Marchisio: Yildiz ‘worth 50% of Juventus’, they should sign Tonali

Marchisio: Yildiz ‘worth 50% of Juventus’, they should sign Tonali: Marchisio: Yildiz ‘worth 50% of Juventus’, they should sign Tonali

Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio feels Kenan Yildiz is the only Bianconeri player who can turn the result around against Galatasaray tonight, but the Bianconeri must rebuild a strong core of Italian players in 2026-27: ‘Sandro Tonali would be excellent.’

Juventus host Galatasaray in the second leg of the Champions League knockout play-off tonight after suffering a 5-2 loss in Turkey last week.

“For a night like this, the ideal man would be Tevez. Spalletti would need his shake,” Marchisio, a former Juventus star, told Gazzetta.

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 22: Claudio Marchisio, former player of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus and AS Roma on December 22, 2018 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

“It will be tough to recover from three goals down without conceding, especially given the moment Spalletti’s team is going through, but Juventus must believe. It’s the Champions League.”

Juventus have lost four of their last five matches across all competitions, and tonight they’ll need to win by three goals to send the game to extra time.

This past Saturday, they suffered their first home defeat since March 2025, losing 2-0 against Como.

“On this Champions League night, the most important thing is to show Juventus’s soul and personality,” Marchisio said.

“I was at the Stadium on Saturday, and they lacked the fundamental qualities to wear the Bianconeri shirt: personality and an understanding of moments. I didn’t hear anyone shouting: ‘Wake up, there’s the season at stake.’ The collapse in Istanbul in the second half and the defeat against Como worried me. It’s about the mentality.

“Yildiz is the only one who can turn Galatasaray around,” Marchisio continued.

“Kenan is worth 50% of Juventus, and unfortunately, the opponents have understood it. McKennie’s late runs will also be important.”

Juventus are said to be interested in Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva as a free agent; would the Portuguese be a good acquisition for the Bianconeri?

Marchisio: Juventus should sign Tonali as Donnarumma ‘out of reach’

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 24: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Newcastle United FC and Qarabag FK at St James’ Park on February 24, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“Football changes, but the clubs’ DNA doesn’t. Juventus have always had a core of Italian players, and they must rebuild it,” noted Marchisio.

“Donnarumma seems out of reach, having just joined Manchester City. Tonali seems more feasible; he’d be an excellent starting point, but patience is needed.”

Giorgio Chiellini, a club legend and former teammate of Marchisio, is now a director at Juventus.

“He suffers because he loves Juventus, but Giorgio experienced even worse moments as a player,” concluded Marchisio.

“We finished seventh for two seasons in a row. Chiellini was fundamental on the pitch, and the same is true now to transmit personality and mentality to the team.”

Galatasaray VP sends warning to Juventus and Inter: ‘Not the result of luck’

Galatasaray VP sends warning to Juventus and Inter: ‘Not the result of luck’: Galatasaray VP sends warning to Juventus and Inter: ‘Not the result of luck’

Galatasaray vice-President Abdullah Kavukcu has warned Juventus that last week’s 5-2 victory in the Champions League was ‘not the result of luck’ and says that he is ‘sure’ that Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu will play for the club at some stage in his career: ‘We’ve never hidden our interest’.

The Galatasaray executive spoke in-depth to La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of the second leg of their Champions League play-off round tie against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night.

Galatasaray thumped Juventus 5-2 in Istanbul last week, which leaves Luciano Spalletti’s side needing a victory by three goals to keep the tie alive and a victory by four goals if they are to avoid a penalty shoot-out.

Galatasaray VP: ‘The 5-2 against Juventus was not the result of luck’

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – FEBRUARY 17: Kenan Yildiz of Juventus runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off First Leg match between Galatasaray A.S. and Juventus at Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi on February 17, 2026 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

“The 5-2 against Juventus was not the result of luck,” Kavukcu told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We want to raise the bar, we’re only at the beginning of our project,” he warned.

Despite their enormous advantage at the half-way stage of the Champions League play-off tie, Kavukcu insists that there is still work to do against the Bianconeri on Wednesday night.

“I’m aware of our strength, but Juve are still Juve and it will be difficult to defend the result at the Allianz Stadium,” he said.

“Spalletti is a great coach and has real champions in his squad. If we scored five goals, it is thanks to our fans, who created a crazy atmosphere, and also thanks to those players who took to the pitch. We’re building a team of top players. We want to become the best in the world.

“It will take us a few years, but the project is well underway. Our fans are scattered all over the world, and players settle in quickly in Istanbul. When we present our plans to them, it’s difficult for them to say no to playing for us.”

Among the star players of this current Galatasaray side is former Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who joined the Turkish giants in a permanent, €75m deal last summer after spending the 2024-25 season on loan in Istanbul.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 28: Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray A.S. applauds the fans following the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Manchester City and Galatasaray A.S. at City of Manchester Stadium on January 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

“People talked about it like it was a crazy investment when we signed him. I think Victor has proved everyone wrong considering that his value has doubled. We know that he’s one of th best centre-forwards in the world and we want to achieve big goals together.”

