Gianluigi Buffon signed a new contract extension with Serie B Division club Parma until 2024. This means the former Italian captain will keep playing at least, until the age of 46.

Buffon, who had started his career with Parma returned to his home club after nearly two decades of service at Juventus and PSG. With Juventus and Italy, the 44-year goalkeeper has won 11 Serie A titles and one FIFA World Cup.

With Parma, in 199 he won the UEFA Super Cup, which is said to be the club's best-ever team. Buffon in his career till now has won 27 trophies. Moreover, even at his now he is looking to win more and more.

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Even at 44 Buffon is the first choice goalkeeper of Parma. Which makes him one of the oldest football currently.  "I feel that I can still make a big contribution: those that have more must give more," Buffon said in his press conference.

Read Also: "We lost that with Ronaldo": Buffon feels Juventus lost team unity with Ronaldo

 "I'm working with successful people, who are enthusiastic and ambitious as is the president, though I think it could also be the fact that we haven't yet achieved what we set out to. But when there is such a clear vision, after a setback you just need to get on the right track towards better results. We've started this in the last 3/4 months. We certainly have a clear plan and we're slowly putting the plan into motion. It would have been a shame to take a step back: I don't like doing it, especially if I'm feeling good and have every confidence in the people I'm working with," Buffon added.

I'm the oldest member of the dressing room and my responsibility is to protect my teammates, as I also did when I was younger. It is something that I feel very deeply and it can help to build that relationship between all of the players."

Buffon in press conference via Parma website.

Parma used to be one of the bigger forces in Italian football in the late 90s. However, after the fraud scandal of their owner company Parmalat in 2003, the club went bankrupt. Post that, they were demoted to Division D in the Italian league. In 2018, after three consecutive promotions, they came back in the premier division.

However, that did not last that long as they finished last in that same season. Buffon now wants his boyhood team to make a comeback in the top flight. And, he is working hard on that.

"It's something that gives me confidence that I made the right choice. Now we will try to win on the pitch too," Buffon added.

#Buffon2024 ????#ForzaParma pic.twitter.com/cqNZ0NokmP

— Parma Calcio 1913 (@1913parmacalcio) February 28, 2022

Liverpool FC is reportedly on the verge of arranging Darwin Nunez's departure from Anfield this summer if the Saudi Arabian revives its interest in the striker.

The Uruguayan striker had moved to the Reds from Portuguese giants Benfica in a deal worth up to £85 million back in the summer transfer window of 2022.

With a struggling season continuing for him at the Merseyside club, Nunez is believed to be out of new coach Arne Slot's plans and will look to rejuvenate his career in the Gulf.

Nunez may leave Liverpool in the upcoming transfer window

Nunez's Liverpool career has been affected by difficulties, as he has found it hard to establish himself in the club throughout his early years.

In his three years at the Merseyside club, he has scored 40 goals in 136 games across all competitions, but this season has been the most disappointing so far for the 25-year-old, as he has scored just seven times across all competitions.

With the direction of new head coach Arne Slot, Nunez has found himself out of favor, another contributing factor to speculation about his future. 

🗞️ Liverpool are reportedly expecting major transfer offers from clubs in the Saudi Pro League for Darwin Nunez this summer.

(Source: @caughtoffside) pic.twitter.com/Zo5DqYSj6m

— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) March 28, 2025

Renowned Football Transfer journalist Duncan Castles broke the news on the latest episode of 'The Transfers Podcast' that Liverpool would accept a big Saudi Arabian offer and would be willing to urge Nunez to leave if they come back for him. Castles stated:

Liverpool would be happy if the Saudis came in and would encourage a move for Nunez. They would like to get some kind of significant return on the initial €75 million that they paid Benfica three years ago.

“From the Saudi perspective, [Nunez] still has that ability to be a name within the Saudi game and to deliver goals with his physicality. Interestingly, I’m told that his girlfriend, Lorena Manas, who is the ex-wife of former Barcelona player Aleix Vidal, has been working with agents to explore opportunities elsewhere.

“So it looks like this is both sides pushing against the same door with Nunez, or at least Nunez’s partner, encouraging him to look for a move and Liverpool happy to sell the player with a strong, affluent potential buyer in Saudi Arabia.

Interestingly, it had been hinted that Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr had made a substantial annual deal of €35 million towards Nunez back in January, having already made an offer of £58 million for the forward.

According to reports, Nunez's girlfriend, Lorena Manas, has also been working closely with agents to look into possible transfers in mutual consent, implying a joint pressure for a potential move.

Serie A is considering India as a potential host for the Italian Super Cup to expand the tournament's global audience, according to the league's commercial and marketing director, Michele Ciccarese.

