New York City midfielder Andrea Pirlo praised by Inter Milan president

Inter manager Roberto Mancini has opened the door on a return to Serie A for New York City FC's Andrea Pirlo. Inter Milan president Erick Thohir has branded Andrea Pirlo a "great player," but says it is not up to him whether the former AC Milan and Juventus midfielder joins the Nerazzurri this winter.
New York City FC midfielder Pirlo, 36, has been linked with a return to Serie A during the Major League Soccer close season, with Inter coach Roberto Mancini saying he is open to a deal.
Pirlo — who won the Scudetto for the sixth time last season with Juve — played down talk of a return to Italy last month,…
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Roberto Mancini, Fabio Capello share style and approach with Milan sides

Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is humble about his side's chances of winning the Serie A this season.
Fabio Capello was quick to dismiss comparisons between Roberto Mancini's Internazionale and his AC Milan sides of the early 1990s. "We used to have game" the veteran coach snorted to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, after he was asked if the two mirrored each other. While the 69-year-old is correct that Mancini's squad should not be put in the same bracket as the legendary Rossoneri side of that era, it is understandable that some comparisons have been drawn. After all both were built on a foundation of…
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Serie A title race evenly split between Inter, Roma, Lazio, Juve and Fiorentina

ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti talks about the title contenders in Serie A this season, and where he feels they'll finish.
Serie A is senza Padrone. Without a boss. The lead just keeps changing hands.
Already this season three different teams have spent time alone at the top. Inter Milan did after making their best start in almost half a century. Fiorentina then beat them at San Siro to move into first place for the first time since Valentine's Day 1999. They were then lost to Roma and were overtaken by them. Back out in front and on their own 700 days after they last were, defeat to Inter then meant they slipped behind…
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Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic will ‘probably’ sign new contract – agent

ESPN FC's Dan Thomas responds to reports that Chelsea may be interested in signing Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez. Branislav Ivanovic's agent Zoran Krneta expects the defender to sign a new deal with Chelsea, although he failed to rule out a move for his client to Inter Milan.
Ivanovic, 31, is set to be a free agent in the summer and Inter are reportedly weighing up whether to offer him a pre-contract in January.
Krneta, though, is confident that Chelsea will hand the Serbia international, who has struggled for form this season, an extension.

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"Most probably he will renew his deal with Chelsea," he told InterLive.it.
However,…
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New York City FC’s Andrea Pirlo won’t return to Italy – Juventus’ Marotta

Inter manager Roberto Mancini has opened the door on a return to Serie A for New York City FC's Andrea Pirlo. Juventus' general manager Beppe Marotta says he does not expect to see Andrea Pirlo return to Italy amid rumours he may sign for Inter Milan this winter. 
Pirlo left Juventus for New York City FC in the summer, despite still having a year left to run on his contract in Turin.
The Italian midfielder felt then was the right time to leave Serie A and play in Major League Soccer, but Inter coach Roberto Mancini suggested at the weekend that he would be open to the idea of signing Pirlo on loan.
Marotta,…
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Samir Handanovic continues to show how vital he is to Inter’s season

Samir Handanovic has been exceptional for Inter this season, instrumental in their winning run.

In a world where football is revered for sublime finishing and incredible skill, less glamorous parts of the game get forgotten. Defending is certainly an art form that seems in some ways to be unappreciated, as does the role of the goalkeeper. Against Torino on Sunday, Samir Handanovic showed once again how essential the latter role is as he produced yet another superlative display that has kept his team competing near the top of Serie A.

Tactically speaking, Roberto Mancini got it spot on….
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Andrea Pirlo may be done for Italy, warns coach Antonio Conte

Inter manager Roberto Mancini has opened the door on a return to Serie A for New York City FC's Andrea Pirlo.

Italy head coach Antonio Conte says Andrea Pirlo continues to be a vital member of the national team squad, despite his move to the MLS.

The ESPN FC panel debate whether or not Andrea Pirlo was the right transfer choice for New York City FC. FLORENCE, Italy — Andrea Pirlo may have played his last match for Italy.
Coach Antonio Conte did not call up the midfield maestro for upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Romania and indicated Monday that the absence could become permanent.
Conte says "if by March Pirlo doesn't give me the responses that I'm hoping for, I'll make my evaluations and consider that he might not be part of the national team anymore."
The 36-year-old Pirlo recently finished his first MLS season at New York City FC…
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Mancini: We will try for third place

Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is humble about his side's chances of winning the Serie A this season.
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Highlights: Torino 0-1 Inter Milan

Geoffrey Kondogbia scored the lone goal of the match as Inter Milan defeated Torino 1-0 to stay atop of the Serie A standings.
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Geoffrey Kondogbia gives Inter Milan victory at Torino

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Geoffrey Kondogbia scores the only goal of the game to give Inter victory.

Serie A high-flyers Inter Milan claimed their third 1-0 win in succession as Geoffrey Kondogbia's first-half strike saw off Torino on Sunday.
Summer signing Kondogbia notched his first goal since joining Inter from Monaco with a volleyed finish in the 31st minute.
That came just moments after Torino had hit the bar through Marco Benassi, and the hosts subsequently fashioned some good chances to equalise.
But Inter held out for their third straight 1-0 victory — among a total of seven they have…
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