Latest news with #SerieB
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Kevin De Bruyne's Napoli given brutal reality check by minnows who asked for photos with Man City legend at full time
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KEVIN DE BRUYNE'S shock move to Italy came crashing back down to earth after Napoli were beaten 2-0 by a THIRD TIER side. And to make matters even more embarrassing, the opponents asked the Premier League legend to pose for PICTURES at full-time. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Kevin De Bruyne suffered a nightmare debut for Napoli Credit: Alamy 3 But the Manchester City legend took time to pose for photos after full-time Credit: Alamy De Bruyne, who recently joined as a free agent from Manchester City, was handed his first start by manager Antonio Conte. Minnow side Arezzo struck twice, once late in each half, to secure a remarkable pre-season win over the champions of Italy. The opener came through Emiliano Pattarello's covered penalty just before halftime, catching Napoli off guard after an otherwise comfortable 45 minutes. Then, deep into stoppage time, Muhamed Varela doubled Arezzo's lead to seal a famous victory at Napoli's own training camp venue. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS IRON IT OUT West Ham face vacating London Stadium if major sporting event gets green light But despite the result, classy De Bruyne took time to stand for photos after being asked by a string of Arezzo players on Tuesday evening. The Belgian great, 34, was spotted standing in the middle of the pitch, with his boots off and looking red faced while smiling into the camera. De Bruyne was subbed off at half-time for defensive midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, while former Prem star Romelu Lukaku got a full second half. De Bruyne will wear the No.11 shirt in the coming season but, as a welcome gesture from the club, he has been training wearing Diego Maradona's retired No10 on his shorts. 3 Antonio Conte's side were beaten 2-0 by a third-tier side Credit: Alamy CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Notably absent from Conte's squad were Serie A Player of the Season Scott McTominay and Matteo Politano. Both players were ruled out due to muscle fatigue. Man Utd hunting Jackson as Chelsea's demands revealed | Transfers Exposed The pair have reportedly been managing minor strains caused by the intense physical demands of Conte's pre-season sessions. Arezzo's goalkeeper, Luca Trombini, was the standout performer, denying Napoli repeatedly with a string of big saves. Napoli's pre-season continues with another friendly scheduled against Serie B outfit Catanzaro on July 26. Their title defence begins with a trip to Sassuolo on August 23.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Kevin De Bruyne's Napoli given brutal reality check by minnows who asked for photos with Man City legend at full time
KEVIN DE BRUYNE'S shock move to Italy came crashing back down to earth after Napoli were beaten 2-0 by a THIRD TIER side. And to make matters even more embarrassing, the opponents asked the Premier League legend to pose for PICTURES at full-time. 3 Kevin De Bruyne suffered a nightmare debut for Napoli Credit: Alamy 3 But the Manchester City legend took time to pose for photos after full-time Credit: Alamy De Bruyne, who recently joined as a free agent from Manchester City, was handed his first start by manager Antonio Conte. Minnow side Arezzo struck twice, once late in each half, to secure a remarkable pre-season win over the champions of Italy. The opener came through Emiliano Pattarello 's covered penalt y just before halftime, catching Then, deep into stoppage time, Muhamed Varela doubled Arezzo's lead to seal a famous victory at Napoli's own training camp venue. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS But despite the result, classy De Bruyne took time to stand for photos after being asked by a string of Arezzo players on Tuesday evening. The Belgian great, 34, was spotted standing in the middle of the pitch, with his boots off and looking red faced while smiling into the camera. De Bruyne was subbed off at half-time for defensive midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, while former Prem star Romelu Lukaku got a full second half. De Bruyne will wear the No.11 shirt in the coming season but, as a welcome gesture from the club, he has been training wearing Diego Maradona's retired No10 on his shorts. Most read in Football 3 Antonio Conte's side were beaten 2-0 by a third-tier side Credit: Alamy CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Notably absent from Conte's squad were Serie A Player of the Season Scott McTominay and Matteo Politano. Both players were ruled out due to muscle fatigue . Man Utd hunting Jackson as Chelsea's demands revealed | Transfers Exposed The pair have reportedly been managing minor strains caused by the intense physical demands of Conte's pre-season sessions. Arezzo's goalkeeper, Luca Trombini, was the standout performer, denying Napoli repeatedly with a string of big saves. Napoli's pre-season continues with another friendly scheduled against Serie B outfit Catanzaro on July 26. Their title defence begins with a trip to Sassuolo on August 23.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 things about Palermo ahead of Anglo Palermitan Trophy
City face City Football Group sister club Palermo in the inaugural Anglo Palermitan Trophy in Sicily next month. We'll travel to the Renzo Barbera Stadium to play the Serie B side at 20:00 (UK) on Saturday 9 August as we finalise preparations for the 2025/26 campaign. Advertisement The match will be shown live on and our official app for those with a CITY+ subscription. SUBSCRIBE TO CITY+ Ahead of the game, get to know a little more about our opponents… Early years English sailors and shipyard workers in Sicily, as well as politicians and businessmen, helped set up the Anglo Palermitan Athletic and Football Club in 1900. They initially played in white and red shirts as a homage to the Union Flag and changed their name to Palermo Football Club a few years later. The Anglo Palermitan Trophy commemorates the Sicilian club's maiden fixture against a team of British sailors in 1900. Advertisement Home Palermo play at the Renzo Barbera Stadium and have done since 1932. It takes its name from Palermo's chairman in the 1970s – a celebrated era for the club. Fans will commonly call it 'La Favorita' in recognition of its name between 1945 and 2002. Initially built with a running track, that was removed in 1948 meaning the stands around the ground now feel tight to the pitch. With a capacity of more than 36,000, it's been used sporadically for Italy home matches as well as three times in the 1990 World Cup – with Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Egypt all playing there. Kits Playing in red and blue early on, Palermo chose the striking pink and black base with the change of name in 1907. Advertisement To this day, they remain one of few clubs around the world to wear pink in home matches and have gained something of a cult following around the world thanks to this. Crest Palermo's crest has gone through many changes in their long, storied history. It has been predominantly pink and black, in line with the home kits, since 1921. Many of the iterations have also featured an eagle, which also features on the city's coat of arms. The current design was unveiled in 2019, with the eagle's head pointed in a stylised 'P'. Star names Having gone through a golden period during the 2000s, many of Palermo's most recognisable names are still active or recently retired professionals. Advertisement Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani, stoic defender Andrea Barzagli and Argentinian creative talents Javier Pastore and Paulo Dybala are amongst those, while the likes of World Cup winners Luca Toni and Fabio Grosso feature in the previous generation. In 2020, the club held a vote for entries into their Hall of Fame – with Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli earning more votes than anyone else. Miccoli scored 81 times in 179 appearances between 2007 and 2013. Trophies won Having been up and down through the Italian football pyramid, Palermo have had a rollercoaster existence. Thye've been Serie B champions on five occasions, with the first coming back in 1931/32 and the most recent in 2013/14. Advertisement In their early days, they were often winners of the Lipton Challenge Cup which was played between teams from Sicily and the south of the mainland. This meant that the final was often competed for by Palermo and Napoli, who are the current champions of Italy. European history Palermo's glory days in the 2000s saw them feature in the UEFA Cup/Europa League five times between 2005 and 2012. Their best performance came in 2005/06, when they reached the Round of 16 after meeting the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow, Espanyol, Brondby and Slavia Prague. In total, they've played 28 games in European competition and won 13 of them. Advertisement Widespread support As one of Sicily's leading clubs, support for Palermo is often closely associated with a strong sense of identity and pride in the island itself. Many Sicilian immigrants to mainland Italy continue to support the club after moving, while some Palermo fans based in Germany even started their own club in honour of their team back home, named FC Rosaneri. CFG connection 'I Rosanero' became the eleventh member of CFG in 2022 and opened their own City Football Academy just two years later. The historic Sicilian club will become the fourth CFG side that the Manchester City men's first team have faced on the pitch, following previous friendly matches with Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos and Girona FC Advertisement Looking to the future… After an eighth-place finish in Serie B last season, Palermo have this summer appointed legendary former striker Filippo Inzaghi as their new manager. Since retiring as a player in 2012, he's turned his hand to management for multiple Italian clubs but will now be targeting a return to the top-flight for his new club. This will be his first home game as Palermo boss, so there will be a great sense of anticipation amongst the home support as well as excitement about the game itself.
NDTV
17 hours ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Ex-Bayern Munich Defender Rafinha Calls Time On Career
Former Brazil international defender Rafinha has announced his retirement from professional football, ending a career that spanned more than 20 years. The 39-year-old had been undecided about his future since leaving Brazilian Serie B side Coritiba in March. "Today I officially announce the end of my career as a professional soccer player," Rafinha told Sportv. "It's been a wonderful journey and I didn't expect to get to where I am today. "It's with a heavy heart that I'm ending something that I've done my whole life. But everything has a beginning and an end, and I have no regrets. I achieved everything that I wanted to in football," he said. Rafinha began his career at Coritiba in 2002 before moving to Germany's Schalke in 2005 till 2010. The right-back later played for Genoa (2010 - 2011), Bayern Munich and Flamengo, among others, before returning to Coritiba in December last year. He was capped four times for Brazil. The Brazilian right-back made a total of 266 competitive appearances for Bayern. He lifted seven Bundesliga titles, four DFB Cups and was an integral part of the 2013 treble-winning team. Rafinha's club Sao Paulo paid tribute to their departing captain, recognising the significance of his contributions both in terms of silverware and his leadership. "Our captain in the conquests of the 2023 Copa do Brasil and the 2024 Supercopa Rei, Marcio Rafael Ferreira de Souza announced his retirement from the pitch on this 21st of July, 2025. "A Sao Paulo fan at heart, Rafinha fulfilled his dream of defending the Tricolor from 2022 to 2024, honouring our jersey in 117 matches. Congratulations on your beautiful journey in football and much success in your next challenges!"
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC: Liberato Cacace signs, Luke Bolton leaves
Liberato Cacace has completed his move to Wrexham from Serie B outfit Empoli for an undisclosed fee. The left-back, who has been capped 33 times for New Zealand, has signed a contract keeping him with the Reds until the end of the 2027-2028 season. He becomes the third new signing ahead of the upcoming Championship campaign, joining goalkeeper Danny Ward and striker Ryan Hardie at Wrexham who will compete in the second tier for the first time in 43 years in 2025-26 after securing an historic third successive promotion. Cacace has spent the last three-and-a-half years with Empoli, relegated from Serie A last season, having joined initially on loan from Belgium side Sint-Truiden in January 2022 before making the move permanent that summer. He began his career with home-town club Wellington Phoenix who beat Wrexham 1-0 at Sky Stadium on Saturday in the final game of the pre-season tour to Australia and New Zealand. There are just under three weeks until the new campaign kicks-off but Luke Boulton won't be on board when Wrexham start off against Southampton - relegated from the Premier League last term - at St Marys Stadium on Saturday August 9 (12.30pm kick-off). Bolton has left the club and signed for League One outfit Mansfield Town on a permanent deal, putting pen to paper on a two-year contract at Field Mill. The wing-back joined the Reds from Salford City in January 2024 and made 17 League Two appearances as Phil Parkinson's men finished runners up to secure promotion to League One. However, the 25-year-old only made three appearances in cup competitions last seasons. More new signings are expected in the coming weeks with Wrexham linked with a host of players, including Bolton Wanderers captain George Thomason, and free agents Josh Windass and Michael Smith. Forwards Windass and Smith have left Sheffield Wednesday after the troubled Championship club said their contracts had been ended "by mutual consent".
