ISTANBUL (TURKEY) (ITALPRESS) – Vincenzo Italiano has been appointed as the new head coach of Beşiktaş.

The Turkish club officially announced the appointment on its website, stating that the former Fiorentina and Bologna manager has signed a contract that will keep him at the club until the end of the 2027–28 season.

“We are convinced that Mr. Italiano will make a significant contribution to our club. We welcome him to the Beşiktaş family and wish him every success,” the club said in an official statement.

Italiano arrives in Istanbul after successful spells in charge of Fiorentina and Bologna and now takes over one of Turkey’s most historic clubs.

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Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “Bernardo Silva would fit into any team. He’s simply too good.” Those were the words of Pep Guardiola, the former Manchester City manager who not only built a friendship with the Portuguese midfielder that goes beyond football, but also won every major trophy alongside him.

Spending a few days in Barcelona on holiday following his departure from City, the Catalan coach inaugurated a tennis court named in his honor at La Salle Manresa, the school he attended before joining Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.

The 31-year-old Portuguese international, now a free agent after his contract with City expired, has been linked with several clubs, including Barcelona, who are reportedly keen on signing him as well as Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, another player Guardiola previously coached at City.

“He’s also a very strong player,” Guardiola said briefly when asked about Álvarez.

Speaking about Barcelona, who ended the season by winning La Liga, Guardiola added: “The team is doing very well. Beyond the results, the last two seasons have been extraordinary because of the football they play. It’s a pleasure to watch them. I’m a great admirer of Hansi Flick and his way of working, and I hope he stays here for many years.”

Guardiola also joked about his own future and declined to comment on rumors linking him with the Italian national team under the federation’s new leadership.

“I’ll go back to studying at La Salle, where I studied as a child, and become a teacher,” he joked. “Managing a national team? I want to take a break for a while and then I’ll see what I want to do. Right now, I don’t even know myself.”

The Catalan coach also sought to reassure Barcelona supporters, many of whom struggled to accept the club’s Champions League quarter-final elimination despite winning La Liga. “Sometimes this competition can destroy projects, and in this case I hope that doesn’t happen,” Guardiola said. “We didn’t win it, but people shouldn’t think everything is negative because of that. Many factors come into play. You need to be in top form during the final stages, avoid injuries, and sometimes a single unfortunate incident or a refereeing mistake can change everything”.

“The important thing is that the day-to-day work remains positive, that the team continues to grow, and that people don’t think the season was a failure just because we didn’t reach or win the Champions League final. League titles are what lay the foundations for a successful season.”

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Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “The visas required for Iran to participate in the World Cup have been issued, including those for athletes and support staff.” This is the statement from US authorities, reported by the BBC, which definitively opens the door to “Team Melli”‘s participation in the World Cup, scheduled for June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Iran, which is in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, has changed its training camp established by FIFA, moving it from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. It will be from their Mexican headquarters that the team will travel to Los Angeles and Seattle, the venues for the group stage matches. The granting of the visas, intended only for players and members of the technical staff, comes just a few days before their debut in Italy scheduled for the night of June 15-16 (in Los Angeles against New Zealand).

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela received warm congratulations from several European leaders as he attended the European Union and Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday.

A video shared on Abela’s Facebook page showed him greeting and embracing fellow leaders upon arrival at the summit, which focused on strengthening cooperation between the EU and Western Balkan countries.

Leaders were heard congratulating the Maltese Prime Minister on his recent electoral success, with some asking for his advice after he noted that a fourth consecutive electoral victory in Malta was unprecedented.

Among those who briefly spoke with Abela were European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

In his first international summit after again winning the General Election, Prime Minister Abela said the stability of energy prices remains as Malta’s main advantage in times of geopolitical tension and international uncertainty.

During the summit, leaders discussed expanding cooperation with Western Balkan nations as part of broader efforts to address security and economic challenges linked to geopolitical tensions involving Russia and China.

Abela stressed the importance of dialogue and concrete partnerships to strengthen Europe’s security, stability and resilience.

He said ongoing conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Arabian Gulf, have increased the complexity of challenges facing the continent.

Abela reiterated Malta’s support for the Western Balkans’ path to EU membership, stating that accession should follow once all required reforms and membership criteria are fully met.

