LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – The Serie A season is about to begin, but most likely not for Noah Okafor, who is on the verge of leaving AC Milan. The Swiss player is close to joining Leeds, according to the Daily Mail. A four-year deal is reportedly already in place, while Milan is said to be paying around 13.5 million pounds (just over 15.6 million euros) for the 25-year-old.

According to the British press, Everton and Arsenal were also interested in the player, but Leeds (yesterday they beat the Toffees in their Premier League debut thanks to an 84th-minute penalty from Nmecha) are ready to close the deal.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Electricity imported through the Malta-Sicily interconnector accounted for 32.4% of Malta’s power supply in 2024, up from 22.9% the previous year, according to figures released by Enemalta, the national energy provider. The increase reflects higher demand driven by rising temperatures, stronger economic activity, and planned maintenance at the Delimara 4 gas-fired plant, which limited local generation. Most imported power continued to come from natural gas (66.5%), while renewables made up just 8% of imports—a slight rise from 7.3% in 2023. Coal still represented 11.9%, down from 22.8% the previous year, while nuclear, petroleum products and other fuels made up the rest.

Overall, 60% of Malta’s electricity was locally generated in 2024, mainly from natural gas, compared to 69.1% in 2023. Renewables supplied 7.3% of the total, with petroleum products contributing just 0.3%. Enemalta noted that Malta has no control over the mix of imported electricity, since renewable energy certificates in Europe are traded separately from actual supply. To strengthen security and prepare for offshore wind integration, Malta is building a second interconnector to Sicily, with production of the subsea cable already underway in Norway and the US. The project is expected to help stabilise the grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, while ensuring supply continuity in the event of cable damage.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Fifa will consider holding the Club World Cup every two years from 2029 in a move that would put more pressure on the international calendar, according to “The Guardian”. The next Club World Cup is due to take place in four years time, following the first expanded 32-team tournament held in the US this summer, but the world governing body is under pressure from leading clubs to make it a biennial event.

Real Madrid raised the issue during talks with the Infantino-led body in Miami last June, finding support from other clubs that failed to qualify, including Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Napoli. FIFA sources told the Guardian that, although the idea of holding the Club World Cup in 2027 is not being considered, it is likely that the situation will change after 2029. There is therefore the possibility of holding a Club World Cup in 2031.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – “The rejection of the request to postpone the match against Osasuna? We would have liked to receive that kind of support, especially for the players’ health. We only had two weeks, but there are no excuses. The team can play tomorrow. Heart and desire sometimes push harder than legs.” Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso said this in a press conference on the eve of the match against Osasuna, regarding La Liga’s refusal to postpone the debut of the blancos, fresh from their efforts at the Club World Cup.

“These have been two short but intense weeks, and we can’t wait to set foot at the Bernabéu. We want to start well. The first match is always important,” the coach added. “We are making progress. It’s difficult to measure, but I’m sure we can still improve. We’ve already introduced the main ideas and fundamentals at the Club World Cup and have been working on them over the last two weeks. The feeling is good,” said Xabi Alonso. And about the refereeing controversy: “We’ll see how things go. Hopefully we won’t have to talk about the referees,” concluded Xabi Alonso.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Roma have made progress in the race for Jadon Sancho. The Giallorossi are advancing in negotiations, but—according to TEAMtalk—the deal with the player is far from being finalized. United have verbally accepted an offer from Roma for the winger, reportedly worth around €25 million, but negotiations with the 25-year-old will not be easy.

Sancho has a contract for another season at nearly €300,000 a week and wouldn’t be too keen on missing out on next season’s Champions League. Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini, meanwhile, is personally trying to convince him. Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Besiktas, and Atletico Madrid are also interested in Sancho, and they continue to monitor developments closely.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – “It is unacceptable that incidents occurred during two German Cup matches in Germany. Racism or any form of discrimination has no place in football,“ FIFA President Gianni Infantino posted on social media, commenting on the weekend’s events. Infantino stated that FIFA’s Players’ Voice Panel will be in contact with the German Football Association.

“All of us, the Players’ Voice Panel, and the entire football community stand firmly with all those affected by these events: we are committed to ensuring that players are respected and protected and that competition organizers and law enforcement authorities take appropriate action,” Infantino added.

There were two alleged incidents of racism: one involving Schalke 04’s Antwi-Adjei in the match against Lokomotive Leipzig, and the other during the match between RSV Eintracht and Kaiserslautern. Incidents which – among other things – occurred two days after Bournemouth striker Antoine Semenyo reported being insulted against Liverpool.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MANCHESTER (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – The goalkeeping issue is still a hot topic at Manchester United. For the opening matchday of the Premier League against Arsenal, André Onana, formerly of Inter Milan, was left out of manager Ruben Amorim’s squad. Bayindir was chosen to defend the Red Devils’ goal, with Heaton on the bench.

Now, however, according to The Sun, the English club is considering a possible return of David de Gea, currently playing for Fiorentina. The Spanish goalkeeper has a release clause in his contract with Fiorentina, which could allow him to return to United at a discounted price, but that’s only one option. Also in the background is the possibility of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is leaving PSG.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – An online fundraiser has been launched to help bring home the body of Maichol Di Nunzio, a 21-year-old Italian tourist who died following a motorcycle crash in Pembroke. Di Nunzio, from Primavalle near Rome, was riding his Kymco Agility motorbike when he crashed into a concrete barrier on Triq Sant’ Andrija early Thursday morning.

Despite doctors’ efforts, he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. Friends remember him as “full of life and always cheerful,” a young man who spread warmth even though his own life had been marked by hardship. He and his sister Aurora were raised in a foster home from the age of nine, growing inseparable as they leaned on each other through difficult times.

“Now it is Aurora who must face the repatriation of her brother’s body to Italy,” said fundraiser organiser Desire Di Francesco. “She does not have the means to carry this burden alone.” The appeal has struck a chord with hundreds. By Monday morning, over 600 donors had contributed more than €29,710—more than half the target. Messages accompanying the donations speak of solidarity, compassion, and the desire to help Aurora give her brother a dignified farewell.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – Gigio Donnarumma continues to be a stranger at home. Predictably, the Italian goalkeeper was left out of the squad for today’s match against Nantes. With his contract expiring in June and sidelined by Luis Enrique, who prefers the newly arrived Chevalier, Donnarumma recently effectively said goodbye to PSG via social media.

It remains to be seen where he will continue his career: Manchester City remains the most likely destination should Ederson leave. The Brazilian goalkeeper missed yesterday’s Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, officially due to gastroenteritis.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews