Luciano Spalletti Looking To Invite Young Juventus Talent As Tonali Opts For Plea Bargain
Written By Onyeka Daniel
It is almost confirmed that Italy will be without the services of Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo if they manage to qualify for the Euro 2024 tournament and the coach of the Azurri, Luciano Spalletti is already looking at possible replacement.
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The former Napoli manager has acknowledged that he is contemplating a call-up for Juventus loanee Matias Soule. Although the young player was born and raised in Argentina, he possesses Italian heritage and an Italian passport, which makes him eligible to represent the Italian national team.
Italy has been closely monitoring Soule for some time and has been impressed with his performances in Serie A. The talented player is spending the current season on loan at Frosinone, a newly promoted side, as part of a move by Juventus to provide him with more experience.
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Soule has stood out as one of the top dribblers and chance creators in the Italian top flight. As a result, a tug-of-war has ensued between Italy and Argentina for his international future, with both nations vying for his services. Speaking about rumours that Italy wants Soule, Spalletti said:
“Soule and Colpani are two names we have in our sights. I spoke to one of them, not yet to the other, but we are keeping a close eye on both of them,” said the coach. “They are doing very well in Serie A and we must give opportunities for those who are pushing to get into the squad and are young.
“Until we get that big push up to this level, we must also maintain the experience and confidence of the more mature players.” He further added. The duo definitely have a bright future ahead of them as Juventus have been urged to integrate Soule into their squad instead of signing Domenico Berardi.
While Colpani is attracting plenty of interest due to his performance for Monza this season. According to reports, Inter are very keen on making a move to sign the goal scoring midfielder from Monza in the January transfer window. The Nerazzurri had previously thought about making a move for Colpani this summer after failing to secure the services of Udinese’s Lazar Samardzic.
However, with the deal for Samardzic collapsing relatively late on in the transfer window, and with Inter having already used up the majority of their budget for the summer, an official offer was never presented, instead deciding that a move in January would be a more sensible option.
Colpani has certainly been in fine form in front of goal this season, registering four Seire A strikes from his first eight appearances of the campaign. He has made 91 appearances for Monza since joining when they were still in Serie B in 2020.
Meanwhile…
Italian midfielder, Sandro Tonali is ready to negotiate a plea bargain with FIGC and Turin Prosecutor but still risks a ban of at least 18 months according to latest reports on the betting scandal rocking Italian football.
The Newcastle midfielder was formally put under investigation last week when Police questioned him and his compatriot Nicolò Zaniolo at Italy’s training centre Coverciano. Tonali was said to be in tears and caught help from a therapist to treat gambling addiction.
Another report confirmed that Tonali is ready to ‘collaborate’ with FIGC and Turin Prosecutors, revealing all he knows about the betting scandal and which events he gambled on. The same strategy was adopted by Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli, from whom the investigation started.
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According to the report, both Tonali and Fagioli gambled on football games, breaching Article 24 of the Code of Sporting Justice. If confirmed, they’d face a minimum ban of three years, but a plea bargain would allow them to halve the suspension.
The report claims Fagioli will be heard by FIGC Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné for one last time this week and after that, the Juventus midfielder will likely receive a ban from 10 to 18 months. The punishment for Fagioli will be mild as the 22-year-old immediately collaborated with authorities, providing key information in the investigation.
The punishment for Tonali and other players involved could be higher because, FIGC want to send a ‘strong signal’ to footballers and public opinion. Moreover, it is still reportedly unclear whether Tonali gambled on Milan games while still a Rossoneri player.
Investigators are still analysing mobile phones and tablets belonging to the Newcastle midfielder and Zaniolo. If Tonali’s self-report matches what investigators will find in his devices, then the Azzurri midfielder will likely get a ban in the region of 18 months, but it will take a few months to complete the investigation and learn how long Tonali will be banned for.
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