ROME (ITALPRESS) – Neymar’s return to Santos will have to wait a little longer. The Brazilian club’s president, Marcelo Teixeira, has announced that the 33-year-old striker, currently injured, will not be available until November. The Brazilian star is therefore expected to play only in the final matchdays of the season, scheduled until December 6th and 7th, which are crucial for the team fighting to avoid relegation.

The former Barcelona and PSG player suffered a tear to the femoral muscle in his right thigh during training in mid-September. Doctors estimate approximately six weeks of rehabilitation before a return to competitive activity. Since returning to Santos at the beginning of the year, Neymar has been hampered by various physical issues that have limited his performance: he has made 21 league appearances so far, scoring six goals. Santos’ medical staff remains confident that the player will be fully recovered by the end of the season.

For Neymar, the immediate goal is to return to help the club in the race to avoid relegation, with the prospect of regaining a place in the Selecao as well.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

NAPLES (ITALPRESS) – Romelu Lukaku has lost his father. The Belgian striker of Napoli himself shared the news of Roger’s passing in a moving post on Instagram: “Thank you for teaching me everything I know. I will always be grateful to you and will always look up to you.Life will never be the same. You protected and guided me like no one else could. I will never be the same. Now there is pain and tears, but God will give me the strength to get back on my feet.”

Napoli also expressed condolences to the player: “President Aurelio De Laurentiis, vice president Edoardo De Laurentiis, coach Antonio Conte, sporting director Giovanni Manna, the board, the staff, the squad and the entire Napoli family stand by Romelu Lukaku in this moment of deep sorrow for the loss of his dear father Roger.”

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Players which competed in the FIFA Club World Cup after their domestic league season are among hundreds at the top of men’s football who lack adequate offseason or preseason periods, increasing risks to player health and performance, according to the annual FIFPRO Player Workload Monitoring Report published in collaboration with Football Benchmark. Maheta Molango, FIFPRO board member, said: “This report gives you the factual evidence of what is happening in football. Players are either getting injured or not being able to perform at their best because they are pushed to their limit.”

Chelsea and PSG, the two Club World Cup finalists, had just 13 and 7 days, respectively, for the preseason. According to the study on minimum standards for protecting player workload, it is recommended that players be given 28 days off and another 28 for preparation.

– foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Around fifty top athletes, united under the initiative of Nujum Sports, have signed a petition published on the independent platform Athletes 4 Peace. In the document, released yesterday, the signatories urge Israel’s immediate suspension from all international sporting competitions until, it states, the country “complies with international law and puts an end to the massacre of civilians and the spread of famine.”

The text highlights how, according to the athletes, sports bodies have “a duty to take action against teams representing a country accused by a United Nations commission of committing genocide.” The initiators clarify that this is not a political initiative, but an appeal based on the principles of “justice, humanity, and respect for the values ​​that sport claims to defend.”

Among the fifty signatories are several well-known names in international football. In particular, former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, currently at Monaco, has openly expressed his support. He is also joined by Moroccan Hakim Ziyech, who previously played for Ajax and Chelsea, former Bordeaux striker Cheick Diabaté, and Crystal Palace and former Lens midfielder Cheick Doucouré.

-Photo IPA Agency-
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Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “There’s a bit of emotion. It’s my first experience in the Champions League as a coach. We’re returning to Europe’s premier competition after three years, and we’re particularly interested in doing well in front of our fans. Mourinho as an opponent? He made history in the Champions League, with Inter, in England, and in Portugal.” This was what Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca told Sky Sport on the eve of the Champions League first-round match against Benfica. “The last two games have been affected by two red cards. We have several players injured. We need to evaluate three of them. We’ll see,” Maresca added.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s second electricity interconnector with Sicily has reached a crucial stage, with 65% of its land cable manufacturing completed, the Maltese government confirmed.

The 122 million project will connect Ragusa in southern Sicily to Maghtab on Malta’s east coast through 21 kilometres of land cable and 99 kilometres of subsea cable. When completed, the 225MW high-voltage AC line will provide nearly one-third of Malta’s peak summer demand, according to Interconnect Malta CEO Ismail D’Amato. “This interconnector represents our commitment to making Malta’s energy sector more resilient and sustainable,” Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said during a visit to works in Sicily. She described the project as central to Malta’s long-term energy strategy and its push for cleaner power generation.

Co-financed by the EU’s 2021-2027 European Regional Development Fund, the new cable will double Malta’s electricity interconnection capacity with Europe. Italian contractors SELT have completed 15% of the land-based works in Sicily, while French group Nexans is producing the subsea cable in Charleston, USA. The submarine line will be buried up to 175 metres below sea level and will include fibre optic strands for enhanced monitoring. Once operational by late 2026, the project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 13.5 million tonnes and deliver Ç712 million in long-term economic benefits.

