Italy

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday he is not interested in a European Super League amid reports that some elite clubs were in talks to set up a breakaway competition with the backing of the global soccer body.

In an interview published by German-language newspaper Aargauer Zeitung and other regional Swiss media, Infantino said FIFA was focused on the success of the revamped Club World Cup, which will feature 24 teams and be held for the first time in China in 2022.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic caught Covid-19 in September and turned 39 on Oct. 3. Neither has slowed him down one bit.

I tested negative to Covid yesterday and positive today. No symptoms what so ever. Covid had the courage to challenge me. Bad idea

— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) September 24, 2020

Napoli hosting Atalanta was always going to produce plenty of goals, with two of Italy’s most electric offenses meeting at the San Paolo Stadium on Saturday. We just didn’t think they’d all be from one club in the first half, including two Chucky Lozano goals vs Atalanta.

MILAN — Cristiano Ronaldo became involved in a public row with Italy's sports minister on Friday as the pair indirectly accused each other of lying over whether the Portugal international had broken health rules after testing positive for COVID-19.

Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday the Juventus forward might have infringed the rules by flying back to Italy from national team duty in Portugal after he tested positive for the virus earlier this week.

But in a social media post on Friday, Ronaldo hit back and said he had done everything by the book.

Inter Milan are facing a difficult build up to their Serie A meeting against neighbors AC Milan on Saturday with six players sidelined through COVID-19 and others returning from a hectic seven days of international football.

Both teams are unbeaten so far and have suggested that they are ready to challenge Juventus for the title. Milan, in particular, have looked impressive, winning all three games without conceding a goal and stretching their unbeaten run to 19 matches in all competitions.

MILAN — Napoli has been handed a 3-0 defeat and had one point deducted for failing to play their Serie A match away to Juventus which was abandoned earlier this month amid confusion over Italian soccer's COVID-19 rules.

Napoli did not travel to Turin for the match on Oct 4., saying their local health authority (ASL) had told the players to stay at home after two members of their squad tested positive for COVID-19.

Serie A turned down Napoli's request to call the game off, resulting in bizarre scenes at the Allianz stadium.

Serie A champions Juventus have sent their squad into isolation after midfielder Weston McKennie tested positive for COVID-19, the Turin club said in a statement on Wednesday.

However, Juventus, who made the announcement after forward Cristiano Ronaldo tested positive while with the Portugal national team, made it clear that training and matches would continue as normal for players who continue to test negative.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini fumed over the state of the pitch after his team were held to a 0-0 draw away to Poland in the Nations League on Sunday.

After a glaring miss by Federico Chiesa early in the game, Italy struggled to create chances and managed only three shots on target despite enjoying 60% of possession. Even so, Italy extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches as they stayed top of League A Group One with five points from three games. The Netherlands and Poland have four each and Bosnia two.