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The Italian Serie A title has been won by Juventus in the past four seasons, but their manager Massimiliano Allegri believes that there will be an improved title challenge from the likes of Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Both Milan clubs have had incredible declines in the last five years. During the same period, Juventus have become a force to reckon with once again. They are expected to struggle after the departure of Antonio Conte, but Allegri has stepped into the role quite seamlessly. After having led the club to yet another league title, Allegri almost won the Champions League last season.

In doing so, he has bettered the achievements of Conte in the European competitions. Looking forward to the new season, the former Milan manager says that Juventus are undoubtedly favourites for the title but they will have to be wary of the challenge from the likes of Inter. Roberto Mancini has spent a considerable amount of money in this transfer window. If the signings do work for them, then Inter could very will improve on their eighth place finish last season. Roma and Lazio are seen as the other contenders for the title.

The season begins in the second week of August. “Juve remain title favourites, but watch out for the two Milan teams this year – they’re always dangerous. Inter and Milan have both strengthened and are capable of challenging for the title, as are Roma and Napoli.Next year’s Serie A title race will be a lot more open.Everything we’ve achieved thus far is now consigned to the history books. We start again from scratch.Once the transfer window shuts we’ll have around 10 players born between 1991 and 1996. A wise move for the future,” said Allegri. The Italian Serie A fixtures for the new season are yet to be announced.

The Italian Serie A title has been won by Juventus in the past four seasons, but their manager Massimiliano Allegri believes that there will be an improved title challenge from the likes of Inter Milan and AC Milan.

Both Milan clubs have had incredible declines in the last five years. During the same period, Juventus have become a force to reckon with once again. They are expected to struggle after the departure of Antonio Conte, but Allegri has stepped into the role quite seamlessly. After having led the club to yet another league title, Allegri almost won the Champions League last season.

In doing so, he has bettered the achievements of Conte in the European competitions. Looking forward to the new season, the former Milan manager says that Juventus are undoubtedly favourites for the title but they will have to be wary of the challenge from the likes of Inter. Roberto Mancini has spent a considerable amount of money in this transfer window. If the signings do work for them, then Inter could very will improve on their eighth place finish last season. Roma and Lazio are seen as the other contenders for the title.

The season begins in the second week of August. “Juve remain title favourites, but watch out for the two Milan teams this year – they’re always dangerous. Inter and Milan have both strengthened and are capable of challenging for the title, as are Roma and Napoli.Next year’s Serie A title race will be a lot more open.Everything we’ve achieved thus far is now consigned to the history books. We start again from scratch.Once the transfer window shuts we’ll have around 10 players born between 1991 and 1996. A wise move for the future,” said Allegri. The Italian Serie A fixtures for the new season are yet to be announced.

Cardiff City may very well decide to cash in on the interest from Italian Serie A on one of their strikers,Federico Macheda.

The Italian has not been seen in his home country since his time with Sampdoria. After spending a few months on loan at Cardiff City, the former Manchester United man decided to call the championship outfit as his home. However, the presence of many strikers at the disposal of manager Russell Slade is likely to see Macheda leaving the club before the end of this transfer window.Frosinone are the latest club to join the Italian Serie A after being promoted from the second division.

They are keen on recruiting quality players without having to spend a lot of money.Macheda certainly fits into this bill after having sold his quality on a number of occasions with Cardiff and Manchester United. However, he has not been able to deliver it on a consistent basis due to his injury problems.Frosinone will believe that the player is a gamble worth taking at just 23 years of age. The player still has two years left on his contract. The fact that Slade has six or seven players capable of playing as the striker is likely to tilt the situation in favour ofFrosinone.

Macheda was brought to the Championship club by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He was a free transfer and any fee that Cardiff receive now will be a bonus for the club. Last season, he managed to score 8 goals in just 15 starts for the club. There were also 10 more appearances as a substitute. Despite these goals, Cardiff did not come close to getting out of the second division and they will be trying once more in the coming campaign. Cardiff are so far unbeaten in the season.

Former Manchester United striker Federico Machedabelieves that Ravel Morrison has what it takes to become a success in Italian football.

Morrison has a bad boy reputation in England and he has never done well at any of his previous club like West Ham and Manchester United. However, he has shown flashes of brilliance from time to time and he is still regarded as one of the top English talents in the world today.Macheda backs his former United teammate to rediscover his love for the game. Morrison will be moving to Italian outfit Lazio, a club whereMacheda started his career, in the summer.

Macheda was a youth team player at Lazio before being poached upon by United in 2007. His United career began in excellent fashion and it was not long beforeMacheda made his first-team debut in the best possible manner – by scoring. However, the Italian failed to keep his form going and he recently made a permanent move to Cardiff City. It was seen as a surprising decision by the Italian, as many expected him to join an Italian club. He feels that Morrison remains a great talent and the change of scenario will help him get his concentration back into the game.

“He came on loan to Cardiff. And the Championship in England is similar to Italian football. It ‘s very technical, he is certainly a player like [former AC Milan midfielder, Gennaro] Gattuso. If you find him on the right day he can hurt anyone.He has had some problems off the field that did not allow him to explode, he was right to leave England,” said the former United striker. Sam Allardyce is known for getting the best out of troubled players, but even the former Bolton boss admitted defeat with regard to Morrison.

Former Manchester striker Federico Macheda looks to be back in the reckoning to start a match for Cardiff City after manager Russell Slade stated that the Italian deserves some game time.

After making his move to Cardiff permanent in the summer,Macheda has been looking to kickstart his career. His career has suffered immensely over the last couple of years due to injuries, but he seems to be over those issues of late. Still, it has not helped him regain his form. After managing to put in a great performance in the match against Rotherdam,Macheda appears to have done enough to convince Slade.

The goal against Rotherdam was the first thatMacheda had scored more than 10 matches. His previous goal was against Leeds United back at the start of November. Known affectionately as ‘Kiko’ within the team, Macheda will be getting an opportunity to further impress the manager when he takes to the field against Charlton Athletic. Cardiff City will be hoping for a second consecutive victory, which will push them closer towards the top 10 of the table. Cardiff have not been necessarily good at home and their last win at the Cardiff city stadium was back in January.

“There were a few reasons Kiko wasn’t in my team, including an injury which knocked him back a little bit.He hadn’t played for a good few matches, but he was training really well. I noticed that session after session over a period of 10 days and more. He’s back looking really fit and that sharpness needed was returning.Kiko earned a place in the 18-strong matchday squad for the match against Wolves and that was a sign of his progress,” said Slade. The former Manchester United man has featured in 19 matches for Cardiff and has scored six goals.

After not being able to turn into an important figure in Old Trafford despite being a player of Manchester United for over 5 seasons, Federico Macheda was released by the Premier League club and was signed on a free transfer by Cardiff City.

Upon joining Cardiff City, his time in the playing grounds of his new club have been much greater compared to when he used to be a player of Manchester United and the Italian forward is optimistic that he can score at least 15 goals with his new team but at the same time, Macheda is also aware that Cardiff City are not the favorites on winning the English Championship League title.

“Last season when I was at Birmingham and Doncaster, I scored 13 goals in four months. This season I’m playing with a better team and if the team keeps doing well, I’m sure I can get at least 15 goals. I don’t set myself a target because I always think about the team first. But I would be happy with 15. I think I’m close to being at my best.”

“I don’t say that we’re the favorite because there are lots of good teams, but I am sure that we will be up there. The Championship is a very tough league and there are lots of good teams. But we’ve got a good team too. We have to work all season for the promotion. I’d love the team to get promoted straight away. We know we have to do well for the fans and ourselves and the benefit of the club’’.

Those were the words that Federico Macheda said as he outlined some of his own vision and goals after having joined Cardiff City but the Italian forward is realistic about the possibilities that Cardiff City have on returning to the Premier League in the current season.

Former Manchester United striker Federico Macheda says that he wants to return to the Premier League by getting promotion with Cardiff this season.

The Italian moved on a permanent basis to Cardiff last January. Even though the departure of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer threatened to disrupt his season once again, he has been able to establish himself as first choice player under new boss Russell Slade. The 23-year-old has been able to feature in 12 league matches this season and he has three goals. Even though his goal return has not been spectacular, it has been enough to keep Cardiff in the mix for a play-off spot.

They are 12th in the table going into the match with Reading on Saturday, but they also only five points away from the final play-off spot. With more than two thirds of the season remaining,Macheda appears confident that the club can rediscover the form that got them promoted to the Premier League two years ago.Macheda has recently been going through a good run of form recently. He scored one of the goals in the 3-1 win over Leeds United. He has set a personal target of reaching 15 goals by the end of the campaign, which seems achievable given the good start he has made.

“Last season when I was at Birmingham and Doncaster, I scored 13 goals in four months.This season I’m playing with a better team and if the team keeps doing well, I’m sure I can get at least 15 goals.I don’t set myself a target because I always think about the team first. But I would be happy with 15.I think I’m close to being at my best. It’s been a great run and with our fans, the opposition seem to be a bit scared,” saidMacheda.

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stated that summer signing from Federico Macheda is unlikely to be fit for the midweek match against Coventry City in the League Cup. Cardiff come on the back of a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the Championship. Despite being a tough away match, Cardiff managed to take the lead in the first half through former Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones. The forward has dropped down the division in order to get regular first-team football, but he has shown no signs of fading in quality.

Blackburn did not take long to equalise after Cairney scored in the 40th minute, but this was a result that pleased manager Solskjaer given that Blackburn had a number of top players in their ranks. Despite relegation from the Premier League two years ago, Blackburn still have quality players like Jordan Rhodes in the squad. Cardiff, meanwhile, have strengthened the squad substantially with the signings of players like Federico Macheda. The former Manchester United man has come to the club on a free transfer, but he was not available for this match due to a hamstring injury.

The Italian is unlikely to be fit for the League Cup according to Solskjaer. Cardiff are unlikely to focus much on the League Cup, as the home match against Huddersfield Town looms in the background.

“We can play loads better football than this but we dug out a result. It was never going to be a pretty game. It’s the first game, it’s away from home and they don’t let you settle. They play a very direct style of football and have got [Rudy] Gestede and [Jordan] Rhodes as an outlet all the time. They caused us problems with Tom Cairney and Craig Conway. I don’t think Kiko [Macheda] will be ready for Wednesday, but Javi will be ready,” said Solskjaer.

The manager of the Italian national football team, Cesare Prandelli, has quit from his position after his team’s dismal outing in the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Italy was slotted in a very tough Group D, but, considering their potential, they were expected to be through. They started without any hiccups as they secured three points in their first match against England quite clinically, but, that was that for them.

Two successive loses thereafter ensured the completion of their campaign and they made their way back home completely humiliated yesterday.

Prandelli’s position was always going to be under the scanner after such a horrifying show of the team at the biggest stage of world football, but, before being handed the sack, he himself left saying that he couldn’t deliver what was expected of him. His resignation is yet to be accepted by the Italian Football Association though.

Announcing his decision to quit, Prandelli said, “If you are in charge of a certain project and that project isn’t a success, you must hold yourself responsible for that and leave your position. That’s what I have done.”

A draw in the last game against Uruguay would have been enough for Italy to take them through, but, it wasn’t to be. Yes, there were a couple of marginal decisions by the referee which went against them, but, there is no denying that they didn’t play as well as a champions side should.
One would have to say that Prandelli’s trump card Mario Balotelli let him down a little bit in Brazil. This was the World Cup in which the striker was widely backed to make a mark, but, it appeared that there was something wrong with his rhythm. He just didn’t look as energetic as he generally looks on the pitch.

Cardiff city manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stated that he is extremely delighted with the signing of Adam le Fondre so much so that he has compared the striker with himself at Manchester United. Solskjaer is regarded as one of the great players to have represented United in the last decade. He may not have started most matches for United, but the Norwegian was more than happy with a place on the bench and to create an impact in the last few minutes of the match.

The club only recently managed to sign Federico Macheda on a free transfer from United. Now, they have completed their second signing of the summer by bringing in Fondre for around £ 2.5 million from Reading. After completing the signing, the club manager stated that he is confident that the new signings will hold the club in good shape going into the new Championship season. Cardiff will be hoping to get promoted back to the Premier league in the first instance. They will continue to receive parachute payments, which will be of major assistance, for the next four years.

The size of the parachute payments, though, reduces considerably after the second year, thus putting Cardiff at a disadvantage compared to the newly relegated teams. “I think we’ve got a bit of a steal with Adam. He’s proven, he’s experienced and he’s a natural goal-scorer, that’s what he’s about,” said the Cardiff manager. “Having been a goal-scorer myself I can see a lot of similarities between myself and Adam. Perhaps he doesn’t want the tag, but like me he has been known to come on and score a lot of goals as a sub – of course like I did. You can see he’s a natural in front of goal.”
Cardiff start the new campaign with an away match against Blackburn Rovers.