IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here. The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.
Serie A side Inter face something of a defensive injury crisis after Marco Andreolli and Danilo D'Ambrosio both suffered torn hamstrings.
Inter will be without defenders Marco Andreolli and Danilo D'Ambrosio in the coming weeks after both suffered hamstring tears during the side's 1-0 defeat to Torino.
The pair were both substituted during the clash at San Siro on Sunday and the double injury blow leaves Roberto Mancini with a selection headache.
Andreolli was first to depart just before half-time as he pulled up inside the penalty area and D'Ambrosio followed him back to the changing room 10 minutes after the break
Inter confirmed the extent of their injuries via their official Twitter account on Monday, but offered no timescale for their recoveries.
With Juan Jesus, Yuto Nagatomo and Jonathan already sidelined, Inter coach Mancini is running out of defensive options, although Andrea Ranocchia was able to return against Torino.
There were fears that the 26-year-old could have damaged knee ligaments against Empoli earlier this month, but scans were clear and he was able to play the entire second half.
Broken metatarsal rules El Shaarawy out for at least six weeks
26 January 2015
A broken foot will see Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy ruled out for at least six weeks, it has been confirmed.
Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy is facing at least six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a broken metatarsal.
The Italy international picked up the injury during Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Lazio and will now wear a foot support for six weeks after visiting a specialist on Monday.
After that period, El Shaarawy will undergo further tests to determine when he can return to first-team action.
A Milan statement on Monday read: "Stephan El Shaarawy underwent medical tests and a specialist visit with professor Niek Van Dijk in Amsterdam.
"The player, right at the end of the match against Lazio on Saturday evening, sustained a fracture at the base of his fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot following a challenge.
"The therapy that has been established is that of conservative treatment. For around six weeks, El Shaarawy will wear a foot support and following that he will undergo further medical tests and have another check-up with professor Van Dijk before a return to physical activity."
El Shaarawy missed most of last season with a separate foot injury and had made 15 Serie A appearances this term.
Midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has finalised his move from Dinamo Zagreb to Serie A side Inter on an initial loan deal.
Inter have continued a busy month of recruitment by completing the signing of highly-rated Croatia international Marcelo Brozovic from Dinamo Zagreb.
Brozovic represented his country at last year's World Cup and had been linked with a number of Europe's leading clubs, including Arsenal.
Dinamo previously revealed that they had turned down an offer from Inter for the midfielder, but he will now continue his career at San Siro after the clubs agreed on an initial two-year loan deal with an option to buy.
"I'm happy and sad at once," Brozovic is quoted as saying by Dinamo's official website ahead of his departure.
"Dinamo is my club and I leave here many friends who I will miss, but on the other hand I am happy because I go to a great team and a strong league where I'm waiting for new challenges.
"Of course, Dinamo will always be my club, but I look forward to going to Italy."
Brozovic, capped seven times by Croatia, follows Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri in signing for Roberto Mancini's Inter during the January transfer window.
The 22-year-old spent two-and-a-half seasons with Dinamo, winning two league titles and featuring in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League during that time.
Italy striker Antonio Cassano cut short his time at Parma on Monday, as his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
Parma have announced that striker Antonio Cassano has left the club after reaching an agreement to cancel his contract.
Striker Cassano was reported to have taken legal action against Parma due to unpaid wages last Friday.
The Serie A strugglers denied that was the case, but confirmed that the Italy international had requested money owed to him.
Parma then revealed on Monday that Cassano's time at the club has come to an end.
The 32-year-old former Real Madrid frontman spent last season on loan at Parma from Inter, before completing a permanent move at the start of this season.
Cassano dropped to the bench for Sunday's clash with fellow strugglers Cesena, which Parma lost 2-1 to drop back to the bottom of the table.
He scored five goals in 19 Serie A appearances for Roberto Donadoni's side this season.
Serie A Review: Higuain at the double in controversial Napoli win, Udinese see off Empoli
26 January 2015
Napoli reclaimed third spot in Serie A with a 2-1 home win over Genoa, secured courtesy of a controversial brace from Gonzalo Higuain.
Gonzalo Higuain helped himself to two controversial goals as Napoli moved back up to third in Serie A with a 2-1 victory over Genoa on Monday.
The Argentina striker opened the scoring early on at Stadio San Paolo with a close-range header and secured victory for Rafael Benitez's side by converting a penalty 15 minutes from time, after Iago Falque had pulled the visitors level.
