UEFA have assigned Romanian referee Radu Petrescu to officiate the Nations League match between Belgium and Italy on Thursday.

The fixture kicks off at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Thursday at 19.45 GMT.

All the Azzurri need is one point from the remaining two Nations League games to ensure they qualify for the quarter-final stage of the tournament.

UEFA announced that Petrescu has been appointed to officiate this match, assisted by fellow countrymen Radu Ghignuleac, Mircea Mihail Gigoriu and fourth official Marcel Birsan.

The VAR team is also Romanian, Catalin Popa and assistant Andrei Chivulete.

Petrescu record with Belgium and Italy

Petrescu turns 42 today and has never officiated Italy at senior level, but did oversee three wins and a draw for the Under-17 and Under-19 teams.

His record with Italian sides at club level is of one win, four draws and zero defeats.

Petrescu’s Belgian record at senior level is of two wins, no draws and two losses.

Italy U21 have qualified for the 2025 European Championship and are now preparing for friendlies against France and Ukraine, but Burnley talent Luca Koleosho won’t take part in these games after picking up an injury.

The 20-year-old was included in the 27-player squad announced by the Azzurrini coach Carmine Nunziata last week, in an attacking department which also comprised Leeds striker Willy Gnonto.

Burnley’s Koleosho dropped by Italy U21 squad after injury

Koleosho had previously racked up only two appearances with Italy U21 in November 2023 and more recently in October 2021, when he came on in the second half during his side’s 1-1 draw against Ireland that earned Nunziata’s outfit a spot in next year’s European Under-21 Championship.

However, the 20-year-old’s hopes of playing his third game with the Azzurrini were dashed by an injury which ruled him out of the upcoming friendlies against France and Ukraine during the international break, as reported by Alfredo Pedullà.

Koleosho, who underwent surgery due to a knee injury in December 2023, has since recovered and taken his place back at Burnley, with whom he played 14 Championship matches this term, scoring two goals.

Juventus sold several players last summer, including wingers Federico Chiesa and Matias Soulé, but none of the former Bianconeri stars are shining at their new clubs, except for Fiorentina hero Moise Kean.

Juventus had to sell many players in the 2024 summer window to balance the books and finance a transfer campaign that saw the Bianconeri invest nearly €200m in new signings.

La Gazzetta dello Sport highlights that most ex-Juventus players are struggling to settle at their new clubs.

From Chiesa to Soulé: Juventus have no transfer regrets, except for Kean

The most obvious example is Federico Chiesa, who joined Liverpool for €12m plus add-ons but has been struggling with injuries at Anfield, collecting just three appearances with the Premier League giants.

Dean Huijsen also moved to England but has played just six games with Bournemouth after a transfer exceeding €15m.

Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior joined Aston Villa for a combined €22m fee but already left on loan for Valencia and Bologna, respectively.

Matias Soulé has failed to justify his €25m price tag due to Roma’s crisis as well. Facundo Gonzalez has collected four appearances with Feyenoord, but the Dutch side have an obligation to make his move permanent for €6m at the end of the season.

The only exception for the Bianconeri is Kean, who didn’t score any goals in Turin last season but has already netted eight times at Fiorentina and is the current second-best scorer in Serie A. Fiorentina paid €12m plus add-ons for the Italy international who had a year left in his contract at the Allianz Stadium.

Another ex-Juventus striker, Kaio Jorge, has scored six goals for Cruzeiro following a €7.2m transfer.

Juventus defender Nicolò Savona is thrilled following his first Italy call-up and admits facing Jérémy Doku in the Nations League would be an ‘excellent test.’

Versatile Juventus defender Savona has earned his first Italy call-up for Nations League games against Belgium and France in November.

A product of the Juventus academy, Savona has made his senior debut under Thiago Motta this season and has already scored two goals with the Bianconeri.

He has crossed paths with Giorgio Chiellini at Juventus as the ex-defender has recently returned to the club as a director.

“He’s given me advice; the primary one was to keep the same humility to reach great professional targets,” Savona said at a press conference on Tuesday, as quoted by TMW.

