England international signed a contract that runs until 2030.

Arteta was central to persuading Madueke to make the move, setting out his plans for the player during their first conversation. Since then, the Arsenal manager has encouraged him to take greater responsibility, while Madueke’s direct approach has at times been an important part of the team’s attacking play.

That influence was particularly clear last season, when Madueke became Saka’s principal alternative on the right. He made a significant contribution as Arsenal won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.

The competition for places has become stronger this season. Saka remains the first-choice option on the right, while the emergence of Max Dowman has provided Arsenal with another promising attacking alternative.

Madueke has accepted that opportunities are difficult to secure, but his limited involvement has also contributed to him losing his place in the England squad. If his position does not improve, that could make January a significant point in his future.

However, people close to the situation believe Madueke’s value to Arsenal will become clearer in the weeks and months ahead. For now, the expectation is that the club would resist any approaches to sign him.

Inter forward Francesco Pio Esposito scored in Italy’s 3-1 Nations League victory over Turkey to become only the second player in the national team’s history to reach seven goals before turning 21.

Esposito struck in the 87th minute to complete the scoring and confirm the final result for the Azzurri.

According to Opta, only Inter legend Giuseppe Meazza had previously scored seven times for Italy at the age of 21 or younger. Meazza reached that mark in 1931, when he was 20.

Esposito turned 21 on 28 June. He has made 13 appearances for Italy since making his international debut in September last year.

Former Inter manager Andrea Stramaccioni has praised Roberto Mancini’s approach to his current Italy side, saying: “I like that Mancini trusts young players.”

Stramaccioni was speaking after Italy defeated Turkey 3-1 in their latest match.

Former AC Milan player Zvonimir Boban has praised fellow Croatian Petar Sucic, who currently plays for city rivals Inter.

Boban described Sucic as “one of the best”.

Inter are currently second in the Italian championship table.

Maduka Okoye was filmed appearing to come close to a physical altercation with a fan while attending Oktoberfest in Germany during the international break.

The Udinese goalkeeper chose to spend the extended pause from football at the festival after domestic league fixtures were suspended for two weeks. However, footage circulating on social media has drawn attention to an incident involving the Nigeria international and an unidentified supporter.

The reason for the apparent confrontation is not known.

Okoye had previously attracted headlines because of his reported connections and flirtation with glamorous, famous women. This time, though, the goalkeeper has been featured in the news for a more serious incident.

Udinese currently sit 13th in the Serie A table.

Former Croatia midfielder Zvonimir Boban has expressed reservations about the style of football being introduced by Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, saying certain aspects of it make him uneasy.

Boban spent 11 years of his career with the club, from 1991 to 2002.