However, Higuain appeared to be marginally offside for his first goal and Genoa also seemed to have cause for complaint regarding his second, when Napoli were awarded a penalty despite little evidence of a foul.
Napoli moved ahead after just seven minutes, Higuain left with the simple task of heading home after Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin had parried a shot from Jose Callejon.
Falque equalised in the 56th minute with a precise left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box.
Yet Napoli were not to be denied and, after Callejon had hit the crossbar with a deflected strike, the hosts retook the lead in contentious circumstances.
Higuain went to ground as a free-kick from the left was delivered into the box, and referee Giampaolo Calvarese pointed to the spot to leave Genoa's players stunned.
The resulting spot-kick was duly converted, Higuain shooting hard to Perin's left, and Napoli held on thereafter to leapfrog Lazio and Sampdoria.
In Monday's other game, a freak goal from Silvan Widmer enabled Udinese to win 2-1 at Empoli and climb into the top half of the table.
Riccardo Saponara's penalty drew Empoli level prior to the interval after Antonio Di Natale had headed home Allan's cross to give Udinese the lead.
Widmer then scored a fortuitious 60th-minute winner, his apparent cross from the right drifting over goalkeeper Luigi Sepe and finding the net via the far post.
Udinese were subsequently reduced to 10 men when Panagiotis Kone picked up a second yellow card for an elbow on Mirko Valdifiori, but Empoli could not find a way back and remain 16th.
Lazio have ended striker Brayan Perea's loan at Perugia to give coach Stefano Pioli more depth in the forward third.
Lazio recalled Colombian striker Brayan Perea from his loan deal with Serie B club Perugia on Monday to cover for Filip Djordjevic's long-term ankle injury.
Djordjevic is set to have surgery on Tuesday after fracturing his ankle in Lazio's 3-1 win over Milan at the Stadio Olimpico, which will leave the Italian capital club undermanned up front for the rest of the season.
In an effort to give coach Stefano Pioli more attacking options, with Felipe Anderson (knee) also injured, Lazio ended Perea's loan stint with Perugia, confirming the decision in a statement on their website.
The concern for Pioli is Perea's lack of goal-scoring form with the 21-year-old having hit the back of the net just once in 16 Serie B appearances this term.
Perea scored five goals in all competitions for Lazio last season, playing 27 games and starting 13.
Djordjevic has scored seven of Lazio's Serie A goals in 2014-15, making him the club's equal-leading marksman alongside Stefano Mauri, with Marco Parolo and Anderson both having struck five times in the Italian top flight.
Perea joined Lazio from Deportivo Cali in February 2013 after 11 goals in 54 league games for the Colombian Primera A club.
Samuel Eto'o's move to Sampdoria has now been completed after the striker failed to make an impact at Everton.
Samuel Eto'o has completed his move to Sampdoria from Everton, the Premier League club have confirmed.
The former Cameroon international arrived at Everton from Chelsea at the start of the season, but made just eight Premier League starts under Roberto Martinez.
Eto'o's switch had been widely expected, and the striker was presented to Sampdoria fans on Sunday.
The 33-year-old has agreed terms on a two-and-a-half year deal at Samp, and Everton manager Roberto Martinez praised the forward on the club's official website.
"We thank Samuel for his efforts and for bringing his know-how to the team and to Finch Farm where he passed on some of his terrific experience to all of the young players in particular," he said.
"The memory of his performances in Europe stand out especially.
"On behalf of all Evertonians, we wish him well for the next chapter in his career."
Philippe Mexes will miss Milan's clash with Juventus after being handed a four-game suspension following his dismissal against Lazio.
Milan will be without Philippe Mexes for the next four Serie A matches following his sending off against Lazio on Saturday.
The central defender was given his marching orders in the closing stages of the clash in Rome for grabbing Stefano Mauri by the throat as tempers flared.
While Mauri was booked for his involvement in the fracas, Mexes saw red to cap a miserable night for Milan who lost 3-1, despite taking the lead after just four minutes.
The France international issued a full apology for his actions a day later, but the FIGC have come down hard on the defender with a four-game ban for violent conduct.
That will see the 32-year-old miss league encounters against relegation-threatened trio Parma, Empoli and Cesena, plus their trip to leaders Juventus.
His absence will be a big blow for the already under-pressure Filippo Inzaghi, who reportedly needs a victory in the Coppa Italia - against Lazio on Tuesday - to keep him at San Siro.
