“We used to play together even back in nursery school, in the garden at home, and in the churchyard. Our brother Fabio, who is five years older than us, used to bring the ball. If we rewind the tape, we reckon we realised at the same time that kicking a ball around could become a lucrative profession. Perhaps in our second year with Brescia’s Primavera team, certainly when we earned our first salary in Serie C.”

Wingers or central midfielders, with an innate preference for the right flank…

“Yes, we’ve always played not only together, but also side by side, never straying far from one another, right up until that fateful 6 November 2002, when Parma beat Brescia 4–3 – the match that would go down in history as the ‘twins’ clash’.”

Emanuele on one side and Antonio on the other. Carletto Mazzone, who was managing Brescia, wanted to suggest to his neighbour across the road – Cesare Prandelli – that they play them in two different zones. He feared that this head-to-head clash might degenerate into a fratricidal feud and, as such, be rather uneducational…

“We were excited and also a bit embarrassed to find ourselves in that unusual situation, but when the referee got things underway, neither of us held back, even when we happened to be going for the same ball. After all, we were two fiercely competitive little flies, but we always went for the ball… We never hurt anyone…”.

No one, no one – I’ll ask Emanuele, because, if I remember correctly…

“I remember it very well. Manuel Rui Costa had feinted to move the ball; I caught his foot squarely, he fell and broke his shoulder, but it was an accident, not a deliberate act.”

Speaking of Rui Costa, he really did treat you both like the apple of his eye…

“His praise filled us with pride. At the end of a Fiorentina v Brescia match many years ago, he said in the heat of the moment that there were two of us, but we seemed like ten. And that every time one of us went down, the other would step up, and if the second one went down too, the first would step up again. On the pitch, he’d felt as though he was going mad.”

Ronaldo ‘The Phenomenon’ has gone one better…

“Unlike Rui Costa, he waited until the end of their respective careers to reveal to the world that we had been his nightmare. Two brothers, but they seemed like at least five, racing at two thousand an hour, and he’d find them right on his heels wherever he decided to go.”

Do you have a reputation to live up to? Were you really that good?

“Perhaps too much has been said about our limitations and the fairy tale of the lookalike brothers, and too little about what we were capable of achieving. Wherever we went, we played practically the entire season, and that cannot be a coincidence. Without false modesty, we believe we were ahead of our time and, in our own way, pioneers. Twenty-five years ago, we played with the very intensity that is so fashionable these days. We’d make hard tackles and win back the ball time and time again. Anyone who does that today is hailed as a national treasure to be preserved. We were simply the selfless practitioners of the footballing art of making do.”

The identical twin resemblance, which had created a unique and inimitable footballing duo, was on the verge of turning into a highly risky ploy…

“Mircea Lucescu, during half-time in a heated match between Perugia and Brescia, when one of us had been booked, suggested we swap shirts. Fortunately, we managed to talk him out of it.”

The best moments? Emanuele recalls Brescia’s last-day survival, after a terribly complicated season. Antonio recalls that derby won 3–1 by Lazio, which went down in history not only for Di Canio’s goal – provocatively celebrated beneath the Curva Sud – but also for the competitive fervour of the twins on the pitch, who became the very embodiment of the spirit and heart of the city derby…

“It was the highlight, the madness, the most wonderful moment. We’ll always remember the warmth radiating from the stands, that unique atmosphere, the joy in the eyes of Mr Papadopulo and all my teammates, and Di Canio shouting his joy like a young fan. An unforgettable experience.”

The best footballer who has ever played alongside you …

“Roberto Baggio resided on the Mount Olympus of football’s elite. At Brescia, he was regarded and treated with the deference and respect due to a footballing god…”

Could you explain this with an example…

“You should know that one fine day, the late Vittorio Mero brought his dog along to watch training. Mazzone flew into a rage. He said that, come what may, he never wanted to see that dog again. A week goes by and once again a dog makes an appearance on the touchline. Mazzone is on the verge of a fit of rage right there and then. The truth comes out in a flash. The players pointed out to the manager that it was Baggio’s dog. Mazzone went from anger to a knowing smile in an instant. And he asked the groundsmen to feed the ‘Divine Ponytail’s’ dog.”

Has football changed over the last quarter of a century?

“VAR has put every foul under the microscope. These days, every challenge carries the risk of a sending-off. Take Paolo Maldini, for example: his speciality was defensive sliding tackles, from which he regularly emerged unscathed. Nowadays, a single still image is enough to prove that, as well as the ball, you’ve caught the opponent’s foot, and you’ll find yourself on a red card or conceding a penalty. Not to mention the ‘step on foot’, commonly known as a stomp. It happens in everyday life too, but in football terms it has become an offence worthy of papal excommunication.”

So what are you up to now? Do you live in the same house?

“No, Antonio lives on Lake Garda, Emanuele in Milan, but we have remained each other’s mirror image. We are still in football. We are both coaches. After a distinguished career – spanning assistant coaching, first-team management, Serie D and Serie C – we are currently out of work, but we are taking it in our stride. In September and October, the first heads will start to roll, and two managerial posts will certainly become available, just for us. It’s so certain that one needn’t even feel embarrassed about being a bit of a jinx.”

Any dreams you’d like to fulfil?

“We would be delighted to manage one of the teams we have championed and fought for. If we were to take it a step further, the dream of dreams would be to manage a Serie A team together. Just imagine how wonderful that would be! Identical twins sitting side by side on the same bench. It would be the icing on the cake of a life lived in perfect harmony, racing at full speed, always close to where the other was, without ever stopping to work out who was running faster or was the better player. We found ourselves on opposite sides in just one match, but beyond the media hype and newspaper headlines, we weren’t even opponents on that one occasion.”

There are various questions – and they do not necessarily lead to negative answers: the pitch will have the final say. For a while, it was believed that Monza’s rise was inextricably linked to the figures of Cav. and Galliani – always them – who had embarked on a fine sporting experiment in their twilight years following their decades of success at Milan. The sale of the club, just a few weeks after its first relegation to Serie B, seemed to reinforce this hypothesis, raising the spectre of a potential break-up. Instead, within a few months, Monza were back at the top, now run by an American investment fund – as is increasingly the case with clubs in our country – and aiming for a concrete, structural revival. The firm in question is called Beckett Layne Ventures (BLV), which specialises in investment, strategic consultancy and sports management: Lauren Crampsie, the current chair of the Brianza-based club, had worked at Chelsea alongside BLV’s founder between 2022 and 2023. It was the complex transition phase between the Abramovich era and the American era. The two executives oversaw the club’s strategic restructuring, from rebranding to the sponsorship package. That experience led to the decision to strike out on their own, applying the Chelsea model to a smaller, more manageable club.

Monza has neither Lake Como nor the history of Venice. Before Berlusconi, it was a typical provincial town, with a deeply felt footballing identity that was nonetheless confined to the local area: the new owners, however, recognised untapped business potential. Its proximity to Milan, the global appeal of Formula 1, and the media buzz surrounding Cav’s tenure, which remains significant. To get off to a good start in Italy, Crampsie has chosen to put its trust in Mauro Baldissoni: not only is he currently general manager of a major club like Roma, but he held that role during James Pallotta’s tenure. He knows what it means to work with an American board, bringing together two different worlds within the same club. In Monza, as the new chief executive, it was no coincidence that he immediately brought Burdisso – a former Giallorossi defender – with him, and today he is starting afresh with Juric in charge: it was Juric who introduced him to the press a few days ago, with the shared understanding that the Biancorossi are still a work in progress. Both in terms of the transfer market and the stadium – because the club’s plans also include the multifunctional modernisation of the Brianteo.

There is still a month of negotiations to go; so far, there have been few changes to the squad – apart from a few promising youngsters – and between now and 1 September, it is reasonable to expect more than a few high-calibre signings. At the same time, the relegation two years ago had been marred by injuries, and that same group of players, without any further upheavals, proved they could win back their place in Serie A on the pitch – albeit with some difficulty, right up to the final decisive match. This was no mean feat, and one that supporters now view with curiosity: betting on Monza as a sustainable footballing ecosystem is no small challenge at such a high level. And it’s different from that of the other two newly promoted sides we’ve discussed. There are many unknowns, but one additional certainty: compared to Frosinone and Venezia, the Brianza-based side already know how to secure survival. In fact, two in a row. On this point, Pessina may well be right: we mustn’t write them off straight away. It wasn’t just the Cavaliere’s influence, evidently.

Two thousandths of a second. A time so brief that it is almost impossible to imagine. And yet, it was precisely those two thousandths – that difference between 4.997 and 4.995 seconds – that changed the outcome of Paris 2024 for Matteo Zurloni, world champion in sport climbing: “When I think back to the Olympics, that’s the first image that springs to mind. In the end, though, I remember Paris with a smile because I was lucky enough to represent my sport in front of a huge audience. My discipline is decided by thousandths of a second – that’s part of the beauty of it.” His relationship with climbing began even before little Matteo could walk: “As a child, I used to spend my holidays in Campitello di Fassa, in Trentino. I was still too small, so I’d climb onto Dad’s shoulders and together we’d go for long walks amidst the beautiful Dolomites.” It was right there that his curiosity was sparked for what would become not only his sport, but the most important part of his life: “I was intrigued by these little coloured dots climbing the mountains. That’s where, you could say, that desire to give it a go was born; I’d also discovered that the mountains had been my grandfather’s world, as he’d served in the Alpine troops. I dedicated my Year 9 school project to him and his hikes.”

Over the years, rock climbing has given way to the wall, and above all to speed, so that I could devote myself entirely to speed climbing, the fastest discipline in climbing, which involves completing a route – the path to follow on the wall – in the shortest possible time: “I saw Ludovico Fissali at Tokyo 2021 and decided to commit myself fully and give my all to this sport. I wanted to experience those same emotions, both positive and negative.” Adrenaline and calm. Speed and precision. Sensations that are at times contrasting, but which characterise climbing, where the mind plays a fundamental role: “You can never have everything under control. It’s important to find mental focus during competitions, which is why I’m also being supported by a sports psychologist.” Today, he is the leading athlete of the Italian national team – and beyond. Despite being just 24 years old, Matteo has already won gold at the 2023 World Championships in Bern and at the recent Italian Championships, as well as silver at the 2024 European Championships, and he is the current European record holder. His goal now is California: “I think about it a lot. I’d like to try and make up for those two thousandths of a second and share this wonderful sport. I’m sure it will capture the hearts of the spectators.”

Los Angeles’ beaches will not only provide the backdrop for Olympic climbing. For the first time in history, the LA28 organising committee has also included a Paralympic sport in the Games – a new challenge for the Italian delegation, which will be supported by Allianz throughout its Olympic and Paralympic journey. Among them is Lucia Capovilla, a multiple world champion, born without her left forearm in 1993. As a child, she tried her hand at many sports before focusing on climbing: “It was climbing that chose me. Our relationship has evolved over time and has meant so many things to me; first and foremost, it has allowed me to make the most of every part of my body. Every day brings a new stimulus that allows me to find a sense of well-being within myself, both through movement and through self-discovery.” The early days weren’t exactly easy: “At first, when I was climbing, the skin around my elbow would hurt. My grandmother came up with the idea of sewing me a makeshift protector – a bit like the precursor to what I use today.” At the recent World Cup in Innsbruck, Lucia won her third career gold medal: “I’m filled with nothing but positive emotions; I’ve managed to rediscover the right feelings – that fluidity and serenity that only this sport can give me, where I can truly enjoy what I’m doing. I just focus on climbing and living in the moment.” The same feelings she’ll be trying to recapture in two years’ time with that new challenge. Hers, and not just hers.

But the World Cup wasn’t the success of a man in love with football, as it turned out shortly afterwards. It was an experiment: look, investors, at how I can milk football and rake in the cash. And it can be milked even further if you jump on board; now TV rights are worth more because more adverts can be squeezed in, there are ever more clients willing to spend a fortune to be part of the show, I can overturn suspensions for key players, just so as not to diminish the appeal; I’ve created 104 Super Bowls. Then, once the stage was set, his plan became clear: to sell shares in the World Cup to private investors, turning it into a perpetual money-making machine, even if it meant multiplying the number of World Cups, teams, matches and commercial breaks. It’s something quite different from sport, but now that football has demonstrated its full capacity to generate revenue when exploited with cynicism and contempt for the game itself, Infantino wanted to press on, to take it to extremes. He stepped into the sun, and the wax melted. That plan was too much: football, whilst certainly a business machine, does have its limits; it belongs to the people who follow it.

And so, little by little, everyone backed out: UEFA, for the second time, appeared to be the champion of the people’s football (a feat already achieved by the founders of the so-called Super League, behind which – would you believe it – Infantino was found to be), the confederations rebelled, his closest allies distanced themselves, and those who had documents tucked away – because Infantino’s all well and good, but if he goes too far, here they are – brought them out. And so, one scandal after another, Gianni remains standing, but with fewer and fewer shoulders to lean on. He pleaded with Trump in every possible way to back him. Trump was the only friend he had left (along with a few shameless federations) and, in the end, he wrote a post saying that sacking Infantino was a mistake. But it seemed more like the kiss of death than a show of support. After all, the downward spiral began during the World Cup, when Trump himself said he’d phoned Infantino to have Balogun’s suspension lifted. Someone should have told him to stop. But Gianni, who in March risks meeting the same fate as Icarus, also saw himself as Daedalus and took his own advice.