• Read more – Italy debutant Comuzzo admires Chiellini and wants to learn from Calafiori

“Technically, he told me to improve in every training and work hard.”

Savona, 19, comes from Valle D’Aosta, a region of northwest Italy bordered by France and Switzerland, and football wasn’t the only sport he played as a kid.

“My home is near ski slopes, and I did a few races as a kid,” he said.

“However, when I was 10, I had to choose between football and skiing, and I chose football because I didn’t like skiing that much.”

Savona has been deployed as a right-back at Juventus, but he can also play in a three-man defence, making him suitable for Italy’s new 3-5-2 system.

“It’s important to cover many roles nowadays,” he said.

“I can attack and defend, and last season, I mostly played defender in a three-man defence. I can cover both roles, and I think this is an advantage.

“I must maintain my humility and work hard. I must not lose these qualities and will try to remain as I am.”

Savona said he was delighted with Spalletti’s welcome at Coverciano and briefly spoke about Italy’s upcoming games.

“[Plyaing] Italy-France at San Siro would be nice, but being here is already a great emotion. Facing Belgium’s Doku would be an excellent test,” he concluded.

Savona has scored two goals in 14 appearances in all competitions this season with Juventus.

Later today, the Azzurri will train at Coverciano behind closed doors and tomorrow, they’ll fly to Belgium, where they’ll face the Red Devils on Thursday, November 14

Italy debutant Pietro Comuzzo admits Giorgio Chiellini is his idol, but he wants to become a ‘complete’ defender, so he’s eager to learn from Alessandro Bastoni and Riccardo Calafiori.

Fiorentina defender Comuzzo has earned his first Italy call-up in November thanks to impressive performances with the Tuscans.

“Every kid playing football and watching the national team on TV dreams of becoming like them,” the 19-year-old centre-back said at a press conference on Tuesday, as quoted by TMW.

“Coming here is the biggest dream I could have fulfilled. I haven’t celebrated. I have done nothing special.

Italy debutant admires Chiellini and wants to learn from Calafiori

“I’ve received many messages, but the nicest one was from my father. I’ve spoken to many of my ex-coaches, and I’ll always be grateful for their help in reaching the national team.

“The ‘Inno di Mameli’ [Italy’s national anthem] is the best in the world, and it makes you feel the importance and beauty of this country. Singing it on the pitch is the best thing I could imagine.”

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti was impressed by Comuzzo’s physicality, and it’s no coincidence that it was also the primary skill set of the promising defender’s idol, Chiellini.

“He is. I enjoyed the Euros in 2021, and watching Chiellini play those matches and lift the trophy was an immense joy,” said Comuzzo.

“I feel at ease with man-marking. I like duels. It’s what I like the most, but I don’t want to limit myself, I want to improve technically and in the build-up. I want to learn from Bastoni and Calafiori and become a complete defender.”

Comuzzo will train with Bastoni during the November break, while Calafiori has been ruled out of games against Belgium and France due to a knee injury he sustained in October with Arsenal.

Fiorentina beat Hellas Verona 3-1 on Sunday and are just one point below table leaders Napoli.

“Palladino gives me advice on how to improve,” said Comuzzo.

“The best thing about Fiorentina is the group. We are there because we deserve it and we want to remain there for as long as possible, but now I am only focused on the national team.”

Italy will visit Belgium this coming Thursday and host France at San Siro on Sunday, November 17. Which game would Comuzzo like to be involved in?

“It’s an incredible emotion to be here. If I had to choose one, I’d say the France game because it is at San Siro, but facing Lukaku would be a great test,” he concluded.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti insists it’s ‘essential’ to pay attention to public messages after referee decisions, otherwise ‘it’s easy to believe there were shocking events even when it’s not the case.’

Spalletti was asked his thoughts on recent controversies for a penalty kick given to Inter in a Serie A match against Napoli.

Hakan Calhanoglu missed it, but Napoli coach Antonio Conte was still furious with the referee and questioned the use of VAR.

Italy coach Spalletti opens up about controversial Inter vs Napoli penalty

“It’s essential to pay attention to how messages are transmitted because when the contact level for a foul is so reduced, the players feed on this, and it’s easy to believe there were shocking events even when it’s not the case,” Spalletti said after on Monday night after an award ceremony at Italy’s Hall of Fame.

“It’s necessary to talk to the players to avoid making a fuss because these things reduce the referees in prison if they don’t pay attention.”

The big match at San Siro on Sunday eventually ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving Napoli at the top of the Serie A table with four teams just one point behind them: Atalanta, Fiorentina, Inter, and Lazio.

Napoli’s Serie A campaign resumes after the break with a home game against strugglers Roma at the Stadio Maradona on November 24.

Spalletti’s Italy meet Belgium and France in Nations League games this week.

The Azzurri trained Monday afternoon after Spalletti’s first press conference in the November break.

Sandro Tonali admitted he was ‘struck’ by the behaviour of Newcastle fans and wanted to ‘thank’ them for how they reacted to the midfielder’s gambling ban, which kept him out of action for 10 months.

The Italy star joined the Premier League outfit from Milan on a hugely lucrative deal worth around €60m, but he was found guilty of forbidden betting practices less than three months into his first season at the new club.

However, the affection and lack of judgment that he felt from his fans was ‘the last thing’ Tonali expected, as he was allowed to roam the city and go to the stadium to follow his club during his time on the sidelines without anyone referring to what had happened.

Tonali thanks Newcastle fans for ‘unexpected’ behaviour

“Let’s start with thank you,” Tonali told Sky Sport Italia in an interview.

“I’ve said it already and I’ll keep saying it for a long time, because the behaviour of Newcastle’s fans was unexpected.

“Here, the fans don’t judge anyone, not a single player. Even when I went to the stadium to watch games or walked around the city, I didn’t feel judged by anyone.

“They would shake my hand; this really struck me, and it was certainly the last thing I expected from Newcastle’s fans at that time.

“Many aspects of my life have changed, but I’m very well, both on and off the field. I think that’s truly the most important thing. My relationships with people have also changed a lot, so these things beyond football make all the difference.”

Tonali returned to action both for Newcastle and Italy when his ban ended in August 2024, and he has since played 11 games across all competitions for his club, delivering two assists. Also, he has started all of Italy’s four Nations League fixtures he was called up for, managing two more assists against France and Israel.

The 24-year-old was recently praised for how he came on against Nottingham Forest to help his side secure a 3-1 victory last weekend.

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina spoke to Luciano Spalletti and Gigi Buffon before Italy’s training session on Monday, but just eight players were involved.

Football Italia was among the accredited media at Coverciano on Monday when Spalletti held his first press conference in the November break.

The Azzurri’s training session started only a few minutes later, but most players remained in the gym as they had played with their clubs on Sunday.

Below are the three things we spotted at Coverciano today.

• Read more – Official: Spalletti confirms 23-man Italy squad for November fixtures

Gravina

During the players’ warm-up, the FIGC President was spotted talking to Spalletti and Italy Delegation Chief Gigi Buffon on the pitch. Other federation members joined the conversation while Spalletti’s assistants monitored the players’ preparation for training. The Azzurri coach then joined his staff members while Buffon watched the training session from the sidelines.

Three extra players

Three players from the Fiorentina youth sector, including one goalkeeper, joined Italy players today. The group was initially split into two for drills on high pressing and ball possession on a reduced pitch. Andrea Cambiaso, Davide Frattesi, Federico Gatti and Guglielmo Vicario were on one side against Sandro Tonali, Nicolò Savona, Giacomo Raspadori and Caleb Okoli. Each team welcomed a Fiorentina youth player, while another was a ‘jolly’ who could receive the ball from any of the two teams.

Attacking moves

The final part of the training session saw the Azzurri try some attacking moves. Centre-backs Gatti and Okoli received the ball and had to reach full-backs with cross-field passes. Once the ball was on the wings, central midfielders and Raspadori, the only striker, linked up inside the box, trying to score against the young Fiorentina keeper.

Italy will train again on Tuesday and Wednesday. On that day, they’ll travel to Belgium in the afternoon of the eve of an away Nations League game against Belgium.