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Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Lamine Yamal had a star season with Barcelona, ​​being named La Liga’s best player for the 2025/2026 season. The young Blaugrana star led the team on a triumphant journey, culminating in the title victory with 94 points. An extraordinary result, thanks in part to the consistency of the youth team talent, who scored 16 goals and 12 assists in the league, decisive numbers for the tournament MVP award and the best assist-provider award. The Spanish international succeeds his teammate Raphinha.

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Source: medNews

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – Expectations are high for Neymar. The Santos striker is continuing to recover from a grade two injury to his left calf. He will miss tomorrow’s friendly against Egypt, but Carlo Ancelotti expects to have him back soon. The player will undergo an MRI scan on Monday to assess the progress of his recovery and, if the outcome is positive, Neymar will finally be able to train with his teammates in the following days. The goal is to have him available for the World Cup debut on June 13th against Morocco.

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Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has registered significant progress in its correctional system over the past 15 years, particularly in inmate support and rehabilitation services at the Corradino Correctional Facility, according to a senior Council of Europe official.

Hugh Chetwynd, Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), made the remarks during a conference being held in Malta on correctional facilities across Europe.

For two days, Malta is hosting directors of correctional institutions and probation services from 46 Council of Europe member states to discuss challenges facing prison populations, including elderly inmates, women and foreign nationals.

Chetwynd said Malta has made substantial strides in modernising its correctional framework and strengthening rehabilitation programmes that help prisoners prepare for life after release.

He noted that the support currently provided at Corradino demonstrates “real improvement” and described Malta as a country that can offer valuable lessons and good practices to other European prison systems.

At the same time, he stressed the importance of investing in housing and employment opportunities for former inmates, warning that homelessness and unemployment increase the risk of reoffending.

Correctional Services Agency CEO Christopher Siegersma said Malta’s prisons continue to evolve through educational and social initiatives tailored to inmates’ needs. He noted that the Corradino facility houses around 750 prisoners, about half of whom are foreign nationals.

Siegersma added that growing awareness of vulnerable groups, including transgender women and foreign inmates facing cultural and communication barriers, has helped shape a more responsive correctional system.

He described the conference as an opportunity for member states to exchange best practices and further strengthen rehabilitation and reintegration efforts across Europe.

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Source: medNews

BARCELONA (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Having parted ways with Lewandowski, Barcelona continues to search for a striker. Julian Álvarez remains their dream, but the Blaugrana are a coveted destination for several players. According to “Sport,” Victor Osimhen has been offered to Barça by several intermediaries. However, this is likely to remain a transfer possibility because, while recognizing the former Napoli player’s value, currently at Galatasaray, he isn’t the striker Deco is targeting.

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Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Roberto De Zerbi has received a highly experienced signing. Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced the signing of Andy Robertson, “a leader on and off the pitch, the decorated captain of the Scottish national team, who will join the club on July 1st, when his contract with Liverpool expires.” These are the words with which Spurs announced the arrival of the full-back, who left Anfield after nine years.

“Andy is a player I have admired for years, and he will bring exceptional technical ability, experience, leadership, and mentality to our team,” said Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi. “He is a proven winner at the highest level for a long time and can be a key element for us, both on and off the pitch. I can’t wait to start working with him and see the positive impact he will have on everyone around him.”

He won everything with Liverpool, and now he’s preparing to captain Scotland at the World Cup, before embarking on a new adventure with Tottenham. In the past there had also been talk of Juventus’ interest in the defender, born in 1994.

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Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – While one candidate continues to promise the arrivals of Haaland and Rodri despite repeated denials, the other avoids naming names but raises the stakes. Taking a slightly different approach from rival Enrique Riquelme, veteran Florentino Pérez is confident of being re-elected as Real Madrid president on Sunday.

“On Tuesday, I will submit an offer to a Champions League club. I will put forward the highest transfer fee ever paid by Real Madrid for a player. It will be at least €150 million,” said the club’s current president.

Pérez ruled out four potential targets, although one of them, according to Madrid-based newspaper As, should not be completely dismissed.

“It is not Olise, who is a great player, but it is not him. It is not Doku, it is not Haaland, it is not Kane, and he does not play in the Premier League. We are talking about a true Galáctico.”

According to As, the mystery signing could be one of three players: Michael Olise of Bayern Munich, Vitinha of Paris Saint-Germain, or João Neves, also of PSG. The latter two are Portuguese, like José Mourinho.

The other Madrid daily, Marca, rules out Olise and believes the shortlist consists solely of Vitinha and João Neves.

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Source: medNews