“This ceremony,” they admit, “can only take place in Taranto because it would make no sense anywhere else.” Just as such a massive government investment might make no sense far from a city that is currently experiencing the most severe industrial crisis in Italy this century. Yet the trade unions have promised the government “not to spoil the party”, postponing the protests until September. Although Governor Decaro has said that during the opening ceremony he will hand Giorgia Meloni a letter criticising Ilva, written by a sick child. Alongside the Prime Minister, Ministers Foti and Abodi, Senate President Ignazio La Russa and European Commissioner Raffaele Fitto will be in attendance. The sports facilities are almost complete, although testing will be carried out after the Games, leaving the council to grapple with the legacy issue. Tickets for the ceremony sold out within a few hours, excluding 6,000 complimentary tickets. Traffic conditions in the city of Taranto are set to be challenging; during the two weeks of the Games, the city will be paralysed by the arrival of 200,000 visitors, as announced by the director of the organising committee, Carlo Molfetta. Athletes and guests will be travelling between the Ionian city and the other competition venues spread across the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce.

Rai will cover the 39 sporting disciplines with 55 hours of live coverage on Rai Sport, reporting on the main competitions and the achievements of Italian athletes, whilst RaiPlay will offer around 30 hours of live coverage. The athletes will be staying on two cruise ships that will remain moored in the city for two weeks. The closing ceremony, on 3 September – also organised by Casta Diva – will feature a concert by Rockin’1000 at the Iacovone Stadium, again featuring local artists. A child will sing the opening anthem. The slogan for the 2026 Mediterranean Games is ‘EMBRACE the future’ and, according to the organisers, it extends beyond the sporting event itself.

Has any of her former colleagues ever said to her: “Perhaps it would have been better not to have said that?”

“No, never. I’m never categorical; my job in the studio is to provide options, food for thought for the viewers, and to raise doubts. I don’t think I ever cross the line because it’s something I’ve never liked: I’ve been on the receiving end of certain things and I know they can hurt. I try to stimulate debate: I want to be precise and decisive, but never categorical. Let me give an example: when I was asked whether Leao could be a Ballon d’Or-calibre player, I replied that, having played alongside Ballon d’Or winners and knowing full well what they were capable of, I didn’t see that level in him.”

Since you mentioned Leao, shall we start with Milan to analyse the league?

“Clearly, it’s too early to make any definitive statements; I always prefer to speak once the transfer window has closed. I like the choice of Amorim – he’s an energetic manager with clear ideas, and his strategy is to build play. I think the difference between a team that creates the conditions to force the opposition into making mistakes and one that simply waits for the opposition to make a mistake is clear to everyone. I get the impression that Amorim wants to create the conditions to force the opposition into making mistakes: if I press high up the pitch, I do so because I want to win the ball back near the goal and can immediately capitalise to score. That’s something I like.”

Did you expect Allegri to be back in the saddle straight away?

“I believe he is a manager who, more often than not, manages to convey his ideas to the team he coaches. If I look at Milan’s last six, seven or ten matches from last season, I wouldn’t blame Allegri: sometimes the manager’s role is overrated; it’s the players who take to the pitch, they’re not children you have to teach everything to. If we assess what a team needs at a particular time – as might have been the case with last year’s Milan side – Allegri was probably not the right choice. But in other situations, I believe he could genuinely be the ideal manager.”

Is there a player, amongst those who have arrived from abroad, who particularly intrigues you?

“Gonçalo Ramos. I’ve always considered him a good player, though not an extraordinary one, and I’m curious to see him in Italy because there’s also the factor of how much he was paid to consider: it makes me all the more interested to see how he’ll perform. I reckon the best signings are yet to come. I’m not particularly keen on Stones as a defender, but I think he could really do well in the Italian league because, whilst it’s true that the pace of the game in England was a bit too much for him, in Italy he could still be a key signing.”

Who will be at the top of the league?

“There are plenty of teams that need to fine-tune their squads. That goes for Inter too, who still need to bring in a few reinforcements to perform better in Europe. I don’t think Juventus have made the decisive signing to turn their season around; I’m expecting at least one signing that could prove decisive. I’m also curious to see what Roma will do; I’ve been reading about lots of interesting names, and I think my tastes are very similar to Gasperini’s, especially when it comes to wide forwards.”

What about Como? Will playing two matches in one week have an impact?

“For a player, it can be thrilling; you carry that wonderful positive energy with you. It’s clear that there will be matches – perhaps more in the league than in the Champions League – where they won’t manage to play as attractively as we’ve seen so far. The Champions League takes its toll; I remember that in the year we won our first European Cup – and we were a bit stronger than this Como side – we still struggled to maintain our level across both competitions, and that was a different Europe to the one we have now. The first year can be difficult, especially when you’re young. And I’m very keen to see Liberali; I’ve always been a fan of his and I’d been hoping he’d end up with a manager like Fabregas.”

We simply cannot avoid discussing what has happened between Paolo Maldini and the FIGC: did you expect this sort of outcome?

“I didn’t think the FIGC could persuade Paolo, and I think he explained very clearly what drew him in: an unconditional love for the national team. The Federation is a very different matter from a club; I’ve been there, I know there are too many conflicting interests, and not all parties are pushing in the direction one might wish. Serie A wants one thing, Serie B wants another, the amateur leagues want something else: getting everyone to agree is almost impossible. I wasn’t surprised: I know Paolo’s uncompromising nature and his determination; even when he was persuaded to take the job, I thought he’d face a lot of difficulties.”

Is he leaving us with a photograph of Franco Baresi?

“As Paolo also said, especially at the start, Franco was the man who managed to save us from difficult situations. I’m tempted to say that if it hadn’t been for my suspension in the World Cup final – that booking against Stoichkov in the match against Bulgaria – he probably wouldn’t have played what I believe was the greatest match a defender has ever played in the history of football. Franco was someone who didn’t say much on the pitch: it’s true, he’d get angry now and then, but he never said anything he shouldn’t have. He was almost unremarkable in his ferocity, his work ethic, and the determination with which he trained. That ferocity with which he won the ball back and drove towards the opposition’s goal was epic. That was his message to the team.”

Inter remain the strongest side; it’s difficult to make predictions about the others. Friendly matches don’t tell us much – nobody wants to get injured in the summer. I study the players’ expressions, listen to a few interviews and discuss things with friends. Milan don’t convince me; I don’t see a player who makes the difference, I don’t see a solid team unit and, above all, I still don’t see a proper club. Amorim seems busy trying to find his feet again and perhaps he could have done with someone by his side. All trace of Ibrahimović has been lost, and when the captain par excellence, Franco Baresi, passed away, goalkeeper Maignan, his counterpart, was nowhere to be seen at the funeral. Cardinale has made the odd appearance; frankly, despite his name, he seems to move like a country vicar – soft-spoken, bewildered by the clamour of the congregation. As for the team, a question mark as big as a house remains: what will Leao be like? He set off for the World Cup and, as soon as he crossed the Italian border, was quick to declare that he wanted to leave Milan. I heard no convincing responses to his comments (Ibra should have spoken out more firmly), and then what everyone feared happened: no one wanted the Portuguese player, at least not at the minimum asking price. Leao remains a burden that Milan have been carrying for far too long – an unresolved issue, in short, a problem, to put it bluntly.

These impressions are unlikely to be borne out in the league (this writer does not possess the gift of certainty), and that is what I wish for the Rossoneri supporters. As for the rest, I notice a lighter Napoli without the burden of the unbearable Lukaku, a Roma side without a spectacular transfer window but full of talent, and a Como as grand as its lake – though that lake isn’t all that grand either. That leaves Juventus, speaking of the top six. I like them; I find them solid and imaginative. Spalletti has a compact defence and a tried-and-tested midfield. They’d be very strong in attack too, if only another player by the name of Zirkzee were to arrive. As for surprises, having already mentioned Fiorentina last week – the real queen of the transfer market – I’ll go for Atalanta. Sarri has rediscovered the kind of environment he prefers: a provincial town, few people, plenty of enthusiasm, a quiet chairman and a top-class team. I can’t say much else, except that after this mid-August bank holiday, the much-anticipated holidays will be drawing to a close (a little rhyme to lift the spirits).

The organisation he led for 12 years, from 19 February 2013 to 26 June 2025. It turned against him. His successor, Luciano Buonfiglio – the man he had backed and championed after waiting until the very last moment for an extension – stripped him of every safety net whilst he was walking a tightrope between Maldini, Guardiola, Pirlo and the whole lot, right up to the appointment of Diana Bianchedi as head of the Italian national team’s delegation. A decision that Malagò rightly described as “a cultural revolution”. It takes courage and that typical Malagò-style nerve to put a woman – even one with an impeccable CV like Diana Bianchedi – in a role previously held by Boniperti, Riva, Vialli or Buffon. But, on the other hand, with Ranieri already on the organisational chart, another footballer might well have been superfluous. One should not assume that Bianchedi will take on the role in the same way as Vialli and co. did. She has neither the technical depth nor the footballing expertise to step into a changing room. But she clearly has other qualities. If Malagò has decided to bring her to Via Allegri – having already wanted her by his side at Milano Cortina and having tried to put her forward for the presidency of CONI – there must be a reason. More than just a friend, she is someone he trusts, like Luca Bergamini, the new head of staff – former president of the Five-a-side Football (Futsal) Division and his long-standing team-mate from his days playing five-a-side football in Rome – or like Alessandro Catapano, the new spokesperson, who will nevertheless report to Roberto Coramusi, a man who has always stayed the course with Tavecchio and Gravina; in short, a capable individual. “If you’ve got good friends, why not work with them?” Malagò doesn’t say it, but we reckon his defence would sound something like that.

“Diana Bianchedi’s decision responds to a need – or rather, a request – from fans, the public and Italians: football must no longer be perceived as a world apart,” she explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport. It is regrettable that, judging by the comments posted beneath the article, it does not seem as though the public and fans have taken kindly to it. Giovanni Malagò has become Maria De Filippi, host of a Roman spin-off of "Amici". He, who was used to having the public – and above all the athletes – on his side, has suddenly found himself navigating uncharted territory. So much so that we have begun to wonder whether he needs to hear the clamour of his enemies to get himself fired up. There used to be Giorgetti, Abodi and Binaghi. They’re still there, of course, but now they’re no longer alone. They’ve been joined by his successor, who – first speaking to the Corriere della Sera – actually rejected the idea of a foreign manager (back in the days of Guardiola) and then gave the go-ahead to the statement consisting of three terse words. Meanwhile, the other parties are watching from the sidelines. Rumour has it that Serie A isn’t entirely happy with the latest moves, but then it transpires (as Maldini told Aldo Cazzullo) that no one had actually suggested Conte as head coach. The players themselves are said to have reacted with some surprise to the news of Banchedi’s candidacy to replace one of their own, but were subsequently given the necessary explanations.

Everyone is waiting to see what happens next. By now, they have realised that the word ‘sharing’ – with which Malagò had presented his project – has swiftly been replaced by ‘I’m in charge here, I make the decisions here’, an attitude that has often characterised Giovanni Malagò in his other (successful) sporting careers. Where perhaps things were far less complicated because he was at the heart of great teams and could focus fully on his work. Today, the team is still being put together so that work can proceed smoothly. There’s just one problem: if you win one fewer medal at the Games (something which, incidentally, hasn’t happened recently), few people are particularly shocked. If the national football team loses a match, there’s a risk of a parliamentary inquiry. But Malagò relishes the clamour of his enemies. Many will have to reckon with him.

And what about football? There are no football clubs in the top 10. The most lucrative sale in the world of football was that of Chelsea, which was taken over in 2022 by Todd Boehly and the US fund Clearlake Capital for a total investment of 4.2 billion pounds, of which 2.5 billion was for the club’s shares alone. This sum equates to 3.37 billion dollars, just outside the top 10. As for Italian clubs, the most expensive acquisition was the one in 2022 that saw AC Milan pass from Elliott to the RedBird fund for 1.16 billion euros (1.34 billion dollars).

The 54-year-old Emery is one of the most successful managers in modern football, yet he has not always received the recognition he deserves. Perhaps this is because he has won only one domestic league title (the one, as already mentioned, with Paris Saint-Germain) and no Champions League. On the other hand, apart from his spell in Paris and a season in charge of Arsenal, Emery’s career has always unfolded away from the big clubs, on limited budgets, with the result that he has managed just sixty-five matches in Europe’s premier club competition (Guardiola, for example, has managed one hundred and ninety-one Champions League matches). This year, the Basque manager will have the chance to improve his Champions League record, having guided the Villans to their second qualification in three seasons in Birmingham. For Emery, the campaign that begins tonight will be his fourth season in charge of the Birmingham side.

It could still prove to be a tricky season, given that the club has sold Morgan Rogers to Chelsea, Tielemans to Manchester United and Lucas Digne to PSG. And that’s not all. With the transfer window still open, others could be on their way out. In this regard, the names of Konsa and Dibu Martínez have been mentioned; both are absent tonight as they are still on holiday following the World Cup (as is Ollie Watkins).