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti says Manuel Locatelli will replace the injured Samuele Ricci for Nations League games against Belgium and France and insists he is ‘not worried’ by Riccardo Calafiori’s absence in the next two matches.

Torino midfielder Ricci won’t be available for Italy’s next two Nations League games against Belgium and France.

The talented midfielder suffered an injury during the latest derby della Mole between his Torino side and Juventus.

Spalletti said Ricci would have struggled to recover for the first match against Belgium, so the midfielder has returned to his club, something that had already happened with other players in the past.

Spalletti ‘not worried’ by Calafiori’s absence and names Italy midfield replacement

The Azzurri coach initially seemed reluctant to announce Ricci’s replacement but then named Locatelli.

“I see Locatelli doing things he didn’t do before,” said Spalletti.

“I have nothing against him. Rovella deserved to come here for what he’s doing. We’ll see after the game if they are on the same level as the others. They deserve this chance.”

Rovella was already part of the 23-man squad announced by Spalletti last week.

Ricci and Calafiori were crucial players in Italy’s games after the Euros, so Spalletti was asked how he’d cope without the injured pair.

“When Bastoni plays for Inter, he shows he can be an added striker, as Calafiori has done in that role,” noted Spalletti.

“I appreciated Buongiorno’s strength yesterday against two strikers like Thuram and Lautaro. I’m not worried. Buongiorno is a great defender, and Bastoni knows how to build up and replicate what Calafiori has done. Gatti is improving because we questioned his quality in the build-up, but now he does it well. We are pretty calm.”

Football Italia was among the accredited media at Coverciano and followed Spalletti’s press conference live. You can read every word he said here.

Sandro Tonali started on the bench, but made a significant impact when he came on as Newcastle rose to a 3-1 victory away against high-flying Nottingham Forest at the weekend. 

Here is how the Italy internationals in the Premier League got on this weekend. 

Tonali impresses in Newcastle victory 

Tonali started on the bench for the second Premier League match in a row, but he emerged as a second-half substitute while Newcastle were level at 1-1 away at Nottingham Forest, and ended his shift on the winning side in an eventual 3-1 result. 

The Italy international was involved in the build-up to Joelinton’s goal to make it 2-1, before registering an assist for Harvey Barnes for Newcastle’s third, carrying the ball through most of the opposition’s half before laying off to his teammate to apply the final touches. 

Though he only came on after 68 minutes, Tonali was given a rating of 8/10 by the local press for his showing at the City Ground. 

Vicario and Udogie on worrying form at Tottenham 

Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie started as usual in Tottenham’s 2-1 loss at home to Ipswich Town. It was the visitor’s first Premier League win in over 20 years, and Tottenham’s second loss this week after a 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray in the Europa League. 

Vicario couldn’t have done much to prevent Ipswich’s first goal, an improvised bicycle kick into the far corner from Sammie Szmodics, but there were suggestions that he could have done slightly better in preventing the second, when he got a hand to Szmodics’s low cross, but was only able to steer it into the six-yard box. 

Udogie, meanwhile, had a relatively inoffensive game at left-back, but Football London have suggested that he needs to be a bit more decisive and aggressive in tackles, as he does tend to hesitate around some challenges. 

How the other Italy internationals got on

Emerson Palmieri was the only other Italy international involved in Premier League action this weekend, but it wasn’t a blockbuster by any means. West Ham’s 0-0 draw away at home to Everton was dubbed one of the worst games of the season in terms of its quality. 

Caleb Okoli was an unused substitute as Leicester City fell to a 3-0 defeat away against Manchester United at Old Trafford. 

It was also the same case for Jorginho on the Arsenal bench in their 0-0 draw against Chelsea. Cesare Casadei has not made Enzo Maresca’s matchday squad since Chelsea’s 1-0 victory against Bournemouth in mid-September. 

Riccardo Calafiori at Arsenal and Federico Chiesa at Liverpool remain out injured. Neither have been included in Luciano Spalletti’s latest Italy national team squad.

Italy striker Moise Kean told his critics: ‘They ain’t think I would do it, but I did it’ in a social media post after netting an impressive hat-trick during Fiorentina’s 3-1 victory over Hellas Verona in Serie A on Sunday afternoon. 

