ISMAëL KONé’S BREAKOUT SERIE A FORM SPARKS MAJOR INTEREST AHEAD OF SUMMER WINDOW
Fabio Grosso has secured Sassuolo’s survival, powered by breakout star Ismaël Koné. We look at the Canadian's stellar debut season.
Jonathan David grabbed plenty of headlines during his first year in Serie A, but he’s not the only Canadian making waves in Italy. Sassuolo’s Ismaël Koné has started turning heads, too.
Koné scored six goals in 30 Serie A matches this season, and he’s quickly become one of the league’s most exciting midfielders. At just 23, he joined Sassuolo from Marseille last summer, so this was his first taste of Italian football.
Sassuolo’s season started rocky; one week, they looked dazzling, the next, they seemed lost. You never really knew which version of the team would show up, almost like throwing down bets with no script. But as the months went on, they steadied themselves under coach Fabio Grosso, who you might remember from the 2006 World Cup. The team eventually found their feet and wrapped up their Serie A safety weeks before the end.
One of Sassuolo’s bright spots came on March 1, 2026, when they edged out Atalanta 2-1 at home. Koné opened the scoring in minute 23, and Grosso couldn’t hide his pride afterwards, telling DAZN: “That was a wild match. The guys just wrote their names into this club’s history. We’d been searching for something sweet to cap off our season; this was it, plus a huge cherry on top. Atalanta have been dangerous, fresh off their run in the Champions League, but our defenders kept their focus for the full 90 minutes. That’s not easy to do.”
He added, “We needed those points, and it felt even better to get them with a performance like that.”
Back in Turin, Juventus striker Jonathan David has found things a bit more complicated. Expectations have been sky-high since the ex-Lille forward arrived on a free transfer, and every game has been dissected good and bad. Koné, by contrast, isn’t under the same glare, and that’s maybe helped him settle in quicker.
Even after David scored against Bologna, the Italian pundits couldn’t make up their minds. Massimo Ambrosini said, “Honestly, David was more involved in other matches. But his teammates appreciate him, and they stick up for him. Spalletti wants a striker with versatility. David’s gotten a bit better, but I don’t see that ruthless edge in the box just yet. He always used to have it, but we haven’t seen it here.”
For Koné, this Serie A debut has been a breakthrough. He’s shown off his stamina, poise, and talent, not just his goals. Keep an eye on him at the 2026 World Cup, and expect plenty of transfer rumours swirling around the former Marseille man all summer long.
PULISIC HITS BACK: MILAN STAR SHUTS DOWN 2026 GOAL DROUGHT CONCERNS
"I haven't stopped dreaming." Christian Pulisic addresses his goal drought and the frustration of missing out on the Gold Cup squad.
Christian Pulisic isn’t holding back. When critics started questioning his recent form and worried about his 2026 goal drought, he shut them down, calling those concerns “bad questions". The AC Milan forward, fresh off his Time magazine cover, still trusts his ability to step up for the USMNT as they gear up to co-host the World Cup.
All eyes are on him.
The U.S. is set to share the stage for the 2026 World Cup, and Pulisic is set to become the go-to guy for the national team. Landing on the cover of Time isn’t something soccer stars from America get every day, and it just shows how big a deal he’s become, especially after proving himself in Europe. But right as people are finally giving him mainstream recognition, he’s under the microscope for not putting up his usual numbers in front of the goal.
He’s not fazed by the dip.
When Time asked about his goal drought and how he’s handling not scoring for club or country this year, Pulisic didn’t mince words; he’s not sweating it. “I plan on scoring goals. Such bad questions. I’m not concerned about it, man.” You can hear the confidence in his voice.
Dealing with the noise
Pulisic admits this stretch feels extra tough. Missing out on last June’s Gold Cup squad hurt him, mostly because he’s used to shutting people up with his play. “Normally, I just go out there and score, and that quiets everybody. Right now, I’m in my offseason, so everyone’s talking, and I can’t do anything about it. That’s what’s frustrating.”
For Pulisic, attacking is everything. “Going at the goal, creating attacks, that’s what I live for. Sure, you have to do all the other stuff: defend, run, whatever. That’s fine. But what really gives me joy is finding ways to score and actually scoring.”
Chasing the dream
The U.S. opens their World Cup run against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on June 12, and Pulisic will lead the team right here at home. He doesn’t like making big public predictions, but at 27, he keeps that childhood dream alive. “That’s just not how I work. But I’ll lie in bed and imagine myself holding the World Cup trophy. I did that when I was a kid, and I haven’t stopped. You need to believe. Why not?”
WHY DID LAUTARO MARTINEZ REJECT A CAREER-DEFINING MOVE TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
"I love Milan." Read why 28-year-old Lautaro Martinez rejected Manchester United and Arsenal to stay at the San Siro in 2026.
Inter captain Lautaro Martinez has clearly put an end to any speculation about leaving San Siro, making it known that he has no plans to entertain offers from Europe’s top clubs. Even with regular links to teams like Barcelona, Manchester United, and Arsenal, the Argentine forward is fully committed to what’s happening in Milan.
Martinez has been quite vocal about his dedication to Inter amid constant rumours about his future. Despite frequent connections to some of the biggest clubs on the continent, he insists there’s no reason for him to move on from the current Serie A champions.
Media reports have often tied him to Barcelona, PSG, Arsenal, and Manchester United. But through various transfer windows, Martinez has consistently pushed back on the idea of leaving Inter. At 28, he remains a key figure in the team’s current setup and has stepped up as the club’s captain and on-field leader.
In an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio, Martinez expressed his loyalty to Inter’s project. He made it clear that he isn’t interested in changing clubs despite the speculation.
He said, “No, because I am faithful to the Inter project, I feel at home here. My family is happy, we have a restaurant in the city, and we love Milan. From the first day, everyone treated me in a way I didn’t think possible. I achieved so many personal and team goals here.”
Success on the pitch seems to deepen his connection to the club. Inter recently secured another league title and continues to chase trophies, including the Coppa Italia. On an individual level, Martinez is eyeing the Capocannoniere prize as Serie A’s top scorer. His steady performances underline why he’s considered one of the most reliable forwards in European football.
Since his move from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has become the defining presence in Inter’s modern lineup. With 173 goals over 372 competitive games, it’s clear how vital he is to the team.
Looking ahead, the club sees Martinez as a central piece in their long-term plans. His leadership and scoring ability make him hard to replace. Settled both on and off the field in Milan, he seems set on continuing his story at the Giuseppe Meazza, despite ongoing interest from Europe’s elite clubs.
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