Antonio Cassano could be a January transfer target for Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri after his release from Parma.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has refused to rule out a move for ex-Parma striker Antonio Cassano.
Allegri knows the experienced forward well, having previously coached him during their time at Milan.
Since his departure from Milan, the 32-year-old has turned out for both Inter and Parma, but he left the latter on Monday by mutual consent.
A 2-1 defeat to Cesena left Parma bottom of the table with just nine points, while they have also received a one-point deduction for unpaid player wages.
Now a free agent, Cassano has been linked with a number of clubs, and Allegri was coy when quizzed about bringing him to Juve.
"I don't talk about players from other teams, although at the moment Cassano is no longer in another team," explained Allegri.
"At the moment we have five strikers in attack, and at the moment no-one else has come in.
"Cassano is a player I coached at Milan, who fortunately was crucial in the Scudetto race.
"He's a player who has great quality on a technical level.
"I only speak about the players I have available, and then those who arrive I'll speak to when they get here.
"We'll see what opportunities there are before doing anything else, but we're alert to that, we don't need to worry and we can just think about the next game, which is tomorrow."
Juventus are the visitors at Cassano's former club Parma in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Wednesday.
A season without European football would not be a financial disaster for Serie A giants Inter, insists owner Erick Thohir.
Erick Thohir insists Inter will not be adversely affected financially by missing out on European football next season.
Inter have not competed in the UEFA Champions League since 2011-12, but qualified for the Europa League for 2014-15 by finishing fifth in Serie A last term.
With just over half of the season gone, Inter are 10th after 20 matches, some 10 points adrift of third-placed Napoli.
Inter also remain under investigation by UEFA over their Financial Fair Play regulations, but have invested in the likes of Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri in the January transfer window.
And owner Thohir insists that the club's global standing means that Champions League revenue is not essential.
"This [importance of Champions League revenue] is interesting, everyone always sees things based on rumours," Thohir told Goal.com.
"We have to remember that Inter are still the best top 10 football brand in the world as well as our revenue, which will be entering to the top 10 in the world.
"Our revenue without the Champions League season could reach €180-200million and one season in there, it can improve about $20-30million.
"No Champions League, no problem for Inter. No Europa League too would be no problem. But, because we are a top-10 brand in the football industry and we have huge fan base, we have to achieve highly.
"It's not Inter if we finish in ninth or 10th position. I have to say Europa or Champions League [football] is our target."
Thohir admits that many clubs are confused by FFP rules, but feels that it is important to have regulations in place to ensure teams spend within their means.
"Many people are confused with the Financial Fair Play rules, all European clubs must follow the rules," he added. "This is the way of UEFA to make sure their football industry is going on the plan.
"[They are needed to] avoid clubs that at first seem well but are going bankrupt eventually. It disrupts football's image. FFP keeps the club to spend the money wisely, they have to spend based on revenue.
"Same thing happened to Inter, I believe there is no shortcut to build a team, but we must have long-term project. When we want to sign players, we have to make sure to get players based on the team requirements."
Roma have signed France international defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa from Newcastle United on a permanent basis for a fee of £5.5million.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's loan move from Newcastle United to Roma has been made permanent for a fee of £5.5million, it has been announced.
The France international moved to the Serie A outfit on a temporary basis on transfer deadline day in September.
Sunday's 1-1 draw at Fiorentina was Yanga-Mbiwa's 20th game for Roma, triggering a clause that makes his switch a full-time deal.
"Newcastle United defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has completed a transfer to AS Roma after meeting a contractual condition contained in the loan agreement between the clubs," a Newcastle statement read.
"The French defender joined Roma on a loan deal in September 2014 but it has now become a permanent move."
Yanga-Mbiwa signed for Newcastle from Montpellier - where he won Ligue 1 - in 2013, and made 37 Premier League appearances for the north east club.
This season, the 25-year-old has made 14 outings in Serie A as Roma attempt to end Juventus' run of three consecutive Scudetti.
Rudi Garcia will have to consider his options when Roma play Empoli after Daniele De Rossi suffered a calf injury.
Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is set for a short spell on the sidelines with a calf injury.
The Italy international has sustained a partial tear to his left calf and has already begun treatment on the issue.
Roma have not disclosed how long De Rossi will be out, but reports in the Italian media suggest he could be absent for two to three weeks.
"De Rossi has undergone tests that showed a first grade lesion to the left calf," read a statement on Roma's official website.