A treble from the former Juventus and PSG centre-forward helped La Viola to their sixth consecutive victory in Serie A. Raffaele Palladino’s side also have seven wins from their last eight matches across all competitions. 

The Italy international pulled off three striker’s finishes within the penalty area to complete his hat-trick against Verona, finishing from close range on his first two attempts, before latching onto a long David De Gea ball over the top for his third in second-half injury time. 

Kean: ‘They ain’t think I would do it, but I did it’

“They ain’t think I would do it, but I did it,” Kean wrote in a celebratory post on Instagram in the aftermath of Fiorentina’s 3-1 win over Verona. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Moise kean (@moise_kean)

Fiorentina now sit in third place in the Serie A table, one point off the league leaders, Napoli. The same is also true of Atalanta, Lazio and Inter, who sit in second, fourth and fifth respectively on goal difference.

Alessandro Costacurta labelled Napoli centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno as Italy’s ‘probable successor’ to former Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini after the Partenopei defender’s performance in the 1-1 draw against Inter in Serie A on Sunday. 

Buongiorno was rated as one of the best performing players on the pitch across the Italian press during the top-of-the-table clash between Inter and Napoli in San Siro on Sunday night. He and his teammates remain atop the Serie A table, despite being held by runners-up at the time, Inter. 

Costacurta labels Napoli defender Italy’s ‘successor’ to Chiellini

Costacurta, who was on punditry duty with Sky Sport Italia, was one of many who were impressed by the Italy international’s performance. 

“It’s the third year now that he’s doing very well, he’s grown significantly. Chiellini played a slightly rougher style of football, but in this respect, Buongiorno is the probable successor to Giorgio. 

“He’s alert and physical, he made two interventions against Inter thanks to the defender’s instincts.” 

Buongiorno, 23, has been capped on seven occasions for the Italy national team. 

The Azzurri have plenty of options on the left side of centre-back with Alesssadnro Bastoni and Riccardo Calafiori often the go-to options over the first two international breaks of the season, but with an injury to the Arsenal defender at present, Buongiorno could have see more minutes when the squad play their next two Nations League fixtures in November.

Sky Sport Italia correspondent Angelo Mangiante says he texted Roberto Mancini, who ‘didn’t say no’ when asked whether he would replace Ivan Juric at Roma.

Juric is expected to be sacked by Roma after losing his fifth match from 12 on Sunday.

The Giallorossi crisis intensified with a home 3-2 loss against Bologna, and the Croatian tactician is expected to be sacked in the coming hours.

Mancini refuses to rule out replacing Juric at Roma – report

Several sources in Italy have claimed that Roma already contacted ex-Italy coach Mancini, and Sky correspondent Angelo Mangiante confirms that the former Italian striker is a concrete option for the Giallorossi’s bench.

Mangiante said live on TV on Sunday that he had texted Mancini and that the 59-year-old “didn’t say no” when asked whether he would accept an offer from Roma.

The Italian journalist added that the Giallorossi also sounded out some foreign coaches through the Los Angeles-based company Retexo Intelligence.

Roma lost four of the last five league games and sit 12th in the table with just 13 points.

Watch Sandro Tonali’s assist for Harvey Barnes in Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.

The Italy international didn’t start for the Magpies on Sunday but contributed to a 3-1 away victory after coming off the bench as a substitute at minute 69.

The ex-Milan star provided an assist, his first in the Premier League this season, for Barnes’ third and final goal in Nottingham.

Tonali will return to Italy in the coming hours, joining the Azzurri for Nations League games against Belgium and France next week.

Harvey Barnes adds a third for Newcastle! pic.twitter.com/OS9BE1xYN4

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 10, 2024

Kenan Yildiz dedicated his goal against Torino to his idol Alessandro Del Piero, and the ex-Juventus captain thanked the Turkish talent in an Instagram story.

Saturday was a special day for Juventus as their legendary striker Del Piero turned 50, and the Bianconeri beat city rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole at the Allianz Stadium.

Yildiz scored the second goal for the Bianconeri and dedicated it to his idol.

Del Piero thanked the new Juventus’ No.10 on Instagram.

