Massimiliano Allegri wasn’t in the mood for easy questions after AC Milan’s 2-1 win over Fiorentina sent them top of Serie A for the first time in more than a year. The Italian tactician delivered a fiery response to Christian Vieri, who questioned his decision to start Rafael Leao instead of Santi Gimenez and challenged his management of the game’s penalty situation.

Allegri’s Tactical Reply To Vieri

When Vieri asked why Gimenez didn’t start alongside Leao, Allegri shot back with a cheeky but pointed response:

“If I had you on the bench, maybe I would have started with Gimenez.”

Allegri explained his reasoning, emphasizing the importance of having attacking options ready to change the game.

“Games last 95 minutes. If I didn’t even have a striker on the bench… I had to read the game. I was lucky, and it went well for me.”

The Milan boss added that he wanted to keep the team balanced early on and only introduced Gimenez after seeing the right tactical moment—following a Fiorentina corner and a yellow card for Zachary Athekame.

Penalty Drama? Allegri Says ‘No Confusion’

Leao’s late penalty in the 86th minute sealed the victory for Milan, but questions arose about who was meant to take it. Allegri, however, dismissed the talk of uncertainty:

“There was no confusion. I told Rafa to take the penalty: he had tried them and he had taken them well.”

When asked if he watched the spot-kick, Allegri jokingly replied:

“Didn’t I watch him? I never watch them.”

It was Leao’s first Serie A goal at the San Siro in 512 days, and the Portuguese star was central to Milan’s comeback, equalizing earlier with a stunning curling strike after Robin Gosens put Fiorentina ahead.

Manager Applauds Team’s Resilience

Despite conceding first, Allegri praised his players’ mentality and response:

“The team played a good game. Until the goal, we hadn’t allowed a single shot on target. After conceding, there was a good reaction—it wasn’t easy, and we’re happy about that.”

The stats back him up: Fiorentina registered only one shot on target all game, underlining Milan’s defensive control and tactical discipline even without injured stars Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic.

AC Milan Back On Top

With this victory, AC Milan climb to the top of Serie A—one point clear of rivals Inter Milan. Allegri’s fiery exchange with Vieri may dominate headlines, but his tactical nous and trust in Leao proved decisive.

It was a night that summed up Allegri’s Milan—gritty, clever, and capable of striking back when it matters most.

Ademola Lookman Eyes Galatasaray Move As Okan Buruk Plots Major Transfer Coup

Ademola Lookman could be the next big Super Eagles star to join the Turkish Super Lig, as reports from Fotomac claim that the Atalanta winger is interested in a move to Galatasaray.

The 27-year-old Nigerian has emerged as a key transfer target for Galatasaray’s head coach Okan Buruk, who is eager to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the next campaign.

Sources suggest that Victor Osimhen, Lookman’s close friend and international teammate, could play a vital role in convincing him to make the switch to Istanbul.

Transfer Drama At Atalanta

Lookman’s time at Atalanta has been full of highs and tension. Following a stellar season where he became one of the club’s most consistent performers, the winger pushed for a transfer to Inter Milan during the summer window.

However, his request was denied — a move that led to a brief standoff. Lookman reportedly went AWOL for a few weeks, frustrated by Atalanta’s refusal to negotiate with their Serie A rivals.

Now, Galatasaray are ready to pounce, proposing an initial loan deal with an option to buy — a move that could appeal to both clubs and the player himself.

A Big-Money Move On The Horizon?

Lookman currently has two years left on his contract with the Bergamo club and is valued at €40 million on Transfermarkt.

Galatasaray, fresh off their championship win, are ambitious about their European prospects and believe Lookman’s speed, creativity, and goal-scoring instincts could be the final piece in their attacking puzzle.

If the deal materializes, Lookman would join an elite list of Super Eagles stars who have made their mark in Turkey — a league that continues to attract top African talent.

Final Thoughts

From Premier League beginnings to Serie A success and now potential Turkish glory, Ademola Lookman’s journey continues to evolve.

Whether or not Galatasaray secure his signature, one thing is clear — the Nigerian forward is far from done making headlines in Europe.

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AC Milan’s clash with Napoli wasn’t just a top-of-the-table battle—it turned into a full-on Hollywood affair. With Jared Leto, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all sharing the spotlight at the San Siro, the evening became as much about glitz and glamour as it was about goals and grit.

The celebrities were in town to promote the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Tron: Ares, directed by Joachim Rønning, who also joined the stars on the pitch. Even spiritual leader Sadhguru got in on the action, making for one of the most diverse and eclectic pre-match centre-circle appearances in Serie A history.

Tron Meets the Rossoneri

Ahead of kickoff, Milan shared photos of the high-profile guests posing with club icon and current advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who continues to wield his influence both on and off the pitch. The group were each presented with custom AC Milan jerseys—a powerful brand moment that merged entertainment, sport, and culture.

On social media, AC Milan captioned the moment:

“A star-studded night v Napoli at the San Siro.”

And they weren’t wrong.

Pulisic and Milan Steal the Spotlight

While the pre-game theatrics turned heads, it was Christian Pulisic who truly stole the show on the pitch. The American winger opened the scoring, with Alexis Saelemaekers doubling the lead before halftime to put Milan 2-0 up.

Napoli fought back after Pervis Estupiñán was sent off and Kevin De Bruyne converted the resulting penalty. But despite the momentum shift, Milan held their ground. De Bruyne’s surprise substitution left Napoli lacking bite in the final third, and the Rossoneri sealed a crucial win that propelled them to the top of the Serie A table.

Football Meets Film: A Win for the Sports Market

This event highlights how top-level football continues to attract crossover appeal. From Hollywood icons to global spiritual leaders, the sports market around clubs like AC Milan is booming—on and off the pitch.

Moments like these drive international engagement, boost brand value, and create viral content that lives far beyond the 90 minutes of play. As clubs continue to lean into entertainment partnerships, we can expect more scenes like this across Europe’s elite venues.