Italy's Call for Maldini and Conte's World Cup Vision

Italian football stands at one of those crossroads it knows only too well. A national team on the outside of a World Cup looking in, a federation searching for identity, and a familiar surname emerging as the proposed answer: Maldini.

Maldini, the captain in the shadows

La Gazzetta dello Sport frames it bluntly: a captain is required. The Italian federation is pressing for Paolo Maldini, the former Milan pillar, as the man to reshape the technical and youth sectors of the national setup.

This is not a ceremonial role. The idea is to hand Maldini full power over the sporting direction of Italy’s future – from the senior side’s philosophy down through the youth ranks. A single line of command. One footballing idea.

For a country wrestling with “what we missed out on” at the World Cup, the symbolism is powerful. A defender who embodied authority, elegance and continuity now being asked to rebuild those same qualities in a fractured system.

Conte, four years on the table

Alongside Maldini’s potential arrival sits another major piece of the puzzle: Antonio Conte.

There is a four-year offer on the table for the former Juventus, Chelsea and Inter coach, a contract designed to carry Italy through to the next World Cup cycle. It is a long, demanding project, not a quick fix. Conte would be tasked with restoring intensity, structure and identity to a national side that has watched Switzerland top their group and Canada qualify with four points.

The pairing is intriguing. Maldini as the overarching architect, Conte as the touchline force. Two strong personalities, two clear footballing ideas. If the federation closes the deal, Italy would hand the keys of its future to two men who know exactly what pressure feels like – and have a record of thriving under it.

Vinicius lights up Brazil, Ancelotti cruises

While Italy agonises, Brazil accelerates.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil overwhelmed Scotland to take first place, powered by a brace from Vinicius. Carletto’s star sliced through the game, his two goals underlining the difference in class and confidence. Cunha added a third, and then came the moment the crowd wanted: Neymar stepping onto the pitch.

Brazil look like a team with layers. Vinicius carrying the spark, Cunha offering end product, Neymar still the reference point. Ancelotti, calm as ever, has turned a squad of stars into a side that plays with control and bite.

Morocco, Switzerland, Canada: the margins Italy feels

Elsewhere, the fine lines that define tournaments played out.

Morocco beat Haiti but still finished second, a reminder that victory alone doesn’t always dictate the story of a group. Switzerland struck a blow against Canada and finished first, yet the Canadians still squeezed through with four points. Those are the details that gnaw at Italian minds: this could have been them, managing margins, handling pressure, living the tension of qualification instead of watching it.

Jürgen Klopp, watching the spectacle from a distance, summed up the contradiction: too many games, but it is a show. In that show, Norway and Japan emerged as surprises, adding another layer of regret for a nation that sees opportunities everywhere it is not.

Transfers and power plays: Inter, Como and the market game

Back home, the club game never sleeps.

At Inter, a key decision is looming around Paz. Corriere dello Sport reports that Marotta wants to make up for the disappointment suffered at Palestra, with a decisive meeting scheduled in Madrid. Inter have moved ahead, while Como are trying to stay in the race.

Oaktree, Inter’s financial backbone, has shifted strategy. The 50 million initially set aside for the Atalanta full-back have been redirected toward Nico. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, however, is asking for 60. The negotiation is live, tense, and today Como sporting director Carlalberto Ludi will sit down with Real as well. Cesc Fàbregas, now one of the minds behind Como’s project, is hoping for a fresh loan deal to keep the dream alive.

Juventus, Dibu and a tug of war

In Turin, Juventus are pushing and pulling on several fronts.

The club is locked in a tug of war over Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, the Aston Villa goalkeeper. His name sits alongside that of Randal Kolo Muani in the Juventus notebook, as Carnevali exerts his influence on the market dynamics.

Tuttosport highlights another opening: Mile Svilar. The Roma goalkeeper has become a serious alternative to Martínez. Roma need to raise 50 million before June 30. With the right offer, doors could open. A transfer summit with Italy coach Luciano Spalletti is also on the agenda, as Juventus weigh the Cambiaso–Frattesi swap once more and even consider challenging Inter for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones.

The obstacle? None of the players deemed surplus in Turin seem inclined to leave. The market strategy is clear; the human factor is not cooperating.

De Laurentiis sketches a new Napoli

In Naples, Aurelio De Laurentiis is back from the United States and already sketching the contours of a new Napoli.

The club awaits the official announcement on Massimiliano Allegri, a move that would send a shockwave through Serie A. Work continues on Gila and Khalali, with a sliver of hope still alive for Guglielmo Vicario. Napoli want a reset that still carries ambition, not a retreat.

Milan and Jackson: the road opens

At Milan, the path toward Nicolas Jackson has cleared.

The Senegalese centre-forward will not be redeemed by Bayern, and Chelsea are open to finding a new solution. That alignment of interests creates a straight line between Jackson and Milan. For a club seeking dynamism and depth in attack, the opportunity is obvious.

Roma hold their ground: Svilar, Wesley, Dybala

Roma, for their part, have drawn a firm line.

Two Premier League offers for goalkeeper Svilar and wing-back Wesley have been rejected. The message is clear: Roma will not be bullied into cashing in on key assets, even with that 50 million target looming.

There is another twist in the capital. Paulo Dybala, often linked with exits and clauses, is now moving toward a renewal. A turnaround that stabilises Roma’s attacking core and gives the club a foundation to build around.

Modric, the icon, hits 200

Beyond Italy’s borders, one of the game’s greats hit another milestone.

Luka Modric played his 200th match for Croatia, celebrated with a victory. The former Serie A forward Ante Budimir sank Panama, but the night belonged to Modric. An icon, a record man, a player whose influence on his national team stretches across eras.

A defender from Ghana who stopped Kane

Tuttosport also shines a light on an unexpected story: Adjetey, the Wolfsburg defender from Ghana.

Described as a “painter” on the pitch, he left Harry Kane in his wake, a performance that has ignited his dream of playing in Italy. In a market obsessed with big names, these are the profiles that can quietly reshape squads and seasons.

The World Cup mirror

As Bosnia win to keep their hopes alive and Switzerland strike a blow against Canada, the World Cup continues to act as a mirror for Italy.

On one side, nations seizing their chance, rewriting their histories. On the other, a football giant searching for a new captain, a new coach, a new idea.

Maldini and Conte stand there, at the edge of that future. The question is no longer whether Italy needs them. It is whether Italy is ready to hand them the power to change everything.