Latest news with #Allegri
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri and Mike Maignan excited for pre-season friendly with Perth Glory
Perth is turning red and black as European soccer giants AC Milan are making their presence felt ahead of their second game in WA in as many years. The Italian powerhouse have landed in WA off the back of two high-profile pre-season clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool in Asia, and will face Perth Glory on Thursday night at HBF Park. It follows on from Milan's previous trip to Perth, which saw them face fellow Italian side AS Roma in front of more than 56,000 people at Optus Stadium last May. The Italians have brought several star names down under, including American ace Christian Pulisic, talismanic Portugese forward Rafael Leao and internationally-capped Englishmen Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. With Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti spruiking Thursday's match against the Glory as a near sell-out, coach Massimiliano Allegri and captain Mike Maignan spoke of their excitement at finishing off their Asia-Pacific tour in style. Allegri, said he had appreciated the warm reception from fans in WA, who lined the Crown Towers lobby on Sunday night to greet the club upon arrival. 'I'm honored to represent AC Milan for the first time in Western Australia and in Australia generally,' Allegri said via an interpreter. 'I recognise the huge following that AC Milan has across this country, and I'm looking forward to not only the game on Thursday night, but everything that surrounds it.' Maignan, who has established himself as the French international team's no.1 goalkeeper, said through an interpreter he was looking forward to playing the Glory. 'I'm very honoured to lead my team into Perth and Western Australia. I'm very proud of his club, and I'm looking forward to showing not only what Italian football is on the park, but the culture and everything else that's around AC Milan,' he said. Players from the club also visited Perth Children's Hospital on Monday to greet young fans.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Italian powerhouses return to Perth for pre-season clash
Perth is turning red and black as European soccer giants AC Milan are making their presence felt ahead of their second game in WA in as many years. The Italian powerhouse have landed in WA off the back of two high-profile pre-season clashes with Arsenal and Liverpool in Asia, and will face Perth Glory on Thursday night at HBF Park. It follows on from Milan's previous trip to Perth, which saw them face fellow Italian side AS Roma in front of more than 56,000 people at Optus Stadium last May. The Italians have brought several star names down under, including American ace Christian Pulisic, talismanic Portugese forward Rafael Leao and internationally-capped Englishmen Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. With Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti spruiking Thursday's match against the Glory as a near sell-out, coach Massimiliano Allegri and captain Mike Maignan spoke of their excitement at finishing off their Asia-Pacific tour in style. AC Milan captain Mike Maignan speaks ahead of the game with Perth Glory this Thursday. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Allegri, said he had appreciated the warm reception from fans in WA, who lined the Crown Towers lobby on Sunday night to greet the club upon arrival. 'I'm honored to represent AC Milan for the first time in Western Australia and in Australia generally,' Allegri said via an interpreter. 'I recognise the huge following that AC Milan has across this country, and I'm looking forward to not only the game on Thursday night, but everything that surrounds it.' Maignan, who has established himself as the French international team's no.1 goalkeeper, said through an interpreter he was looking forward to playing the Glory. 'I'm very honoured to lead my team into Perth and Western Australia. I'm very proud of his club, and I'm looking forward to showing not only what Italian football is on the park, but the culture and everything else that's around AC Milan,' he said. Players from the club also visited Perth Children's Hospital on Monday to greet young fans.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
AC Milan in WA: Visiting coach gives thumbs-up to proposed Serie A game featuring Italian giants in Perth
AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri says he would be proud to be part of a proposed world-first Serie A game featuring the Italian giants in Perth. It came as the State Government vowed to continue aggressively pursuing high-profile matches to reinforce Perth's reputation as a destination for major sporting events. Seven-time European champions Milan, one of the world's biggest sporting clubs, will play a friendly against Perth Glory at HBF Park. But Thursday night's match will be played against a backdrop of intrigue surrounding a proposal which would see Perth host a historic game which could have global ramifications for the sport. Earlier this month, the Italian Football Federation approved a request by the league for Milan's Serie A clash with Como to be played in Perth in February. With Milan's famed San Siro Stadium out of action for a month early next year as it gets ready to host the 2026 Winter Olympic opening ceremony, the club has had to look elsewhere for a venue — and Optus Stadium could be their destination. If the match goes ahead, it will mark the first time a major European league has played a competitive league game on foreign soil. Speaking via an interpreter, Allegri, who is set for his first season back with the club he won Serie A with in 2011, said he would be thrilled to be part of such an event. 'I'd be very proud, if all the other sanctioning comes through and to be a part of such a historic event, it will change the landscape of world football,' he said. However, the plan still requires layers of approvals from numerous parties, including world governing body FIFA, European governing body UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and Football Australia. 