MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Most likely, at the end of the season, Robert Lewandowski will leave Barcelona. The 37-year-old Polish striker’s contract is set to expire, and according to Catalan media, the club does not intend to offer him a renewal. However, the doors of Old Trafford could open for Lewandowski.

Despite having invested heavily in attacking options last summer — including Cunha, Mbeumo, and Šeško — Manchester United would not want to miss the opportunity to sign the Polish goal-scorer on a free transfer, even if he’s no longer in his prime. According to the Daily Star, Lewandowski would welcome a final dance in the Premier League, as he has never hidden his desire to experience English football.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “It’s a European Clasico.” That’s how Xabi Alonso describes Real Madrid vs. Juventus, the match valid for the third round of the Champions League. And indeed, it’s a clash that has written pages of European football history, delivering goals, emotions, but also tension and controversy.

“We’re talking about a match between two clubs that have faced each other many times – I’ve played in some of those matches myself,” recalled the Spanish coach during the press conference. “We’re coming into this very well prepared. We want to get our third win out of three in the Champions League, and to do that, we need to start on the right foot. The support of the Bernabeu will also be essential, and I know it’ll be there, because people are eager to witness big matches, and it’s up to us to give them the emotions they’re looking for.”

Xabi Alonso is fully aware that Juventus are coming off a defeat to Como, coached by his former national teammate, Cesc Fabregas. “Como played a great match, very well prepared by Fabregas. But we’re expecting a different Juve – a team we know well,” said Xabi Alonso, who also praised Nico Paz: “He made a very smart decision last year; now is not the time to think about the future.”

He then turned his focus back to tomorrow’s match. “We have to be very careful with this match against Juventus. We know that any team can be dangerous, and history tells us that as well. Juve is a great team — they are today and they have been in the past. They have many excellent players, and Yildiz is one of them. I know him, and I’ve seen how impressively he has grown. He was at Bayern Munich when I was there, and seeing his progress makes me happy,” Xabi Alonso explained.

“Beyond individual players, Juventus is a very strong team tactically. They are capable of breaking the balance of opposing sides. We will need to manage possession well and play the type of match we want to play.”

Xabi Alonso, who will be without Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Carvajal, also responded to a question about a historical encounter — the 2017 Champions League final in Cardiff, where Zidane’s Real beat Juventus 4–1.

“Zizou surely remembers it more clearly than I do, but I remember that Real dominated from start to finish and played an extraordinary match. I have great respect for Zidane,” said Xabi Alonso.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Following a request for cooperation from the Maltese SAR Authority, the Italian Coast Guard vessel Dattilo – CP940 has completed operations to recover bodies at sea. Seven bodies were recovered in total — belonging to one man, five women, and one minor.

The operations were coordinated by the Maltese Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, after an Italian Coast Guard aircraft reported during the night between October 16 and 17 a capsized boat with migrants clinging to the hull. Initial rescue efforts involved a passing merchant ship and an Italian Coast Guard patrol boat, which rescued 11 people and recovered one body.

Search operations were also carried out by Maltese aircraft, the European Agency Frontex, and the Italian Guardia di Finanza. Despite continuous monitoring of the wreck by Coast Guard vessels and divers, the recovery operations took several days due to particularly adverse weather and sea conditions, which repeatedly forced the suspension of activities to ensure the safety of personnel involved.

– Photo Coast Guard press office –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s annual inflation rate declined in September, contrasting with an upward trend across the European Union, according to data from Eurostat and the National Statistics Office.

Figures compiled through the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) show Malta’s inflation stood at 2.4%, down from 2.7% in August. Across the EU, inflation increased from 2.4% to 2.6%, while the euro area average rose from 2% to 2.2%.

This means Malta’s rate now sits below the EU average but remains slightly above the euro area mean.

The highest inflation levels were recorded in Romania (8.6%), Estonia (5.3%), and Croatia and Slovakia (4.6%), while Cyprus (0%), France (1.1%), and Italy and Greece (1.8%) registered the lowest.

Inflation fell in eight member states, including Malta, was stable in four, and rose in fifteen.

The NSO said the main upward pressures came from restaurants and hotels (0.66 percentage points), followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.61pp), and miscellaneous goods and services (0.28pp).

The HICP tracks consumer prices across 12 categories but notably excludes owner-occupied housing, a sector that has seen sharp price rises in Malta.

– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela participated in the MED9 summit in Portorož, Slovenia — the first to be held under the Slovenian Presidency. The summit brought together leaders from nine Mediterranean EU member states to discuss Europe’s economic competitiveness, energy and climate policy, and developments in the Middle East, particularly the situation in Gaza.

During a joint press conference, Prime Minister Abela stressed Malta’s commitment to pushing the European Union to strengthen competitiveness within the single market while safeguarding security of supply and citizens’ economic interests.

He highlighted Malta’s unique challenges as an island nation heavily dependent on imports, noting that the country remains unconnected to the European gas grid. Abela reaffirmed his intention to continue advocating for better energy connectivity and supply security for Malta and Gozo.

Abela pointed to Malta’s success in stabilising energy prices through subsidies as an example of balancing ecological transition with the protection of families and businesses.

He also called for climate policies that do not place excessive burdens on citizens and businesses, particularly in island states.

Abela said he will raise these issues at the upcoming European Council meeting in Brussels, where he will advocate for stronger protection of European industries and the competitiveness of the single market.

The MED9 summit, now in its 12th edition, also featured European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and King Abdallah II of Jordan, who addressed the leaders on the need for peace and stability in the Middle East.

– Photo DOI –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Justice Minister Carlo Nordio this morning received his Saudi counterpart, Waleed bin Mohammed Al-Smaani. The meeting, requested by the Saudi side, served as an opportunity to sign a protocol on judicial cooperation between the two countries. “We view the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Italy from a strategic perspective, which naturally includes collaboration in the field of justice,” said Minister Al-Smaani at the end of the meeting. “We hope that following today’s signing, we can further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the judicial sector.” Minister Nordio, accepting an official invitation to visit Saudi Arabia in the near future, remarked: “Mutual understanding is the best way to strengthen our cooperation. The exchange of ideas is not only an exchange of information but also of sentiments.”

– photo Ministry of Justice –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NOTTINGHAM (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Sean Dyche is the new manager of Nottingham Forest. This is the choice of global head of football, Edu Gaspar, and global technical director, George Syrianos, according to a statement from the English club. The former Forest youth player replaces Ange Postecoglu, who was fired last Saturday and hired 39 days earlier to replace Espirito Santo.

Dyche has signed a contract until June 2027 and will referee his first match on Thursday evening, in the Europa League match against Porto. The former Everton manager was chosen from a number of candidates contacted, including former Italy coach Roberto Mancini.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BAYERN MUNICH. KOMPANY RENEWS CONTRACT UNTIL 2029 MUNICH (GERMANY) (ITALPRESS) – Victor Kompany will lead Bayern Munich until June 30, 2029. The Bavarian club announced the renewal of the Belgian coach’s previous contract, which tied him to the club until 2027. A two-year extension, a sign of appreciation and a reward after winning the Bundesliga and German Super Cup since his arrival last season.

“I’m grateful to the club, honored by this renewal, and I’d like to thank Bayern for the trust and the working environment they’ve shown me since day one. I feel like I’ve been here much longer and know the club well. So far, it’s been a fantastic experience; we’ve started a wonderful journey. We continue to work hard and celebrate many more successes,” said the former defender.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – The club has finally made the decision that puts an end to a matter that has been dragging on for days. Maccabi Tel Aviv has decided not to have its fans present for the November 6 match against Aston Villa in Birmingham, which is part of the fourth round of the Europa League.

The Israeli club explained that it canceled the ticket sales phase for its fans due to “security reasons.” This decision comes after a series of bans and backtracking by the authorities involved, but Maccabi has decided to avoid any possible risk, fearing repeat incidents like those that occurred last year in Amsterdam during a match against Ajax, where Israeli fans were attacked by Dutch fans.

The club states that it “welcomes the efforts of the British government and law enforcement,” but prefers to avoid any possible risk, hoping “that circumstances will change and that in the near future we can play in Birmingham in a sporting atmosphere.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – No January arrivals. During the shareholders’ meeting, Barcelona president Joan Laporta ruled out the possibility of the club returning to the transfer market during the winter transfer window, although Gavi’s injury frees up investment opportunities of between €9 million and €16 million.

Barça’s priority was to secure their squad (Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha, Koundé, Gavi, Araujo, Cubarsí, De Jong, and Gerard Martin all signed new contracts in recent months) and avoid selling their star players, as was the case with Chelsea’s refusal to sign Fermin. The worst they could do is sell Ter Stegen, who, with Garcia and Szczesny in the squad, could ask to play elsewhere upon his return from injury ahead of the World Cup.

-Foto IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews