Journalist Josh Bunting has been left shocked by some transfer news that he has now heard from Everton.
The Lowdown: Winks talks
As per The Liverpool Echo, the Goodison Park outfit have held talks with Tottenham Hotspur over the potential signing of Harry Winks this summer.
They are at an early stage, but there is hope that a deal can be struck, as Frank Lampard has personally identified him as a player that can bolster his midfield options for next season.
The Latest: Bunting shocked
Taking to Twitter, Bunting was left shocked by the news, claiming that it would be ‘crazy’ if the Merseyside club signed Winks:
“Do Everton honestly not learn, £20-25 million for Harry Winks is an absolute waste. A club that have got themselves into an awkward situation regarding Financial Fair Play and then go out and spend that money on an utterly pointless player right now for them. Crazy.”
The Verdict: Look elsewhere
Lampard is bound to have admiration for Winks’ path from academy to the senior game as a former English midfielder himself, but he needs to put that behind him and look elsewhere for midfield targets.
Winks made his senior England debut back in 2017, but he has not played for the Three Lions since 2020 (Transfermarkt), which has been completely reflective of his dip in form.
Lampard was a player renowned for scoring goals from the middle of the park, but Winks has remarkably only managed to score five times in over 200 matches for Spurs (Transfermarkt), and with the possibility that the Blues could lose both Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin this summer, they should surely be looking to spend the little cash they have on proven end product.
A new name has emerged in Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer plans this summer…
What’s the word?
According to Alasdair Gold of football.london, Spurs have been tracking Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, who Premier League rivals Newcastle United tried to sign earlier this year.
It remains to be seen how much the Brazil international would command, given how much of a regular he was for the Ligue 1 outfit last season.
Transfermarkt currently value the 24-year-old star at £31.5m, whilst he is thought to be earning wages in the region of £49k-per-week at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
AC Milan will be due 15% of any sale due to an agreement in the €20m (£18m) deal to sell him.
[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-spurs-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-much-more” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more!”]
Frightening midfield unit
The arrival of Paqueta in north London would be quite the coup and could allow manager Antonio Conte to form one of the better midfield departments in the English top-flight.
During the 2021/22 campaign, the Lyon star delivered a total of 11 goals and seven assists from attacking midfield across both domestic and European competitions.
As such, WhoScored graded him as L’OL’s highest-rated player (7.24), whilst as per FBref, he ranks inside the top 6% for progressive passes (9.25 per 90), top 9% for shots (3.06 per 90) and top 12% for non-penalty xG+A (0.59 per 90) of his positional peers across Europe’s top five divisions.
“I love his dribbling and blind passing, but what I love is his desire, his activity, his selflessness, his commitment,” once claimed former Premier League talisman Thierry Henry.
With similar workmanlike players such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur, Paqueta could fit right in to make Spurs’ engine room one to be feared every week.
Meanwhile, teammate Jerome Boateng has also waxed lyrical about the Brazilian’s exploits, declaring:
“He brings so much to our team. He’s running a lot, his skills of course, his technique, his creating chances, his passing, his fighting for the ball, he helps us a lot. And I think he has a big potential to be really a world star in football.”
As such, sporting director Fabio Paratici must look to swoop for the Lyon playmaker in the coming months. He’d be a fine addition to Conte’s squad heading into a Champions League campaign.
AND in other news, Paratici now eyeing £18m-rated Spurs bargain, could be bye-bye “horrendous” Nuno flop…
Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian has hinted that he will leave the club at the end of the season, having struggled to enjoy much playing time this season.
The Lowdown: Adrian’s lack of minutes
There was a time when the 35-year-old was the Reds’ hero in the 2019 Super Cup, as his penalty heroics in the shootout allowed the Reds to beat Chelsea.
Those days are long gone now, however, with Adrian the third-choice ‘keeper at Liverpool, having fallen behind Caoimhin Kelleher in the pecking order.
In fact, the Spaniard has been limited to just one solitary appearance this season, coming in the Carabao Cup against Preston, and he could leave when his contract expires next month.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-34/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]
The Latest: Spaniard hints at exit
Speaking to Cadena SER [via Sport Witness], Adrian made it fairly clear what he wants next:
“Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We all want to play, and this season has not been as he would have liked. When we finish the season, we will evaluate; I still have a lot to contribute.
“I love my profession and being a professional. We will evaluate when the time comes.
“I would say yes, with a bit more strength (to a return to Spain). Obviously, the country pulls a little, and I would like to return to La Liga, but that is always if the opportunity arises. But I still have a year left on my contract.”
The Verdict: Time to leave
In truth, it makes perfect sense for Adrian to head elsewhere before next season, with Jurgen Klopp essentially deeming him surplus to requirements.
It is very difficult to envisage him usurping Kelleher as Alisson’s deputy, meaning he will again barely even make match-day squads moving forward.
At 35, Adrian is still not necessarily past his best as a goalkeeper, so a return to Spain to a club where he is first-choice between the sticks looks like an ideal way to see out his playing days.
In other news, journalist David Maddock has dropped a ‘huge’ Liverpool claim. Read more here.
Newcastle United reportedly ‘remain keen’ on signing Sven Botman in the summer, despite a ‘sensational twist’ that has now emerged.
The Lowdown: Milan bound?
It has been reported that the St. James’ Park faithful have ‘not given up hope’ of signing Botman in the summer, despite AC Milan already verbally agreeing personal terms with the Lille central defender.
After failing to sign him in the January transfer window, the North East club have continually held ‘extensive negotiations’ over the potential signing, but it looks like Milan could be the favourites for his signature.
The Latest: Remain keen
As per Football Insider, the Tyneside outfit ‘remain keen’ on signing Botman, even though a ‘sensational twist’ has now emerged in the form of a new suitor.
According to a source from Manchester United, the Red Devils are now ‘exploring a move’ for the Dutchman, with ‘preliminary talks’ set to take place after a board meeting involving new manager Erik ten Hag.
The Verdict: Get it done
With Manchester United, who can offer Botman European football just like Milan, now entering the frame, the Magpies need to act fast to get this deal done.
Described as a ‘golden boy‘ by his agent Francesco Miniero, he is one of the most promising up-and-coming players in the game at just 22 years of age, having already played regularly at the highest level.
Nonetheless, at six-foot-five, he is an imposing centre-back, and could form a truly scary partnership with the six-foot-seven Dan Burn.
In other news, find out which ‘terrifying’ star NUFC are now eyeing here!
The last few days have been a whirlwind at Manchester United. The Red Devils suffered another disappointing result at Old Trafford, drawing 1-1 against relegation-threatened West Ham United.
Ruben Amorim’s side struggled to create many substantial chances and could only earn a point against the Hammers.
It was another game where Kobbie Mainoo didn’t play, either. The United academy graduate, a true gem of Carrington, has only played 171 minutes in the Premier League this term.
His lack of minutes has certainly upset United fans, with club legend Paul Scholes even saying on a now-deleted social media post that he is “being ruined.”
However, the 20-year-old’s talent cannot be forgotten.
Mainoo’s rise from the academy ranks
It has been a long time since the Red Devils had an academy graduate as exciting as Mainoo, perhaps as far back as Marcus Rashford all those years ago. The midfielder represents what the club stands for: youth, courage, success.
Mainoo’s rise to the top was nothing short of astronomical. He made his first Premier League start back in late November 2023.
Less than 12 months later, he was a starter for England at the European Championships, playing from minute one against Spain in the final.
In his first tournament, key England midfielder Declan Rice was full of praise for Mainoo. The Arsenal star said his midfield partner “has that leadership and the way he takes the ball and is comfortable,” which is high praise just months into his professional career.
United embrace the academy; it has been the heartbeat of the club for decades upon decades.
Mainoo has done Carrington proud in his 82 appearances so far, with the highlight no doubt his FA Cup final winner in 2024. That is what the Red Devils are all about.
Mainoo’s lack of minutes this season is frustrating, but his talent must be celebrated. Incredibly, United have an academy star who might be even more talented than their number 37.
United’s best academy talent
The Red Devils’ long history of success can largely be attributed to their academy. The Busby Babes, the Class of ‘92, graduates from the 2010s such as Rashford, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard, all contributed to silverware.
Perhaps the next great academy graduate from Carrington will be JJ Gabriel.
Despite being just 15 years of age, he is already one of the most highly rated academy players and has been described as potentially being already “better than Premier League players.”
Indeed, Gabriel has shone for the Red Devils’ under-18s this season, playing under the tutelage of Darren Fletcher. In just 11 appearances, he’s found the back of the net ten times and has grabbed one assist.
Those numbers speak for themselves, but given that he is playing three years up, it becomes an even more impressive feat.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The versatile attacker, who can play up front or as a winger, is not only consistent but also cashes in when he does score.
He’s bagged two goals in a game once, and a hat-trick twice, including one against Liverpool under-18s last weekend. He also grabbed eight goals and assists in August and September.
Gabriel form in August & September
Opponent
Scoreline
G/A
Everton (A)
0-1
0
Middlesbrough (H)
5-0
2G
Derby (A)
0-4
3G
Burnley (H)
1-0
0
Wolves (A)
0-4
1G, 1A
Man City (H)
2-4
1G
Stats from Transfermarkt
In terms of his technical ability, Gabriel is rated incredibly highly. Alfie Brooks, the youngster’s one-to-one coach, said he could go into a Premier League dressing room and “technically he would be better than all of them. It wouldn’t even be close.”
He has bags of tricks, a low centre of gravity and a good footballing brain.
Mainoo’s talent is doubtless, but Gabriel might well be an even bigger prospect. To receive the sort of praise he has is a testament to his quality, and the numbers he puts up on a weekly basis show how talented he is.
The attacker is someone United fans will hope to see break into the first team in the coming years, playing alongside Mainoo week in, week out.
He’s "similar to Xhaka": Man Utd to push Madrid for £30m Wharton alternative
One of the greatest joys of baseball is watching a manager eloquently lay into a home plate umpire they believe has not lived up to the demands of the job.
Back in 2019, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone memorably got in the face of rookie umpire Brennan Miller after getting tossed from a game for his constant critiques.
“My guys are f—ing savages in that f—ing box, right?" Boone said. "And you're having a piece of s— start to this game. I feel bad for you. But f—ing get better. That guy is a good pitcher, but our guys are f—ing savages in that box.”
The rant was instantly iconic, helped along by the lip-reading/translation services of baseball internet creator Jomboy.
Jomboy recently celebrated the throwback moment by having actor Rob Lowe provide a reenactment of the fateful exchange. It is an absolute delight.
Let’s hope this trend continues—I would pay top dollar to see John Malkovich screaming “Our a– is in the jackpot.”
The international break came at a good time for Glasgow Rangers boss Danny Rohl, as it has provided him with time to assess his first block of six matches in charge of the club.
Having arrived at Ibrox last month to replace Russell Martin, the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach did not have a pre-season or any real time to assess the squad and what he wants to do moving forward.
The main focus has been on short-term results, which has resulted in three straight wins in the Scottish Premiership, most recently with a 3-0 win over Dundee at Dens Park.
This international break, however, will have provided Rohl and Kevin Thelwell time to sit down and map out the longer-term plan, so that the next steps can be taken to set foot on that path, in the next few weeks and in the January transfer window.
Part of that longer-term plan should include finding a way to create a better pathway from the academy to the first-team so that the Gers can develop homegrown stars, instead of constantly needing to splash money on new signings to bolster the squad.
Unfortunately, there have not been too many recent examples of stars who have broken through from the B team to the first-team to make a name for themselves at Ibrox.
The most valuable former Rangers academy players
Whether it is changes at academy or first-team level, the Light Blues should look to address the lack of quality academy graduates that have come from the youth set-up in recent years.
19-year-old starlet Findlay Curtis has shown promise this season, with a return of three goals in 11 appearances in all competitions, but he has not started any of his four outings in the Premiership, per Transfermarkt.
The Scottish youngster is currently valued at around £400k by Transfermarkt, which is understandable given his lack of starts at first-team level, and that means that he does not rank within the top ten most valuable former Gers academy stars at this moment in time.
Most valuable former Rangers academy players
Player
Market value (to nearest million)
Billy Gilmour
£18m
Nathan Patterson
£11m
Greg Taylor
£5m
Ross McCrorie
£2m
Lewis Morgan
£2m
David Bates
£1m
Robbie Ure
£1m
Ryan Hardie
£1m
Malcolm Ebiowei
£1m
Ross McCausland
£1m
Values via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, the most valuable former academy talent is Napoli central midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is who is worth as much as the next three highest combined.
Unfortunately, the Scotland international did not play a single game for the Light Blues at first-team level because he opted to sign for Chelsea at the age of 15, with a development fee of at least £500k paid to Rangers.
When asked why he decided to move on from Ibrox, Gilmour later said: “It was between Rangers and Chelsea. Most of my family are Rangers fans and I love the club. I’ll always be thankful for everything they did. But when Chelsea showed me my development plan, I couldn’t turn it down. Everything about the club was amazing and it’s where I wanted to be.”
Whilst the pull of a Premier League title winner and regular Champions League contender will always be big, the midfielder’s comments about a ‘development plan’ were interesting.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Without knowing what goes on behind the scenes, it is hard to know whether or not the Gers are doing enough to convince young talent that they have a development plan that will turn them into a star at Ibrox.
One academy graduate who has seemingly not had a clear pathway to being a regular in the first-team is Bailey Rice, which is why Rohl must avoid him becoming a Gilmour repeat.
Why Danny Rohl should unleash Rangers teen Bailey Rice
The Gers youngster is not in the exact same situation as Gilmour, because he is four years older and has had experience in the first-team, but the club may run the risk of him wanting to move on if his lack of game time persists.
Thelwell, as shown in the graphic above, made it clear on Saturday that he wants the talented academy graduates at the club to be given chances at Ibrox, but that has not happened for Rice this season.
The 19-year-old star has played 45 minutes of football, against Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, for the Light Blues in the 2025/26 campaign, which means that he has not played a single minute in the Premiership.
In the summer transfer window, Rangers swooped to sign 30-year-old central midfielder Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth to bolster Russell Martin’s options in the defensive and central midfield positions.
That signing has played a part in blocking Rice’s pathway to playing minutes in the Premiership, and the experienced midfielder’s performances so far suggest that they may have been better off giving those chances to the youngster.
25/26 Premiership
Joe Rothwell
Appearances
8
Starts
5
Minutes
412
Goals
0
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
Dribbled past per game
0.4x
Ground duel success rate
46%
Aerial duel success rate
50%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Rothwell has offered very little offensively or defensive in the middle of the park in his 412 minutes on the pitch in the league, losing the majority of his overall duels.
The English flop’s struggles suggest that the Gers would have been better off giving those 412 minutes to Rice to benefit his development and put him back on track to becoming a first-team regular, as Thelwell stated that he wants academy players to be given chances.
Rice made his first-team debut as a 16-year-old and was described as “a heck of a player” by former boss Michael Beale, as he made 14 first-team appearances in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined.
After a Europa League clash with Manchester United in January, Rio Ferdinand said that he liked Rice and hailed his composed play and “wonderful” passing in midfield, which shows that he impressed a former Premier League title winner and England international.
The teenage talent has only featured in seven Premiership games, starting once, in the subsequent 11 months, per Sofascore. This means that he has not had ample opportunity to nail down a place in the team.
Therefore, Rohl should avoid another Gilmour situation by finally handing Rice a chance to shine in the Premiership after the international break, to let him learn and develop, rather than continue to play Rothwell, who is at the opposite end of his career and has struggled this season.
£3m Rangers flop is becoming their biggest waste of time since Cortes
Óscar Cortés’ £4.5m move from Lens has been an unmitigated disaster for Rangers, but is their “creative” attacker in danger of becoming a repeat?
Youngster Diego Leon may “not have to wait much longer” for his senior Manchester United debut.
Despite only turning 18 in April 2025, Leon had already made over 30 appearances in senior football with Cerro Porteno in his native Paraguay. Since joining the Red Devils in the summer, Leon has played exclusively for the Man United Under-21s, where he has caught the eye with his performances.
Leon is evidently an exciting talent and Man United, no doubt, will aim to avoid a repeat of what happened with Alvaro Carreras. The teenager has been in several matchday squads for Ruben Amorim’s side, who have acquired 10 points from an available 12 in their previous four games.
Reports from Leon’s home continent of South America, as per The Peoples Person, have suggested that the wing-back could soon be handed his senior debut at Old Trafford.
Leon is highly thought of at Carrington
Manchester United players huddle before the match
To be part of a Premier League squad in any capacity is a sign that Amorim has been impressed by Leon. As per journalist Christian Martin, the Paraguayan is a firm part of the club’s plans going forward.
Having signed in January, Patrick Dorgu is yet to make a strong impression for Man United. Formerly of Lecce, the left-sided player has not started a game for the Red Devils since a 3-1 loss against Brentford at the end of September.
Diogo Dalot has been starting as the left-wing-back in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system since Dorgu was dropped. Naturally suited to the right-hand side, Dalot has also struggled in the position and given the injury troubles that both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia have faced in recent years, Leon could well soon find himself involved in a first-team game.
Reportedly, Leon will “get his chance sooner rather than later.” Top flight football in Paraguay is, of course, a different level to the English Premier League, but Leon has already played consistent senior football, a rarity for a player of such a young age.
When exactly Leon will receive his chance remains to be seen, but given the impressions he has been making since arriving in the summer, it surely can not be long until the Paraguay international makes his bow for the Red Devils.
Man Utd offered chance to sign striker for bargain in January
After the deadline passed at the end of the summer transfer window, Leeds United did not have the attacking depth that Daniel Farke wanted in the squad.
Journalist Graham Smyth noted that the manager revealed that it would be “difficult” for the club to avoid relegation if they did not add to their attacking options, and they did not.
The 49ers left it too late and had no back-up options when a deal for Harry Wilson fell through on deadline day, which meant that they ended the window with Noah Okafor as their only signing out wide.
Okafor, who was signed from AC Milan for £18m, was the only attacking signing who was signed for a transfer fee, as the club did not sign another winger, attacking midfielder, or striker from another club for a fee.
Lucas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were the only two other attacking signings made by the club during the summer transfer window, and both of them arrived on free transfers.
Calvert-Lewin joined on a free transfer from Premier League mainstays Everton in the summer after his contract with the Toffees expired, and Leeds need more from him.
Why Leeds need more from Dominic Calvert-Lewin
The 11-cap England international has played 245 matches in the Premier League, per Transfermarkt, for Everton and Leeds combined in his career, which shows that he is a hugely experienced player at the level.
His experience does shine through in his physical output. The towering striker has won 4.7 duels per game and won 42% of his aerial duels in the top-flight, per Sofascore, whilst Joel Piroe, for example, has won 0.5 duels per match and won 20% of his aerial duels.
This shows that he is providing an outlet at the top end of the pitch for Leeds to hit when they are under pressure, which is why Farke is right to continue to select him over Piroe, who is a lightweight out of possession.
However, Calvert-Lewin needs to offer more in front of goal for the West Yorkshire outfit, as his header in the clip above is his only goal for the club to date.
The £100k-per-week centre-forward has missed five ‘big chances’ in five starts in the Premier League, whilst he also missed four ‘big chances’ in the League Cup against Sheffield Wednesday on his debut.
Most big chances missed in the 25/26 Premier League
Player
Big chances missed
Goals
Jean-Philippe Mateta
10
5
Erling Haaland
8
11
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
5
1
Viktor Gyokeres
4
3
Antoine Semenyo
4
6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin is third in the Premier League for ‘big chances’ missed this season, but he does not boast the goal tally that the players around him in that list have.
Missing chances is not the end of the world for a striker if they are still scoring goals, as Erling Haaland and Jean-Philippe Mateta are doing, but the Leeds striker is not scoring enough goals to make up for his misses.
This is why Farke needs more from the experienced number nine. For all the good work he is doing physically, Calvert-Lewin must step up and provide goals to win points for the team.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The longer his struggles in front of goal continue, the more Leeds may regret how they ended up in a position where Mateo Joseph had to be axed from the squad in the summer.
Per the striker’s comments, Farke told him that he would not be counted on in the Premier League, which led to a loan move to LaLiga outfit Mallorca.
Why Leeds must regret loaning out Mateo Joseph
The Spain U21 international came through the youth ranks at Thorp Arch to score six goals in 73 first-team matches for Leeds, per Transfermarkt, whilst mainly coming off the bench.
Journalist Phil Hay even said that Joseph was “starting to look a little bit like Archie Gray” at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, as the young striker was “becoming a really big impact player off the bench” in the same season that Gray stepped up before his £30m move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Unfortunately, Farke did not have faith that the Spaniard would be able to make the step up to the Premier League, which is why he was sent out on loan to Mallorca.
His form in LaLiga since being sent out on loan may be frustrating for supporters, because his current performance level suggests that he would be an upgrade on Calvert-Lewin at Elland Road.
The Leeds academy graduate has won 47% of his ground duels and 37% of his overall duels across eight appearances in LaLiga, per Sofascore, which shows that he has handled the physicality of one of Europe’s major leagues well.
On top of showing good physicality in his performances, Joseph has also scored two goals in four starts in LaLiga for Mallorca, twice as many goals as Calvert-Lewin has managed in the Premier League.
25/26 season
Calvert-Lewin (Premier League)
Joseph (LaLiga)
Appearances
6
8
Starts
5
4
Duels won per game
4.7
2.4
Duel success rate
38%
37%
Goals
1
2
Big chances missed
5
2
Assists
0
1
Penalties won
0
1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old marksman has scored twice as many goals, provided one more assist, and won one more penalty than the Leeds forward this season.
Meanwhile, Calvert-Lewin has only won a slightly higher percentage of his physical duels, which suggests that Joseph would not be a significant downgrade in that respect.
Therefore, Leeds must regret binning the Spanish forward in the summer, because Farke did not trust him, as he is now outperforming Calvert-Lewin in another major European league.
His return of two goals with only two ‘big chances’ missed suggests that he is the clinical marksman that Leeds are sorely lacking in their team right now, after they failed to score any of the four ‘big chances’ they had against Burnley on Saturday.
Their answer to Saka: Leeds now have "one of England's best prospects"
Leeds United have a teen star in their academy who could emerge as their own Bukayo Saka-type player.
ByDan Emery Oct 15, 2025
Farke and Leeds will now be hoping that Calvert-Lewin can turn his form around and start to show why the club were willing to move Joseph on to go with him as their main number nine.
Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has doubled down on his defence of the controversial plan to stage the AC Milan vs Como clash in Australia. Despite backlash from fans, players and coaches, De Siervo insists the decision is vital for the league’s global growth and has urged FIFA to grant the final approval, claiming the move is an “unpopular but necessary” step for Italy’s football future.
Milan-Como in Perth: A historic first for Serie A
For the first time in history, a Serie A match is set to be played outside Italy, as Milan and Como prepare to face off in Perth, Australia, in February 2026. The groundbreaking decision has stirred debate across the Italian football community, drawing both praise and sharp criticism. The fixture, approved “on an exceptional basis” by UEFA, awaits final authorisation from FIFA to officially go ahead, though the Serie A chief maintains there is little the latter can do to block the scheme.
The idea emerged due to logistical complications caused by the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, which will render San Siro unusable from February 6 to 22. Instead of relocating the match within Italy, the Lega Serie A opted for an international venue, hoping to strengthen the league’s global visibility and market reach.
Como, earlier in a statement, described the move as essential for the league’s survival, calling it “a forward-looking decision to secure Serie A’s future competitiveness.”
Lega Serie A CEO De Siervo stood firm amid public criticism, saying the move represents courage and long-term vision rather than opportunism. “If you ask an athlete if he wants to fly 20 hours to play a soccer match in his league, he’ll obviously say it’s crazy,” De Siervo told . “If you ask a coach who’s playing for the Scudetto or Champions League qualification, he’ll also resist. But this is about whether we want the egg today or the chicken tomorrow.”
He added that the goal is to modernise Italian football’s commercial approach. “Anyone developing a sports property must think five to 10 years ahead. If we want to become an international league, we must have the courage to make unpopular decisions." His comments reflect Serie A’s broader strategy to expand its global footprint, particularly in Asia-Pacific markets, where fan interest in European football continues to grow.
'FIFA can't stop it' – CEO confident of approval
De Siervo also revealed that the process of authorisation is nearly complete. “One Serie A match out of 380 is a small sacrifice, that’s only 0.26% of our calendar,” he said. “We’ve already obtained five out of seven required authorisations. AC Milan, Como, and all 20 Serie A clubs are in agreement, as are the FIGC, UEFA, and the Australian Federation.”
The remaining approvals from the Asian Confederation and FIFA are expected soon. “Gianni Infantino will have to resolve this somehow,” De Siervo said confidently. “From a technical standpoint, there are no valid reasons to block it. The football governing bodies have rights and duties, but they cannot prevent something that isn’t explicitly prohibited.”
He further suggested that while the decision feels revolutionary now, it will be seen as normal in the near future. “This match, which many see as a break with tradition, will probably be remembered as the first step towards modernisation. In five years, this will be routine.”
Serie A isn’t the only European league experimenting with playing regular-season matches abroad. Spain’s La Liga had received UEFA’s approval to stage the Barcelona vs Villarreal match in Miami in December 2025, though that plan was cancelled. UEFA described both moves as “exceptional cases” and clarified that these permissions “should not set a precedent.”
While traditionalists argue that domestic matches should remain on home soil, the commercial logic is evident. Both Serie A and La Liga are seeking to emulate American sports leagues, which have successfully hosted games internationally to build global fanbases.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportLandmark game nears full approval with FIFA decision coming
The scheduled fixture between AC Milan and Como in February now hinges on FIFA’s final approval. Should it be confirmed, Perth’s Optus Stadium is expected to host the historic encounter, marking a major promotional moment for Italian football. For Milan, the match could also serve as an opportunity to further engage with fans in Oceania, as the club continues its push for global brand expansion under RedBird Capital.
However, challenges remain and the concerns over travel fatigue, ticket access, and the loss of local matchday experiences. Still, De Siervo and Serie A remain firm in their conviction that such international ventures will ultimately elevate the league’s status.
If FIFA grants approval, Milan vs Como in Perth will not only be a Serie A first but also a test case for the future of domestic football globalisation, one that could redefine how Europe’s top leagues approach expansion beyond their borders.