It is no secret that Galatasaray have been eyeing another Serie A star to add to their ranks. Inter midfielder and Turkiye national team captain Calhanoglu has been the subject of interest from Galatasaray in several of the recent transfer windows.

The most recent approach for Calhanoglu came in January.

MILAN, ITALY – OCTOBER 29: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on October 29, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Yes, we made another attempt for Calhanoglu,” Kavukcu said. “There was a discussion with Inter directors, but we were told that Hakan would not leave during the winter window.

“We’ve never hidden our interest. Hakan is an icon of the Turkish national team and is a Galatasaray supporter. I don’t know when, but I’m sure that one day he will play for us.”

Inter Milan Champions League Earnings Drop Significantly Compared To 2024/25 Season

Inter Milan Champions League Earnings Drop Significantly Compared To 2024/25 Season: Inter Milan Champions League Earnings Drop Significantly Compared To 2024/25 Season

Inter Milan failed to make it out of the opening UEFA Champions League (UCL) knockout round, losing to Bodo/Glimt against the odds.

According to Calcio e Finanza via FCInterNews, a heartbreaking playoff exit is likely to harm the club’s finances.

Despite bowing out in the playoff round, the Nerazzurri will take home around €71.27 million in total prize money.

The rewards cover participation fees, European and non-European shares, league placement, bonuses for 9th–16th place, and playoff incentives.

However, it’s fair to say that Cristian Chivu dropped the ball here.

Inter Milan to Receive Far Less Money from Champions League (UCL) than Last Season

GENOA, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Cristian Chivu, head coach of Inter, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and FC Internazionale at Luigi Ferraris Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Despite being one step away from winning the Serie A title, Chivu couldn’t follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Simone Inzaghi.

Indeed, the Al-Hilal boss had led the Nerazzurri to two Champions League finals in his final three seasons in charge.

Only last season, Inzaghi’s team secured a place in the title-deciding fixture and collected €136 million, excluding matchday income.

Therefore, the €71.27 million earned this year represents a sharp decline from last season.

El Shaarawy returns to group training, Dybala and Soule still out

El Shaarawy returns to group training, Dybala and Soule still out: El Shaarawy returns to group training, Dybala and Soule still out

Roma continues their buildup to the crucial match against Juventus.

The big match at the Olimpico on Sunday at 8:45 PM could be worth a slice of the Champions League.

But Gian Piero Gasperini still has to contend with several absences.

This morning, the team trained at Trigoria.

The Giallorossi coach was once again without Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and Mario Hermoso. Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk also trained separately.

However, some good news for Roma comes from Trigoria: Stephan El Shaarawy trained partially with the group. The “Pharaoh” had also completed some training with his teammates on Tuesday.

The next few days at the Fulvio Bernardini Stadium will be crucial to determine whether Soulé and Dybala, former Juventus players, will be eligible to play against their former team.

Up front, Roma currently has only Donyell Malen, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Zaragoza, Lorenzo Venturino, and Robinio Vaz.

Inter respond to talk of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone joining club

Inter respond to talk of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone joining club: Inter respond to talk of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone joining club

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has been at pains to express his deep love for the club in recent weeks, statements that have come not long after his future was called into question. Los Colchoneros were reportedly keen to extend his contract beyond 2027, but Sporting Director Mateu Alemany also appears to be putting in place alternative plans at manager should Simeone move on.

It seems almost unthinkable that Atletico would move on from Simeone after 14 years, given what he has done for Los Rojiblancos, catapulting them into a different tier in the European football hierarchy. Simeone is expected to one day coach elsewhere though, and has previously admitted that he would be keen to coach former club Inter. Earlier in the season, Simeone did not rule coaching in Saudi Arabia either.

Inter chief denies Simeone agreement

In Italy, there have been rumours that Inter have an agreement with Simeone for the Argentine to take over in the summer. However before their Champions League defeat to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night, Inter President Beppe Marotta shut down the story live on Sky Sport Italia.

“Let’s call it fake news, without a doubt. There’s no point in even talking about it. We are extremely happy with [Christian] Chivu. He is proving with his actions that he is worthy of coaching Inter,” he told MD.

Image via Getty Images.

Despite their elimination in Europe, Chivu has Inter 10 points clear of closest rivals AC Milan. Being one of the best-paid managers in the game, Inter’s elimination seems unlikely to help any bid to sign Simeone.

“From an economic point of view, it would be important, but not significant, in the sense that today it’s a sporting event that honours Inter’s history, and we want to honour it in the best way possible. Of course, if we were eliminated, we would have to address the financial issues as we go along, but that’s not a problem.”

Who could replace Simeone?

At the time of writing, it looks highly probable that Simeone will remain at the club, with President Enrique Cerezo and CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin reportedly keen to have Simeone see out the remaining two or three years of their tenure as power is handed to majority investors Apollo Sports Capital. That said, Alemany is reportedly enamoured with Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and is also a fan of Villarreal’s Marcelino Garcia Toral.

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