'This is still something very much a work in progress, but the aspiration to have such a game is very much something we're pursuing,' said deputy premier Rita Saffioti. 'There are a number of hurdles, and that includes of course, a tick off from many organisations. We have a very big aspiration, it would be the first time in the world, but there's a lot of hurdles. 'I'm very much working with everyone involved, how we can do our best to give it our best shot, but it's a work in progress. If Perth's proposed Serie A game is greenlit by the necessary authorities, it could open the floodgates for rival leagues to investigate playing matches abroad. FIFA has previously been against the idea of allowing clubs to move league fixtures internationally, but last year created a working group to review its policy about domestic games abroad. Spain's La Liga publicly floated the idea of playing a match between heavyweights Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Miami in 2024, before delaying their plan and promising to revisit it. The Supercoppa Italiana, an annual cup tournament involving the previous season's Serie A and Coppa Italia winners and runners-up, currently takes place in Saudi Arabia. If approved, the proposed Serie A match in Perth would mark AC Milan's third visit to WA in less than 18 months, following their post-season friendly against fellow Italian giants AS Roma last May. The clash with Roma drew 56,522 fans to Optus Stadium, but importantly also allowed the State Government to establish a strong relationship with Milan. 'They really enjoyed their time here last year, and in particular, their ability to move around and see parts of our city in a safe way,' Saffioti said. 'Sometimes we undersell what we have in Western Australia; they're staying here in this incredible hotel (Crown Towers), they can basically walk around the river in a very safe way. 'Their training facility is just 15 minutes away and Sam Kerr (Football) Centre is one of the newest football centres in the nation. 'Getting to HBF Park is not a long way away. It's another 10-15 minutes, we offer some really good have a lot of really great sporting infrastructure,'' she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Milan set Okafor asking price after brace against Liverpool
Despite scoring twice in yesterday's 4-2 pre-season victory against Liverpool, Noah Okafor is still set to leave Milan this summer and the Rossoneri have set their asking price for the 25-year-old. According to what has been reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport, via MilanNews24, Milan are hoping for offers in the region of €12-15 million for the Swiss international. HONG KONG, CHINA – JULY 26: Noah Okafor (C) celebrates after scoring his goal with Alexis Saelemaekers (L) and Rafael Leao (R) during the Pre-Season Friendly match at Kai Tak Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia) The former Basel and Salzburg player spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on-loan with eventual Scudetto winners Napoli, with whom he played just four times. Okafor a casualty of sensible Milan strategy Milan are undergoing pragmatic changes in the way the club operates. The Rossoneri are prepared to sell any player considered surplus to the requirements of new head coach Massimiliano Allegri, allowing the club to generate revenue to bring in additional reinforcements where needed. OCTOBER 22: Tijjani Reijnders (R) celebrates his second goal with his team-mate Noah Okafor during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between AC Milan and Club Brugge KV at Stadio San Siro on October 22, 2024. (Photo by) Okafor played well against Liverpool but is still outside of the plans of Allegri for the upcoming season and therefore the Rossoneri are ready to entertain offers for the Swiss forward.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Today's Papers – Leao show, Juventus push for Kolo Muani
La Gazzetta dello Sport Ferguson scores against Kaiserslautern Roma, Wesley lands, but it's not enough for Gasp Milan say four things Max's hand seen against Liverpool Allegri takes off: defence, four goals (Okafor brace) and a super Leao. Jashari close, out with Club Brugge. Milinkovic joins Napoli, Toro get Israel Inter rise to 43 Lookman deal, relaunch ready Juve to Kolo United risk, talks ongoing with PSG Corriere dello Sport Napoli win 2-1 against Catanzaro, now there's Dan Ndoye, the decision Crucial week for the Swiss: Nottingham has no agreement with Bologna. De Laurentiis' club consider Sterling and Grealish. Raspadori and Lucca put their signature on yesterday's win in Dimaro. True Milan More Allegri and you can tell Liverpool beaten 4-2. Max: 'Marvellous.' Rafa, a goal for Jota Poker to the Reds, Leao scores and gets emotional Schemes, order and fun: the 3-5-2 works. Double Okafor, Loftus-Cheek scores too Gasp, another ring Guendouzi wakes Lazio up Kolo picks Juve Lookman, Inter call Atalanta Oaktree wants to unlock the deal. Contract to 2030 for the striker. Ausilio will try to sign Leoni afterwards. Tuttosport Convincing step forward from the Granata: Cremonese beaten 4-1. Toro Force 4 and there's Aboukhlal Appointment with PSG, who re-open negotiations while Muani talks to Tudor Kolo sees Juventus again The Frenchman has refused the other offers: Comolli tries to anticipate the coup before solving the Vlahovic case (who drops a Milan hint by liking a Leao post, then removed). The Paris-based club still asks for 50m, but is now open to a loan deal with an obligation to buy. Nunez is the alternative. Plan for Leoni, Hijulmand in pole to replace Douglas. New Leao, what an Okafor! Max's lesson to Liverpool The Portuguese, still deployed as a centre-forward, put on a show in Hong Kong, dedicating a goal to Diogo Jota and setting up Loftus-Cheek. Brace for the Swiss. The coach: 'Rafa has extraordinary qualities.'