And the transfer window is also open for the two-time European champions, during this sizzling summer which has seen PSG constantly grappling with their goalkeeping problem. The story is well known: Donnarumma was there, but Luis Enrique wasn’t satisfied with the Italian, particularly when it came to his distribution. So he sold him to Manchester City, starting last season with Chevalier between the posts. However, not even the former Lille player was entirely convincing, and so, around halfway through the season, Lucho opted for the Russian Safonov, who started in the Champions League final won on penalties against Arsenal. Now he’s giving Zion Suzuki a go, although he will be signed and immediately loaned out to Juventus.

Emery hopes to repeat the feat of 2025, when he beat Luis Enrique’s side 3–2 in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. Back then, it wasn’t enough to progress to the next round. This time, however, it would be enough to win another trophy and to honour the memory of Ozzy Osbourne, perhaps Birmingham’s most famous citizen. Emery, like Ozzy, is certainly no ordinary man.

“I was very, very focused; I’d saved a bit with the tyres,” explained Bezzecchi. “Physically, I knew I’d slow down a bit, especially when Jorge overtook me and then Alex. I’d run out of steam, but I didn’t give up and it was a real thrill. After two operations in the space of 6–7 days, you generally don’t feel too well, and mentally things weren’t great either; a lot of things stay on your mind throughout the whole time you’re injured. So many doubts – it wasn’t easy.” He’s the man of the day even though he didn’t win and took home fewer points than his direct rival in the championship, who also happens to be his team-mate and who will be saying goodbye to everyone at the end of the year to join Yamaha. But Martin is used to winning when he already has one foot in another team. It’s almost a family speciality. Bezzecchi, however, after his injury and the summer break, needed answers – above all from his own body. The compound fracture to his left collarbone sustained at the German Grand Prix on 10 July first forced him to undergo surgery and then turned his recovery period into a race against time to get back to full fitness. It wasn’t a foregone conclusion; it wasn’t easy. But his body and mind responded: ‘present’. Now he’s back in the World Championship too. There are ten weekends left, ten Sprint races and ten full races. There’s plenty of time to enjoy himself.

Furthermore, the deal just signed with Betway circumvents the rule – unanimously approved by Premier League clubs – which prohibits sponsorship agreements with betting companies as main sponsors, but gives clubs a free hand when it comes to training kits and sleeve space on the shirt.

How do Italian clubs fare in comparison when it comes to this type of sponsorship? The big Serie A clubs earn a pittance from their training kit deals. Milan receives 7–8 million a year from Konami, owner of the eFootball brand. Inter’s deal with Qatar Airways amounts to just 5 million. Finally, for Juventus, it is more complicated to determine the fee for their training kit, as this forms part of the overall agreement with Allianz, which also holds the naming rights to the stadium. The latest agreement signed in 2020 between the parties, due to expire in 2030, provided for a total fee of 103.1 million over 10 years.

The gap that the Premier League has opened up over recent years compared with our Serie A is also evident when it comes to sponsorship.

The concept was proposed by Csíkszentmihályi in 1975 and refers to the ‘state of grace’ one experiences when one is so absorbed in an activity that one can no longer distinguish oneself from what one is doing. Entering a state of flow means focusing one’s attention as fully as possible on the task at hand; losing track of time; and deriving satisfaction from the simple act of carrying out that activity. When you’re in the flow, you run for the sake of running, you read for the sake of reading, you write for the sake of writing. Whatever the activity that puts you there.

This state of grace is accompanied by a feeling of having total control over the situation, which is why, in sport, maximising the opportunities to enter and remain in this state can make the difference between a good performance and a great one. But what can be done about it? Let me tell you two short stories.

The first concerns my sport – artistic swimming – which underwent a radical transformation in 2023: from that year onwards, and still today, a large part of the competition is based on whether the ‘difficulty coefficient’ of your routine is higher or lower than that of your opponents. In this sense, the discipline offers an extremely stimulating challenge, but to reap the benefits, one must be prepared to take a few risks – a task that many found difficult in those early years. In fact, numerous teams, overly concerned about the mistakes they might make – and about their opponents’ coefficients – forced themselves to perform routines that were either too simple or too complex, and in doing so denied themselves access to the ‘flow’, to the extent that for many athletes competing became a source of distress, leading many, at all levels, to retire prematurely. This happened because flow does not exist when one is trying to avoid losing, but only when one is trying to do one’s very best, as we shall see shortly.

The second story is more recent and centres on Lando Norris at the Hungarian Grand Prix. After losing the lead, Norris asked his team to let him pass his team-mate Piastri because, he said, he could have been ten seconds faster. Once in the lead, Lando didn’t look back, and kept pushing despite warnings from the team not to overdo it; to watch out for the kerbs; and to focus solely on finishing the race. Norris was probably in the zone; it’s no surprise that his performance turned out to be one of the best of the season.

These two stories help shed some light on what we’re talking about. Entering the flow state, in fact, depends on five fundamental points over which we have more or less direct control: the activity must be intrinsically engaging; that is, we should be willing to do it even in the absence of external rewards (for Lando, running for the sake of speed; for artistic swimmers, performing to create something beautiful); the challenge must be difficult enough to force us to push our abilities to the limit, without being demoralising (Norris would have been bored with ‘merely’ coming first, whilst many swimmers found the excessive difficulty of their routines a source of anxiety); the objectives must be precise and, if possible, measurable (the 10 seconds Piastri had to beat, or performing a routine with a certain degree of difficulty); feedback must be frequent and consistent with the objectives; and distractions must be kept to a minimum. If these conditions are met (challenge, objectives, feedback and the absence of distractions), engaging in an exciting activity could allow us to experience this marvellous state of grace, provided we do not seek it out (thinking about ‘flow’ distracts from the task; the key is: stay focused on what you’re doing).

From what has been said, it is clear that the difference between being in the flow and not being in the flow is the same as that between living and merely surviving. ‘Being careful not to lose’ may offer the relief of not being defeated, but it will never make you cheer and shout ‘Beautiful!’ at the end of a race. Swimming with the handbrake on may protect you from making mistakes, but it doesn’t allow you to be truly immersed in what you’re doing. To enter the flow, you must allow yourself the right to make mistakes, dare to take a more aggressive line, and accept the risk of falling in order to push beyond your limits. This is what flow is: living, not merely surviving. And that is precisely where the incredible begins.

Giorgio Minisini is a former Italian artistic swimmer who won 4 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals at the World Championships

What is happening in certain clubs is unacceptable; it does not align with the spirit of football or the passion of the fans. It is not the fault of the agents, who are simply doing their job as market profiteers; the fault lies with the owners (club chairmen are almost a thing of the past) who rely on weak and disorganised executives who, in turn, do business with the agents, because it is easier that way. Fortunately, however, things are starting to move in the opposite direction. It has become clear that whilst following the agents’ path may mean less work, it also means spending more and even risks relegation. Just as happened to Fiorentina last year – a tribe of clueless amateurs, guided by logic that was hardly entrepreneurial (90 million wasted on the transfer market) and even less technical.