"[He] has already started therapy on the issue."
Head coach Rudi Garcia will now have to reshuffle his midfield ahead of Saturday's clash with Empoli, with Kevin Strootman also set to miss out with a knee injury.
Serie A side Milan have agreed in principle to sign Spartak Moscow defender Salvatore Bocchetti on loan for the rest of the season.
Salvatore Bocchetti is set to join Milan on loan from Spartak Moscow until the end of the season.
The Russian Premier League club released a statement on Tuesday confirming that a deal has been agreed in principle for the Italy international defender to return to his homeland for the rest of the 2014-15 campaign pending a medical.
Bocchetti has been reduced to just three league appearances this term and has been in Russia since 2010, having spent three years at Rubin Kazan.
The 28-year-old will be viewing his move to Milan as a chance to kickstart his career.
Genoa were linked with Bocchetti earlier this season, but Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi has lured him to San Siro.
Bocchetti's career included spells with Ascoli, Frosinone and Genoa before he departed for Russia.
Milan 0 Lazio 1: Inzaghi future plunged into further doubt
27 January 2015
Ten-man Lazio piled yet more pressure on under-fire Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi with a 1-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final win.
Filippo Inzaghi's future is set to come under yet more scrutiny after his Milan side exited the Coppa Italia courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Lazio.
Reports prior to the game suggested Inzaghi would be replaced as head coach if Milan, winless in five Serie A matches, failed to claim victory at San Siro on Tuesday.
And Lazio were able to pile on the pressure as Lucas Biglia's 38th-minute penalty proved decisive, despite Lorik Cana's dismissal at the end of the first half.
Biglia broke the deadlock from 12 yards, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way after his cross had been handled by Michelangelo Albertazzi.
Cana then picked up two yellow cards in the space of five minutes to offer Milan a lift, but Inzaghi's men were unable to find an equaliser, with Giampaolo Pazzini and Alessio Cerci seeing goals disallowed in the second period.
Cerci's strike was ruled out in stoppage time, with subsequent replays suggesting the Italy striker was offside by the narrowest of margins.
Milan were without Philippe Mexes, banned for four matches on Tuesday following his dismissal for grabbing Stefano Mauri by the throat in Saturday's league meeting between the sides, and Stephan El Shaarawy, who sustained a broken metatarsal in the same game.
Inzaghi made six changes in all, while Lazio's team showed five alterations, with Filip Djordjevic among those to drop out after fracturing his right ankle at the weekend.
Miroslav Klose spurned an excellent opportunity to put Lazio ahead in the ninth minute, shooting wide of the near post after intercepting a dreadful backpass from Ignazio Abate and taking the ball around Christian Abbiati.
With the visitors on top, it took a timely interception from Riccardo Montolivo to deny Marco Parolo a tap-in after Abdoulay Konko had headed across goal.
Milan eventually carved out a clear-cut chance after 33 minutes, Etrit Berisha reacting well to parry away a volley on the turn from Cerci.
Yet it was Lazio who moved ahead five minutes later. Albertazzi controlled a Biglia free-kick from the left using his arm and the latter sent Abbiati the wrong way with the resulting penalty.
Milan received a boost in the final minute of the first half, when Cana picked up his second yellow card in quick succession for a needless challenge from behind on Jeremy Menez.
Keisuke Honda, back from Asian Cup duty with Japan, was called upon to replace Sulley Muntari for Milan early in the second half, while Dusan Basta entered the fray after Mauricio - on his first start for Lazio - had been clattered by his own goalkeeper when defending a free-kick.
Another substitute, Diego Novaretti, made a vital intervention to cut out Abate's ball across the six-yard box before Pazzini was denied a leveller.
The forward found the top-left corner with a wonderful half-volley in the 68th minute, but was penalised due to the ball rolling down his left arm as he brought it under control.
Lazio - who will face either Inter or Napoli in the semi-finals - came close to a second goal with 12 minutes remaining, Keita Balde Diao striking the inside of Abbiati's left-hand post.
Milan were almost handed a lifeline when Cerci struck in injury time, but a marginal offside decision went in favour of Lazio to leave Inzaghi fighting to retain a role he only took on in the close-season.
Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi urged patience after his team suffered their second straight defeat to Lazio on Tuesday.
Under-pressure coach Filippo Inzaghi called for patience on Tuesday after Milan lost 1-0 to Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals - their second defeat in four days to the capital club.
Lazio had overcome visiting Milan 3-1 in Serie A on Saturday and three days later a penalty from Lucas Biglia gave Stefano Pioli's men victory on the road in the Coppa Italia.
Reports in the Italian media continue to claim that Inzaghi is on the verge of being sacked with Milan sitting 11th in Serie A, 10 points off the UEFA Champions League places.
But the 41-year-old, who was only installed as coach in June, is convinced he deserves more time to rebuild Milan.
"When you open a new cycle you need patience," Inzaghi told Milan Channel after the loss.
"We have to try bit by bit to get back to what we always were. With this playing system we need another forward."
Inzaghi added he is excited by the prospect of securing Spartak Moscow defender Salvatore Bocchetti on loan: "I am aware of Bocchetti and I like him a lot as a player.
"Bocchetti is a profile that could interest us for his versatility and he is left-footed. If it goes well he could be a good purchase."
Bocchetti is reportedly scheduled to complete a medical with Milan on Wednesday.
While Milan's scoring woes continued at the San Siro - they have scored just one goal in their past three games in all competitions, coinciding in three consecutive defeats - Inzaghi was bullish about his team's attacking set-up.
Giampaolo Pazzini and Alessio Cerci both hit the back of the net on Tuesday but the referee disallowed their goals.
"The goals did come tonight, there were two of them," Inzaghi said.
"I am very happy with my team tonight, while on Saturday I wasn't. Tonight the result doesn't reflect the match, we gave our all, the match incidents were never in our favour.
Juventus' 1-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final win at Parma was far from convincing, but coach Massimiliano Allegri was pleased.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri rejected suggestions that his side were off the pace in their Coppa Italia win at Parma on Wednesday.
Juve were poor in the first half of a quarter-final they were expected to win comfortably against Serie A's bottom side.
They improved marginally after the break and secured their progression to the last four thanks to Alvaro Morata's 89th-minute goal, which gave them a 1-0 triumph.
It was far from Juve's best performance but Allegri said that was largely down to the way Parma played and the conditions.
"You can't win every time 2-0 or 3-0," he told RAI Sport.
"We played a good game and Parma gave us a hard time. There were difficulties, partly due to the pitch, and Parma played well.
"I think it's an important result because it shows that those who haven't played as much are ready and can be called upon at any time.
"We knew it wouldn't be easy and the side was mature not to allow Parma anything."
Goalkeeper Marco Storari deputised for veteran Gianluigi Buffon on his 37th birthday and he felt that Juve - aiming for a fourth successive Serie A crown this season - took Parma lightly.
"We started out a bit sluggish, I don't know if it's because we underestimated Parma," he said.
"Let's give credit to Parma, who worked for 90 minutes and put in a great performance.
"We have mental strength, even though we found a lot of difficulties tonight."
Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi hopes the club can strengthen his squad with new arrivals in a bid to bolster their ailing fortunes.
Filippo Inzaghi believes bringing fresh faces to Milan in January will help them recover from their current slump and climb Serie A.
Inzaghi's side have not won in five league games and were knocked out of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday after a 1-0 defeat to Lazio at San Siro.
The club have already sealed Alessio Cerci's return to Italy and are reportedly close to signing Spartak Moscow's Salvatore Bocchetti, with Inzaghi eager for new arrivals and a much-needed win.
"When we have a full squad we will be able to give continuity to the players and we can make up for lost ground," Inzaghi told reporters.
"I know the club wants to strengthen this squad, if the players do arrive to strengthen it then I will be happy about that. We're just missing a win to reignite that spark.
"I know the environment is down. The fans supported us, I see that the team is giving all that it has but this isn't enough and so we will have to continue working hard.
"I hope to get Milan back to what the fans are used to soon. It's hard for all coaches at the start but I believe we will be able to get out of this moment."
Parma 0 Juventus 1: Morata late show wins it for visitors
28 January 2015
Substitute Alvaro Morata's last-gasp goal gave Juventus a 1-0 Coppa Italia quarter-final win at Parma on Wednesday.
Juventus moved a step closer to ending their Coppa Italia drought as substitute Alvaro Morata's 89th-minute goal saw them edge Parma 1-0 in a scrappy quarter-final on Wednesday.
No side has won the competition more times than Juve, but the Italian giants have not tasted success since 1995.
They seem destined for a fourth successive Scudetto crown, though, and a league and cup double would be an outstanding way for Massimiliano Allegri to cap his first season in charge.