“Thank you, great game and goal,” wrote the 2006 Italy World Cup winner, sharing Yildiz’s Instagram post.

Del Piero also thanked the Juventus fans who had wished him a happy birthday with three chants during the Turin derby.

Juventus right-back Nicolò Savona didn’t expect to receive his first Italy call-up: ‘I was at home and I couldn’t believe it.’

The 21-year-old will join Italy’s national team at Coverciano on Monday after receiving his first call-up at a senior level.

“I’m proud to wear the national team jersey. I was at home, and I couldn’t believe it. I was thrilled and pleased,” Savona said at a press conference attended by Football Italia on Saturday after Juventus’ 2-0 win over Torino.

“I feel good on the pitch. We’ve won two consecutive games without conceding. It was my first derby, and it made me feel great.”

Juventus defender didn’t expect first Italy call-up: ‘I was at home…’

Savona made his senior debut under new coach Motta in the opening Serie A game in August.

“We have improved in terms of playing style and maturity,” said the defender.

“Our new coach demands a different style, and it takes time to understand all the mechanisms. It’s a long way to go, but we’ll improve game by game.”

The 21-year-old has already scored two goals this term. Has he set a target for the 2024-25 season?

“Not really, because I didn’t expect such a strong start,” he admitted, smiling.

“I’ve already scored twice, and it will be hard to keep it up.”

Samuele Ricci is in doubt for the Nations League games that Italy will play against Belgium and France after both he and Ivan Ilic limped off for Torino this evening.

The Granata were playing at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin for the Derby della Mole against their arch rivals Juve.

Ilic went off during the half-time break and Sky Sport Italia report this was due to an adductor issue that the midfielder felt in his thigh.

Ricci adds to Torino and Italy injury concerns

The situation got even worse when Ricci went down in a coming together with Federico Gatti and had to leave the field with what appeared to be an ankle problem.

It remains to be seen how bad the damage is, but Ricci has to be a doubt now for the Italy games against Belgium and France next week.

Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri are in Brussels on November 14 to play Belgium, then host France at San Siro on Sunday November 17.

They need only one point to be sure of a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.

Torino really are in the midst of an injury crisis at the moment, as they went into the Juventus clash without Duvan Zapata, Che Adams, Zanos Savva, Perr Schuurs and Emirhan Ilkhan.

A blatant Federico Gatti foul on Torino keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic led to a tussle between Bianconeri and Granata before the half-time break.

Juventus and Torino players tussled after a foul of Gatti on Milinkovic-Savic in the first half of the derby della Mole in Turin at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

The Juventus defender didn’t look interested in the ball and pushed away the Torino shot-stopper as he came out of his goal to claim the ball from a corner kick.

Juventus and Torino players tussle after Gatti’s foul

Milinkovic-Savic vehemently confronted the Juventus defender, prompting all players to enter the Torino box to join the dispute.

It all ended quickly as Gatti apologised to Milinkovic-Savic, and both players avoided a yellow card from referee Simone Sozza.

Football Italia is among the accredited media at the Allianz Stadium tonight. You can follow the live action from the Turin derby in our dedicated Live blog.

Juventus were 1-0 up at the break thanks to a goal from Timothy Weah.

Atalanta are forced to do without Charles De Ketelaere for the first time this season, as he has picked up a muscular injury that should also rule him out of Belgium-Italy.

The former Milan attacking midfielder has been ever-present so far this term, a valuable tactical variant when Gianluca Scamacca has been out of action since the summer.

However, De Ketelaere has been diagnosed with a lesion to the femoral bicep in his left leg and will be out of action for a couple of weeks.

De Ketelaere setback

That means missing Sunday’s Serie A match against Udinese, as well as the Nations League showdown between Belgium and Italy in Brussels next week.

De Ketelaere contributed two goals and six assists in 16 games between Serie A, the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup.

Sead Kolasinac is also a major doubt after limping off during the 2-0 Champions League victory away to VfB Stuttgart, with Giorgio Scalvini and Scamacca long-term absentees.

Atalanta have won each of their last four competitive matches and are unbeaten in eight.