And it is precisely at Fiorentina, in its centenary year, that a director, Fabio Paratici, has arrived who has gone back to conducting the transfer market as it used to be done, without getting involved with agents (he certainly speaks to them and throws them a bone), but with the original idea in mind (as should be the norm) of winning something.

He is spending heavily, with the backing of Commisso Junior, buying top-class players such as Atta and Oulai, and sparking a frenzy of excitement with one idea: Franco Mastantuono, the next Messi. He brought him to Florence for next to nothing, and the Florentines will enjoy him for at least a year; after that, we’ll see. Paratici has restored the role of sporting director to centre stage, pushing agents to the fringes of the footballing world. He is working according to his own convictions, in agreement with the manager, drawing on personal relationships cultivated over time and information gathered on players, both in Italy and abroad.

Paratici acts as a manager by looking beyond the confines of his four acquaintances, listening only to the voice of his footballing conscience. He remains deaf to the siren songs that pop up here and there in the sea of the transfer market. The return of the sporting director role bears his distinct hallmark, pending any proof to the contrary.

In "The Long March of the Tortoise", Luigi Guelpa describes football as a geopolitical stage where resistance is condemned to a conscious and necessary redefinition of the meaning of victory: two friends set off together on an extraordinary adventure when one of them is offered the chance to coach the national team of Kinjanga, a tiny African state that has only just emerged from a dictatorship. It is a novel that blends sport and anthropology, depicting an Africa that says ‘no’ to colonialism yet continues to pay a heavy and bitter price for its freedom. Football becomes the arena where colonial power continues to exert its influence even within the resistance, and the players’ bodies do not belong to themselves but to history, to politics, and to the seemingly never-ending struggle for self-determination.

A novel that engages well with Giulia Della Cioppa’s “La mancina”, where tennis conveys the exact opposite: not the boisterous collective spirit of the football pitch, but the silence of the enclosed court, the rigorous solitude of the left hand as it learns to control the technical movement. Here, the body does not attempt to emancipate itself (or escape) from politics in Guelpa’s sense, but moves towards a form of obsessive, meticulous, almost maniacal control: the serve, the ball, the geometry of the stance, the infinite number of repetitions that should ensure the body finally obeys the subject who commands it.

If "The Long March of the Tortoise" is collective action, "The Left-Hander" is the symbol of an intimate, individual, microscopic resistance, where every centimetre of the ball’s trajectory is a personal battle against chaos, where every aspect of the technical movement is challenged by a centrifugal force pulling towards elsewhere. And whilst Luigi Guelpa describes the collective failure of political resistance, Giulia Della Cioppa recounts the individual failure of the obsession with technical control. One argues that power cannot be conquered; the other, that the body cannot be fully mastered, that every attempt at control is always fragile, threatened by error. Neither believes in the rhetoric of miracles, nor in the fairy tale of resilience triumphing. Yet, when read together, the two books converge on a thesis concerning sport, but perhaps also this troubled world: the body is the place where the self refuses to be annihilated; the athlete resists not because they will win, but because they recognise and defend their identity. The ship sails away, but the hand holding the racket, the body running across the pitch, remain. Fragile, perhaps defeated, but tremendously human.

In fact, there are several coaches who, at the start of the upcoming season, will help bring the average age of those on the bench down to under fifty.

It is clear that Parma’s appointment of 31-year-old Carlos Cuesta has influenced this figure. Behind the Spaniard, however, there are other names, some of whom are new to Serie A. Making their Serie A debuts will be 39-year-old Ignazio Abate on the Torino bench (who turns 40 in November), the almost 41-year-old Domenico Tedesco at Bologna, Alberto Aquilani at Sassuolo (aged 42) and the Portuguese Rúben Amorim at Milan, who will turn 42 on 27 January. All are managers of teams that should, in theory, remain in the bottom half of the table. The newly promoted sides, on the other hand, have opted for experience: Giovanni Stroppa of Venezia (aged 58), Massimiliano Alvini (56) and Ivan Juricć of Monza (50). Lecce have also opted for experience, confirming 56-year-old Eusebio Di Francesco following last year’s survival, as have Udinese, with 55-year-old Kosta Runjaić still at the helm of the Friuli-based side.

For this reason too, as reported by the Corriere della Sera and despite the young players mentioned above, the average age of Serie A managers remains high. This is particularly true when compared to the average age of around 43 in the Premier League or 44 in the Bundesliga.

From Cuesta to Abate, from Aquilani to Amorim: here is the new generation of managers

On the other hand, we still have some veteran managers such as Roma’s Gian Piero Gasperini (aged 68), Juventus’ Luciano Spalletti and Atalanta’s new signing Maurizio Sarri (both born in 1959), as well as Massimiliano Allegri. Set to turn 59 on Tuesday, Napoli’s new manager is the fourth oldest in the league. In the top five European leagues, the only manager older than Gasperini, Spalletti and Sarri is Manuel Pellegrini: approaching 73 (on 12 September), the Chilean engineer has been in charge of Real Betis since 2020.

In the Premier League, the benchmark competition for everyone, the oldest manager at the start of the season will be Everton’s Scottish manager David Moyes (63). It is interesting to note that, in the English top flight, there is only one manager who will start the season aged under forty: Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler (33).

Across the Channel, however, there are many managers who are not yet fifty. Among them are two Italians: 46-year-old Enzo Maresca, who has been tasked with the difficult job of leading a Manchester City side left without Pep Guardiola after ten consecutive seasons, and Roberto De Zerbi, aged 47, who will be looking to turn Tottenham’s fortunes around.

In the Bundesliga, the title of oldest manager goes to 60-year-old Urs Fischer of Mainz, whilst the youngest is René Wagner, Cologne’s manager, born in July 1988. In France, on the other hand, where the average age is higher than here (around fifty-two), the oldest manager at the start of the season will be Bruno Genesio of Marseille (59), whilst the ‘youngster’ of the bunch is the Belgian Will Still, a thirty-three-year-old at Auxerre.

I wonder whether they’ll bring about a tactical revolution or whether they’ll fall back on the usual script

But what is behind this new development in Italy? Is it the start of a generational shift? Only time will tell. An initial analysis suggests, however, that the trend towards rejuvenating technical management is driven by two primary needs: the desire to emulate successful models and the need to reduce costs.

In the first respect, Serie A is a ‘copycat league’, that is, a league in which there is a tendency to copy models that have already proved successful. This was already evident many years ago, during the era of Guardiola’s Barcelona, when certain teams (notably Juventus under Ciro Ferrara and Inter under Andrea Stramaccioni) sought to emulate the Blaugrana’s approach, relying on young managers with little experience.

This time round, Italian clubs have found their role models on home soil. Last year, in fact, three of the most talked-about managers – key figures of the previous season – were Cristian Chivu, Cesc Fàbregas and Fabio Pisacane. The Romanian won the Scudetto with Inter in his first season as head coach of a Serie A side. The Spaniard led Como to the historic achievement of qualifying for the Champions League. For his part, Pisacane guided Cagliari to a comfortable top-flight survival, also in his first season outside the youth ranks.

Following these examples, Turin (Abate), Sassuolo (Aquilani), Bologna (Tedesco) and Milan (Ruben Amorim) have also opted for young managers, albeit with more experience under their belts than, say, Chivu or Pisacane.

Then, as mentioned, there is the financial factor to consider. According to data from Transfermarkt, players such as Abate and Aquilani are among the lowest-paid in Serie A, with a gross salary of less than €1.5 million. Amorim (€6.5 million gross) and Tedesco (€3.7 million gross) do indeed earn considerably more, but they are two managers who already have international experience to their credit. It is therefore only natural that, despite both being young, they receive remuneration commensurate with the calibre of the teams they manage.

It remains to be seen whether this new generation will truly bring about a tactical revolution or whether, at the first sign of difficulty, they will end up falling back on the traditional Italian playbook of a five-man defence, a 5-3-2 formation and counter-attacks.

Nadia is one of the best-known figures in Italian athletics: tenacious, never over the top, and well aware that at this level nothing can be taken for granted. “Every race has its own story,” she adds, “but I want to give it my all right up to the very last lap. In these competitions, you also need experience, the ability to keep a clear head when the race gets messy, and the moment when you choose to change pace. I’ll find out the rest on the track.”

Following her double victory in Rome and her Olympic silver in Paris, Nadia is back in action in the 5,000m and 10,000m

Those 400 metres on the tartan track are where she spends her days, filled with training, physiotherapy, nutrition and recovery. “Life as a competitive athlete is complex,” continues the Italian athlete, “and there are aspects, such as rest, that few people talk about. Even recovery requires a methodical approach, attention and attention to detail. It takes next to nothing to ‘fall off the wagon’.” This happened to Nadia at the Golden Gala last June in Rome, where a flu-like illness and other mysterious circumstances forced her into 13th place. “You learn from setbacks. I would have expected better given the effort I’d put in over the previous months. Sport at this level is like that: you end up with performances you didn’t think you were capable of. For better or for worse.”

His plan: “It’s all about knowing when to wait for the right moment to change pace”

Athletics, however, is not the only passion in the life of this young woman from Cles, the main town of the Val di Non. Few people know that, alongside her sporting career, she is studying to become an architect. “I’m enrolled on the degree course in construction engineering and architecture, and it’s a genuine passion, not just a fallback plan. I’m fascinated by the way spaces are designed with the people who will live in them in mind, and I’m very interested in the issue of sustainability. I find that architecture has more in common with athletics than it might seem: in both, you work for a long time on something that you’ll only see at the very end. “I’d like to give back what sport is teaching me,” says Battocletti, “discipline, dealing with difficulties, how to pick yourself up again, and above all, to be of help to younger people – those who think they don’t have what it takes to get anywhere. Sport is one of the few areas where you can still prove the opposite.”

Born in 2000, she has a unique insight into the world of young people, clearly understanding their struggles, aspirations and relationship with a world that isn’t always easy to navigate. “The younger generations are often labelled and generalised about,” continues the middle-distance runner. “We’ve grown up in a different era, with social media and far more opportunities ahead of us: this can create distractions, but it doesn’t take away the desire to work hard. I know lots of young people who study, work and train at a high level. I myself am about to complete my university degree whilst preparing for a European Championship, and that’s not something you can do without making sacrifices. Perhaps we express our ambitions in a different way and seek a better balance between our private lives and our work. What sport has taught me is that nothing comes without perseverance. And that sacrifices are made willingly when you find something you truly believe in.”

With the European Championships in Birmingham just a few days away, Nadia is among the favourites for the title, which she will have to defend against challenges from the Dutch athlete Maureen Koster and the French athlete Sarah Madeleine. There were also rumours of her possibly competing in the 1,500 metres, but in the end the Italian will line up for the 5,000 and 10,000 metres (on Tuesday 11th and Friday 14th, in the evening sessions), ready to write another historic chapter for Italian athletics, a sport that is growing more rapidly in Italy than is generally realised. “Football dominates the scene, and tennis is enjoying an extraordinary moment thanks to the results of Sinner, Musetti and Berrettini: that’s only right – victories attract attention and bring new people to the sport.” Italian athletics is no less impressive. Jacobs, Tamberi, Simonelli, Furlani and Diaz are proving their worth with impressive performances that bode well for the future. “In recent years, athletics has been achieving impressive results,” continues Battocletti, “and interest is growing. Successes are needed, of course, but so are investment, facilities and promotion in schools. Athletics has an advantage that other sports don’t have: at its core are running, jumping and throwing – movements that anyone can do. We just need to make it feel more accessible.”

These are just a few examples of the competition over stadiums that has flared up in the run-up to the European Championships, as the shortlist of five host cities is due to be finalised very soon – there is even talk of October. Furthermore, six years is not a particularly long time to complete costly and complex sports facilities and infrastructure, which must comply with strict UEFA regulations – first and foremost accessibility via public transport, but also new logistical requirements such as one toilet for every 200 spectators. “For local councils, this is both a planning and a political challenge, given the nature of the decisions it entails and the impact on the city,” Marco Leone, senior adviser at Nomisma and an expert in property and stadiums – which are becoming a new frontier for international investment in Italy – tells Il Foglio. As it happens, the main local authorities involved are all centre-left: Naples, Rome, Bologna, but also Florence and Milan. And they would all like to be among the shortlist of five out of the total of 16 bids currently under consideration. “Time is running out and there is a marked acceleration in the projects,” continues Leone. “The solution which, in my view, has the best chance of delivering a sports facility to high quality standards and within the required timeframe is one based on the public-private partnership model typical of the Anglo-Saxon world. In Italy, the project financing model allows works of public interest to be carried out even with exclusively private capital. However, each city is making different choices, partly based on its starting conditions. Milan has decided to sell the stadium and maximise the proceeds, with two clubs – Milan and Inter – as counterparties, who will bear the cost of investing in the new facility as well as taking on the design and construction responsibilities within the required timeframe. In contrast, Naples has chosen to invest a substantial sum of public money, which is, to say the least, unusual in this sector. Perhaps 200 million could have been spent on healthcare and roads, leaving it to the private sector to invest in the stadium in return for a long-term management concession, as Rome is doing. It is also true that this approach is viable when an agreement is reached with the football club and the club is willing to finance the project.”

In fact, as lawyer Marco Monaco, a partner at the law firm Advant Nctm, also explains, Naples did not have many alternatives other than to remain excluded from the list of host cities, given that Calcio Napoli has not yet submitted a project accompanied by a feasibility study in accordance with the provisions of the 2021 Stadi Act. “And yet,” continues Monaco, “this law, which facilitates the construction of buildings complementary to sports infrastructure, effectively offers private investors a reasonable business opportunity. Furthermore, the introduction of the role of stadium commissioner will ensure extremely streamlined administrative and planning procedures. In practice, stadiums have been treated as infrastructure projects of national strategic interest and, as such, can proceed via a fast-track process.” There has recently been some friction between Aurelio De Laurentiis and Mayor Manfredi precisely because of the council’s decision to focus on the Maradona Stadium, where Napoli will be able to continue playing in future, albeit by paying a higher rent than the €800,000 per year it currently pays (compared to the several million paid by clubs in Milan and Rome). “An interesting example is that of Como,” observes Leone of Nomisma. “The council and Como Calcio have just presented a project for the redevelopment of the Sinigaglia stadium, capitalising on its geographical location next to the lake. It is clear that the football club’s owners have recognised the potential of a property investment that capitalises on the international appeal of this location.” It goes without saying, as the French would put it, that the Hartono brothers, Como’s Indonesian owners, are extremely wealthy entrepreneurs. But that is precisely where the difference lies, according to Leone: in the ability of local authorities to leverage their role as public bodies with decision-making and policy-setting powers to involve private investors in the construction and management of facilities. This is an approach also adopted by the mayor of Florence, Sara Funaro, for the redevelopment of the Franchi Stadium in collaboration with Fiorentina Calcio.

Will Italy manage to have five stadiums approved by UEFA that meet the required standards? “I hope so,” concludes Mr Monaco. “I recall that one of the most complicated requirements to meet is the distance between the stands and the pitch, which should not exceed 10 metres. For now, the only stadium certain to meet all the criteria is the one in Turin; two or three other projects seem to be well on track, but if we fail to reach five, we cannot rule out the possibility that the Olimpico might be reinstated, bringing Rome’s total number of bids to two.”

I’m grabbing a few mugs of lager to knock back on the sofa and am amused to watch the contortions of those who, until yesterday, were stroking Gianni’s bald head and are now whistling at him from a distance. I’m talking about the FIFA Legends, that bunch of washed-up former footballers and managers who act as ambassadors for the projects of world football’s governing body. I shall refrain from entering into the controversy over how much these Legends are paid, but it is certain that in recent years they have been FIFA’s friendly, presentable face, taking part in initiatives, travelling the world to promote institutional activities, sitting in the VIP stands and crowding the match buffets, reminding everyone just how talented and enlightened the great Italian-Swiss boss is.

Now that Infantino has asked them to defend him publicly, the Legends – perhaps accustomed to the numerous club changes they’ve made throughout their careers – have remembered that they’d booked a trip, forgotten to turn off the gas at home; in short, they had better things to do than speak well of the man who’s looked after them for years. Not only that, but some of them have even called for his resignation, suddenly realising that Infantino wasn’t the little angel they thought he was. Nothing to be surprised about, given the characters involved. Just as I certainly cannot feign surprise on reading that amongst the federations supporting the current president is – guess what? – Argentina, which expresses its “support for the work carried out over the last ten years, whose main objectives have been the development of football worldwide and institutional stability, based on a clear, stable and transparent model of governance”. And who would ever have thought it, after ten years in which FIFA’s aim has been to ensure that Messi’s team wins the European Championship, the Africa Cup of Nations and even neighbourhood tournaments?

In Italy, it is Giovanni De Carolis – WBA super-middleweight world champion from January 2016 until 5 November of the same year – who has been missing such a prestigious title. And Etinosa Oliha can try to restore some lustre to the noble art in our country. Let’s start with Mc Kenna. Twenty professional bouts, twenty wins. Ten of these by knockout. So he’s not a brawler. Nicknamed ‘The Silencer’, he heads into the most important fight of his career in superb form. At the end of April, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, he beat Liam Smith on points, sending a very strong message to the entire weight class. He’s playing for his big chance on home soil, in front of a crowd there solely for him. ‘But none of them will step into the ring,’ our very own Etinosa wisely remarked.

Last summer, the young man from Turin, who cut his boxing teeth in Asti, was forced to take a break due to a problem with his retina. However, at the end of 2025, in Berlin, he fought and won convincingly (technical knockout) against Ivan Njegac, earning himself the chance to be in Dublin tonight. Oliha is also undefeated as a professional: 22 out of 22. And, like Mc Kenna, he has ten wins before the final bell. Not a huge number for either of them, suggesting that a knockout punch is not one of their strengths and hinting at a bout that will require great focus throughout all 12 scheduled rounds. Mc Kenna is known for a good jab and comes from a family with a strong boxing tradition. His brother is a fellow boxer; his father, Fergal, was a boxer and is now his trainer. For him, boxing was therefore a natural choice. Not so for Etinosa Oliha, who was instead struck by inspiration on the way to Asti – the town where his mother worked – when he spotted a hanging punching bag during the ‘Sport in Piazza’ event. The youngster was 14 years old and, among the stalls dedicated to various martial arts, he glimpsed his future. They told him to visit the gym the next day and that they’d fit him with gloves. He’s practically never taken them off since.

It’s a wonderful message, containing an invitation: keep organising events like this; they always inspire young people. Etinosa lacks that knockout punch, but he’s certainly not short of tactical intelligence or the ability to read a fight. Credit is also due to the work of his coach, Davide Greguoldo – one of the finest in Italian boxing and entirely self-taught. There is no record of him in official boxing matches. He ‘learnt’ the art from books, travelling the world to observe those who would become not only his colleagues but also sources of inspiration. Greguoldo became not just a coach, but also a big brother. Etinosa turned professional at the age of 18 and, after eleven fights, became Italian champion. Then, without ‘killing the father’, but through a courageous decision, he chose to have his interests managed by a major agency such as Agon, which often arranged for him to fight in Germany. The people at Agon – but above all Oliha – realised that separating the two would not be a good idea, and even today Greguoldo will be in his lad’s corner.

Etinosa Oliha, by his own account, draws inspiration from Floyd Mayweather for his cunning, his defence and his ability to read the fight. These are qualities that the young man from Piedmont certainly possesses, though perhaps not quite to the same level. They call him ‘el Chapo’ because his boxing style is similar to that of the Mexicans (fortunately, the drug lord has nothing to do with it) – in other words, he strikes and retreats. In his life, he has also worked as a mechanic, an electrician and a lifeguard. He dreams of unifying the middleweight title. If he really wants to do that, tonight must be the start.