His side will need to show more in the final third if they are to win the Coppa Italia for a 10th time, but Morata's late strike proved enough to seal their progression into the last four on this occasion.
The Spanish forward - introduced in the 77th minute - latched on to Fernando Llorente's ball before sliding his shot under Parma goalkeeper Antonio Mirante in smart fashion.
Simone Pepe saw his cross hit the post in the first half and luck looked to be against Juve when Claudio Marchisio had an effort deflected onto the crossbar in the 86th minute.
But Morata's late show ensured Allegri - who made eight changes - did not have to worry about extra time and, potentially, penalties.
Veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo was back in the team for Juve, after recovering from flu, while first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon took a spot on the bench on his 37th birthday.
The clash looked a mismatch on paper, with title-chasing defending champions Juve facing a Parma side who sit bottom of Serie A.
But the class divide was not evident during a poor and uninspiring first half, in which both sides lacked any sort of cutting edge.
Raffaele Palladino cut inside and shot just over in the 23rd minute for Parma, who were dealt a blow when defender Pedro Mendes pulled up injured in pursuit of 18-year-old Frenchman Kingsley Coman - leading to the introduction of Fabiano Santacroce.
The hosts built some pressure as half-time approached, but the best they had to show for it was an Antonio Nocerino effort that was turned behind by Giorgio Chiellini.
Juve nearly caught them cold when Pepe's cross from the left was allowed to bounce and hit the post with Mirante beaten in first-half stoppage time.
Arturo Vidal fired the rebound just over but the match could, seemingly, only improve after the break.
That was not the case, though, as Juventus battled to break down Roberto Donadoni's strugglers.
Chiellini's thumping header went over the crossbar from a Pirlo corner in the 55th minute, while Gabriel Paletta did the same for Parma at the other end.
The match was crying out for a spark and with 19 minutes remaining, Allegri threw Paul Pogba on looking for just that.
Morata was then introduced and he at least forced a save from Mirante after a mazy run, before Marchisio was denied by the crossbar.
As the visitors stormed forward, they did leave themselves open at the back - but that meant little in the end as Morata booked Juve's spot in the semi-finals against either Roma or Fiorentina with a cool finish.
Alberto Gilardino is eager to rediscover his scoring touch for Fiorentina after sealing a return to the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Having sealed a loan return to Fiorentina, Alberto Gilardino is keen to weigh in with goals to keep the club in the hunt for a European place.
Gilardino arrived at the club from Guangzhou Evergrande earlier this week, having spent just five months in the Chinese Super League where he helped Evergrande win the title.
Speaking at his unveiling on Wednesday, Gilardino said he is keen to work alongside strikers such as Mario Gomez and Khouma Babacar and maintain the club's lofty position.
"I return to Florence with a great sense of enthusiasm. I chose Fiorentina because of the way the team plays football. I’m really pleased to be back for a new challenge in the Viola jersey," he said.
"It's been three years since I left the club and I'm 32 now but I still feel young and am in good physical condition. I had a lot of offers but my preference was to return to Florence. I feel excited and motivated and I’m in great shape.
"I'm delighted that Mario Gomez got his goal and Babacar is an important member of the squad.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Della Valle family and [coach] Vincenzo Montella for having brought me back to Florence. My dream is to get to 60 goals for the club."
FC Dallas have not offered a contract to Milan midfielder Michael Essien, according to the MLS club's technical director.
FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo has distanced the MLS club from reports they are trying to sign former Chelsea defensive midfielder Michael Essien.
Last week, reports in the Italian media claimed Essien would leave current club Milan for Dallas when his contract expires in June.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian, who has started just five Serie A games under coach Filippo Inzaghi this season, has struggled to settle at Milan since joining from Chelsea last season, but, according to Clavijo, Dallas will not be his next destination.
"No, it's not accurate. No, it's not at all," Clavijo told the Dallas Morning News.
"We know Michael Essien of course. Everybody knows him, but we didn't offer anything at all."
Meanwhile, MLS journeyman and one-time Ghana international Dominic Oduro has moved from Toronto FC to Montreal Impact.
The 29-year-old striker has played for Dallas, New York Red Bulls, Houston Dynamo, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew and Toronto in his nine-year MLS career.
After scoring just two goals in 24 matches for Toronto in 2014, Oduro will try his luck elsewhere in Canada.
"Dominic is an experienced player who has scored in our league and adds a different profile to our attacking options," Impact technical director Adam Braz said in a statement.