European Funds Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi called it Malta’s largest ERDF-funded project, saying it would guarantee “a secure, resilient and sustainable energy future”. The new interconnector follows the first Malta-Sicily link built in 2015. That 200MW cable ended Malta’s energy isolation but will be switched off temporarily next year for upgrades needed to connect the second line.

– photo DOI –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has pledged that next month’s budget will introduce “unprecedented” measures to ensure that financial pressures do not discourage Maltese families from having children.

Speaking during an interview, Abela said the government’s aim was to empower people “to have as many children as they wish,” stressing that the state must step in when financial obstacles hold families back. The pledge comes amid growing debate about Malta’s low birth rate, with concerns that rising living costs are discouraging larger families. Abela hinted that the upcoming budget will include significant new investment to address these concerns, but he gave no details of the measures being considered. The prime minister underlined that the budget would also cater for families hoping to have three children, saying it would help them “fulfil their wish”.

The opposition Nationalist Party has proposed a new tax band for parents with more than one child, arguing that raising a child costs between Ç7,000 and Ç9,000 per year. Abela did not indicate whether this idea forms part of the government’s plans, insisting instead that people should “not feel constrained” when making family choices. Details of how the government intends to deliver on its promise are expected to be revealed when the budget is presented next month.

– photo Malta Laburist Party –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – More bad news for Real Madrid after their derby defeat. Dani Carvajal, who picked up an injury in the 40th minute following a challenge with Nico Gonzalez but stayed on until the 59th, underwent tests that revealed a soleus muscle injury in his right leg.

He is expected to be sidelined for 4–5 weeks, meaning Xabi Alonso will be without him for at least two Champions League matches, including the one against Juventus at the Bernabéu (October 22), as well as two LaLiga fixtures, against Villarreal and Getafe. Real’s hope is to have Carvajal back in time for the Clásico against Barcelona on October 26.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Thanks to the royal vision, Morocco has made energy transition a strategic choice,” said Youssef Balla, Morocco’s Ambassador to Italy.

Speaking at a roundtable held this past weekend as part of FestMed in Olbia, Sardinia, on the theme “Shared Challenges and Interests in the Mediterranean: Energy, Tourism and Connectivity,” Ambassador Balla underlined Morocco’s central role in helping transform the Mediterranean into a space of opportunity, innovation, and shared prosperity in the 21st century.

He highlighted “major structuring projects, among the most important in the world at both national and regional levels,” carried out by Morocco, such as the Noor solar complex and the wind farms in Tarfaya and Tangier. Currently, around 42% of Morocco’s energy mix is green, with the goal of reaching 52% by 2030. The Ambassador also stressed Morocco’s ambition in the field of green hydrogen, with a roadmap that foresees producing 14 TWh by 2030 and launching six large-scale projects worth a total of €30 billion. He noted that, thanks to its geographical position and competitive costs, the Kingdom is well positioned to become a natural supplier for Europe. In the same spirit, he cited the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project—spanning more than 5,600 km and crossing 13 countries—as a strategic corridor serving energy security, South-South cooperation, and regional geopolitical stability.

Turning to tourism, he emphasised Morocco’s unique offering, which combines imperial cities, the Sahara, mountains, and coastlines, while also expanding into new segments such as medical, digital, and film tourism. The 2030 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted with Spain and Portugal, will, in his view, be a historic opportunity to enhance the attractiveness and visibility of the entire Mediterranean region. In this context, Ambassador Balla called for the adoption of a Mediterranean Charter for sustainable and responsible tourism that preserves the region’s shared heritage.

On the issue of connectivity, he pointed to the success of the Tanger Med port, now the leading port in Africa and the Mediterranean with 10 million containers handled annually, as well as key infrastructure projects including the Morocco-Spain underwater tunnel and the Euro-African digital highway.

He concluded by urging that the Mediterranean be seen as “a resource that unites us” rather than a space of division, stressing the need for cooperative responses to common challenges such as climate change, irregular migration, and geopolitical tensions.
“Morocco is ready to work with all its partners to make the Mediterranean basin a space for dialogue, innovation, and shared prosperity,” he said, underscoring the need for a pragmatic Mediterranean agenda and a fair partnership built on three pillars: Africa, the Mediterranean, and Europe.

– Photo Embassy of Morocco in Italy –

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Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Qatar will host the final three matches of the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup: “the Derby of the Americas and the Challenger Cup, followed by the showcase match against PSG to crown the champions,” announced FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Instagram.

“This wonderful country has been an excellent host of major FIFA tournaments in the past and will once again bring the world together by welcoming teams from four continents,” Infantino said.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews