Friday 39 Sports Friday, August 20, 2021 Inter’s turbulent summer leaves crown up for grabs ROME: kick off the new Serie A sea- back at the controls and son tomorrow in the midst of fan protests and added Euro star Manuel Locatelli to a midfield money troubles that threaten to derail their title which was the Old Lady’s weak point under An- defense before it has even begun. A dramatic drea Pirlo last season. Rumours of Cristiano summer for the champions reached its lowest ebb Ronaldo’s desire to leave Juve have not damp- last week when star striker was ened enthusiasm around the team’s chances as sold to Chelsea, a transfer that enraged not just the chaos that has enveloped Inter and Allegri’s supporters but reportedly also CEO Giuseppe return have boosted hopes in Turin of reclaiming Marotta and new coach . the title from their old enemies. The Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Inter’s Also sniffing to overtake Inter is a new cast cash-strapped Chinese owners Suning forced of managers led by Jose Mourinho at Roma, who the sale of Belgium forward Lukaku after having on Tuesday celebrated the arrival of Tammy already offloaded buccaneering right-back Abraham from Chelsea. Mourinho was wel- , a key figure in their first Serie A comed back to Italy this summer, memories of triumph since 2010, to Paris Saint-Germain. treble glory at Inter over a decade ago leaving The club’s financial problems were clear well Roma fans hoping the once Special One’s star before the league crown was claimed, and last has not definitively waned. month previous coach left Inter Elsewhere will try to bring his knowing his team could be dismantled. They are brand of passing football to Lazio while Luciano still strong in key areas and have one of Italy’s Spalletti has a chance to get a talent-packed Euro 2020 heroes in Nicolo Barella, but the Napoli back in the top four on his return to club squad has certainly been downgraded. management after two years away. MILAN: In this file photo taken on January 14, 2020, Inter Milan’s Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates after opening Lukaku has been replaced with Edin Dzeko, a the scoring during the Italian Cup round of 16 match v Cagliari at the stadium in Milan. Romelu Lukaku returned capable forward familiar with Serie A, but the Fans return to European champions Chelsea, seven years after his first spell at Stamford Bridge came to an end. —AFP Bosnia striker is 35 years old and scored just Supporters will finally be able to watch the seven league goals last season. Dutch defender unfolding drama in stadiums after the Italian Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president ceive one percent of all bets placed on any Denzel Dumfries however is an intriguing choice government permitted clubs to open their stadi- Gabriele Gravina welcomed the move but in- sporting event. for the vacant spot at right-back after his exciting ums to 50 percent capacity earlier in the month. sisted that it was simply a “first step towards Another test for the league will be how its displays at Euro 2020. How he and Dzeko fare The decision came after clubs railed against our aim of having our stadiums full as soon as new main broadcaster DAZN performs. The will be key to Inzaghi’s chances at Inter after the previous legislation which also permitted possible”. streaming platform outbid Sky for the 2021-2024 doing an excellent job on a small budget at Lazio. grounds to be as much as half full, but included Last month the FIGC laid out demands to the rights in March and will be expected to supply social distancing rules which would have meant government which as well as asking for tax relief coverage of Serie A to millions in a country Allegri’s Juve lurking up to three quarters of places in some grounds included a request to create a ‘Save Football where digital development lags behind other Eu- Ready to pounce will be Juventus, who have being unavailable to fans. Fund’ managed by the FIGC which would re- ropean countries. — AFP

German Super Cup. Bayern Munich He played the full 90 minutes and lifted the trophy on the pitch after Bayern striker Robert After 995 matches, Mourinho wait on Neuer Lewandowksi sealed victory with two goals. In a statement, Bayern left it open whether the ‘calm’ ahead of Roma bow after ankle knock Germany goalkeeper will be fit for Sunday’s home league game at the Allianz Arena. ROME: Jose Mourinho said he was “calm” BERLIN: Bayern Munich captain Manuel The defending champions are hunting their ahead of his first competitive game as Roma Neuer sat out training yesterday with an ankle first Bundesliga win of the new season after coach, insisting that taking charge of a team for knock as the defending Bundesliga champions drawing last Friday’s opening match at the 996th time in his career poses little anxiety. wait on their goalkeeper’s fitness for this Moenchengladbach. If Neuer drops out, he is “It’s true that this will be my first official match weekend’s home game against Cologne. set to be replaced by reserve goalkeeper Sven with this club, but it will be my 996th match if Neuer, 35, needed treatment on his right ankle Ulreich, 33, who rejoined in the summer after I’m not mistaken so I am calm,” he told Sky during Tuesday’s 3-1 win at Dortmund in the a season at second division Hamburg. — AFP Sport ahead of yesterday’s Europa Conference League play-off first leg at Trabzonspor. Despite the game forming part of UEFA’s new third-tier club tournament, 58-year-old Mourinho said it was a tie worthy of a greater stage. “For me, it doesn’t seem like a Confer- ence League play-off, but rather a Europa League or Champions League match because ROME: Roma’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho ges- the two clubs played the Champions League a tures during a friendly football match against Raja few years ago,” he said. Club Athletic at the Olympic stadium in Rome on Au- Mourinho also said he expects great things gust 14, 2021. —AFP from new 40-million-euro ($46.8 million) sign- ing Tammy Abraham who he bought from for- “Abraham doesn’t have the history of Edin, mer club Chelsea. Abraham was signed just who is 35, but he’s won it all and he’s still three days after veteran striker Edin Dzeko young, with great potential,” explained Mour- was shipped out to Inter Milan to replace inho. Roma will get their Serie A campaign un- Romelu Lukaku who completed the transfer derway on Sunday with a home clash against DORTMUND: Bayern Munich’s German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gets medical treatment during the German Super triangle by returning to Stamford Bridge. Fiorentina. — AFP Cup football match against Borussia Dortmund in Dortmund on August 17, 2021. —AFP