AC MILAN TOPS SERIE A! LEAO STUNS CAGLIARI AS THE ROSSONERI CLIMB HIGHER
Rafael Leao's winner and Davide Bartesaghi’s defensive masterclass led injury-hit Milan past Cagliari. See Füllkrug’s debut news.
Rafael Leao knows he needs to get sharper in front of goal as a center-forward, and he couldn’t stop praising Milan teammate Davide Bartesaghi after their match against Cagliari.
The first half? Pretty rough—lots of mistakes all around. But after halftime, Milan woke up, pushed harder, and Leao ended up scoring the winner thanks to an assist from Adrien Rabiot. Christian Pulisic and Luka Modric both tested the keeper, while Mike Maignan barely had anything to do with Cagliari’s attack.
Leao talked about the team effort: “We prepared well, and we knew this game would be more about mentality than skill,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Davide Bartesaghi played as a central defender for the first time, but when you have the right mindset, you can handle anything. He did really well tonight. He can do big things at Milan. If we all stay focused, it just gets easier.”
Leao clearly believes in Bartesaghi: “He knows how I feel. He’s smart, he works hard, and even though he’s young, he’s becoming important for us. I really think he’ll achieve a lot.”
Niclas Fullkrug made his debut in the last 20 minutes, only hours after joining from West Ham on loan. Leao liked what he saw: “Nic came on and did well, especially since he just arrived. The team’s playing well right now, and that makes us happy. I feel like if I get two or three chances, I need to score at least twice. The coach is putting me closer to the goal, so I have to be more alert, and I’m grateful to the squad for giving me those chances.”
So, is Milan aiming for the Scudetto or just a Champions League spot this season? Leao kept it simple: “We have our goals, but it’s a long season. Everyone knows what the club wants. We’re Milan—we have to fight for big trophies.”
With injuries to Christopher Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez, and guys like Pulisic, Pavlovic, and Gabbia only fit enough for the bench, Milan had to get creative. That’s how Bartesaghi ended up plugging a hole in the back three.
Bartesaghi’s approach is pretty straightforward: “I let my play do the talking. I’m thankful the coach and team trust me. Anytime they ask for something, I give it everything I have,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “Leao always wants me to set him up, but I tell him—everything comes when it’s supposed to.”
10-WEEK WAIT: WHAT DID BILLY GILMOUR DO DURING HIS LONG RECOVERY PERIOD IN LONDON?
Billy Gilmour is back: Analyse his return against Roma and the latest news on Scott McTominay's new 2030 Napoli contract talks.
Billy Gilmour couldn’t hide his excitement after finally shaking off his injury. Those ten weeks on the sidelines felt like forever, honestly.
He made his return on Sunday, stepping onto the pitch for the first time since November 1. Gilmour came on with just 11 minutes left in Napoli’s 2-2 draw against Roma and didn’t waste any time; he played a key pass that set up Alisson Santos’ equaliser only three minutes after coming on.
Gilmour, who used to run the midfield for Chelsea and Brighton, had been part of the Scotland squad that booked a spot at next summer’s World Cup in North America. Still, he missed those crucial games against Greece and Denmark and ended up needing surgery for a hernia right after.
While he was out, things got rough for Napoli. They slipped out of the title race and crashed out early from both the Champions League and Coppa Italia.
But for Gilmour, just being back on the pitch meant everything. He posted on Instagram: “First steps in 2026. There’s no better feeling than being on the pitch and doing it in front of your fans! It’s been a long 10 weeks; now I’m back doing what I love with this team. Forza Napoli Sempre!”
In other news, Scott McTominay, Gilmour’s teammate for both club and country, is in talks over a new Napoli contract. Since joining Manchester United for £27.5 million a year and a half ago, McTominay’s been a game-changer, banging in 12 goals during Napoli’s title run and picking up the league’s player of the year award.
He’s missed the last couple of matches but looks set to return against Atalanta on Sunday. With two and a half years left on his current deal, Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport says his agent and the club are already discussing improved terms.
NAPLES OR MANCHESTER? SCOTT MCTOMINAY’S AGENT HOLDS CRITICAL CONTRACT TALKS WITH NAPOLI
Scott McTominay's agent is in Naples! Discover the details of the 2030 contract offer and why Manchester United want him back now.
Scott McTominay’s team has sat down with Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, to talk about a possible contract extension at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. After 22 years at Manchester United, McTominay, now 29, made a £25.7 million move to Naples in August 2024.
He wasted no time making an impact. In his first season with Napoli, he played a key role as they clinched their second Serie A title in three years. He didn’t just help them win; he was named the league’s MVP. McTominay racked up 12 goals and six assists during that title run.
He’s kept up that form this season, too. So far, he’s scored 10 goals and picked up four assists across Serie A and the Champions League. Lately, though, he’s missed the last two matches, including Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Roma, after picking up an injury in the win over Genoa on February 7.
Even with him sidelined, there’s plenty of talk about his future in Naples. Corriere dello Sport says Napoli is already working on a new, improved contract for McTominay, who’s signed until 2028, after his standout first 18 months in Italy.
Antonio Conte’s side wants to keep him at the club until at least 2030. Reports say McTominay’s agent has flown to Naples for talks, and negotiations with Manna about the new deal are already underway.
So far, they haven’t hammered out the details on salary. But after proving himself as one of Serie A’s best, McTominay is set for a pay bump.
All this talk about a new deal comes just days after rumours surfaced about Manchester United being in the mix for McTominay’s return. Tuttomercatoweb reported on Friday that he’s considering heading back to the Premier League in 2026, with United leading the chase.
Supposedly, he and his girlfriend Cam Reading are thinking about a move home, and it sounds like a Premier League return could happen sooner rather than later.
Napoli’s global business development officer, Leonardo Giammarioli, spoke about the transfer buzz last week. He told talkSPORT the club is trying to fend off interest from other teams.
“Yeah, of course I’m worried,” he said. “But honestly, especially with Scott, he’s a great guy, we’d be happy if he reaches the next level in a couple of years. Maybe not now, maybe not next year, but he deserves it.
“Look at Stuttgart, they wanted to keep Nick Woltemade, but when Newcastle offered £65 million, there’s not much you can do. If the player wants to go and the money’s right, it’s tough for Italian clubs. The league keeps losing revenue.”