Supercoppa Italiana, or the Italian Super Cup, takes place annually. Four teams compete for the trophy: the winners and runners-up of the previous season's Serie A and Coppa Italia.

The Italian Super Cup took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the 2024-25 season, which was also the 37th edition of this tournament. 2023-24 Serie A runners-up AC Milan defeated defending Serie A champions Inter Milan 3-2 in the final to lift the trophy in January 2025.

India can potentially host the Italian Super Cup in the future

According to REUTERS reports, when asked about India's potential to host the Super Cup, Ciccarese confirmed that this opportunity aligned with the league's strategy.

Ciccarese stated the following during the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit.

What we do is to bring our international trophy like the Super Cup in all over the world, for a simple reason, to engage a wider audience and bring the best of that culture,

So, that's exactly what we might do, and take the conversation forward to ... come here and play in India.

Ciccarese suggested that the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) could help promote the country and highlight the successes of other sports, similar to the "Made in Italy" initiative.

"Made in Italy" is how we engaged with all the 20 Serie A clubs, and each club provides one of the important players to promote, not only the city, but the clubs, the territory, the production chain and everything that is around that club,

That's exactly what we are suggesting, or maybe potentially to create a cross-market activation with the IPL together in order to help grow the grassroots, to have the right presence in the 2036 Olympics for Indian football.

Ciao, Scudetto! 🤌

Signore Virat Kohli 🤝 Signore Michele Ciccarese (Commercial & Marketing Director, Serie A)

In a gesture of mutual respect, leadership values and camaraderie, Virat was presented with the traditional Serie A captain's armband. A moment of bridging gaps… pic.twitter.com/qujB90T81n

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2025

India has officially entered the race to bid for the hosting rights of the 2036 Olympics, promoting the country as a growing sports hub. With these positions at stake, bringing the Italian Super Cup to India could be huge for Indian football. 

AC Milan have reportedly finalized the decision to part ways with current manager Sergio Conceicao following the end of the ongoing season.

According to multiple reports from Italy, the Portuguese manager can also be shown the door if the Rossoneris fail to earn victories against in their upcoming two matches against Lecce and Como, which are scheduled to take place before the international break in March.

Despite winning the Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan in January, while beating the eternal rivals Inter Milan in the final, Conceicao failed to lead Milan to the coveted success in Serie A this season. 

Conceicao to bow out of Milan at the season's end

According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira, Conceicao's tenure at AC Milan "will be over at the end of the season". With another looming threat over the 50-year-old, he could lose his job as early as this month, if Milan suffers defeats against Lecce and Como before the international break.

#ACMilan have decided not to confirm Sergio #Conceicao. His story at #Milan will be over at the end of the season, even if he could be sacked with the immediate effect if he loses against Lecce and Como before the international break. #transfers

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) March 8, 2025

Corriere della Sera, another well-known Italian media outlet, reported that Milan may consider dismissing head coach Conceicao before the summer clause takes effect. This would allow both parties to part ways 'early' if the team's performance does not improve in the coming week.

The pressure is now mounting on Sergio Conceicao as AC Milan is currently positioned ninth on the Serie A leaderboard, having accumulated 41 points across 27 games. 

During the summer, Conceicao was already a top candidate for the head coach position at Milan. However, the club ultimately chose Paulo Fonseca for the role. After a few months of disappointing results, Fonseca was dismissed, and his compatriot Conceicao took over as the new head coach.

The former FC Porto manager took charge of AC Milan on 30 December 2024. Under his managerial radar, the Rossoneris have played 17 matches, achieving 8 wins, 3 draws, and 6 losses so far.

Conceicao's tussle with Arrigo Sacchi

Sergio Conceicao's stay at Milan has been distressing due to the continuous speculations from different discussions. Recently, the Portuguese manager has been heavily criticized by the legendary former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, who "feels that it is ‘complicated’ for Conceicao to salvage his job in San Siro".

In his La Gazzetta dello Sport column, Sacchi conveyed his belief that it is "complicated" for Conceicao to save his job at San Siro. He also believes that the main issue is the lack of unity among the squad, which he sees as more significant than the team's results or the absence of goals on the pitch.

Sergio Conceiçao has not brought the benefits that all the supporters were expecting. Milan is in ninth place. This is not a position for a club that has written the history of football. We need to stop and seriously reflect with humility.

In response, Conceicao did not hold back his frustration over Sacchi's recent criticism, noting Sacchi's earlier praise contrasted with his current daily attacks in the media.

Two months ago, he said I was an important coach, now he criticizes me every day. I sent him a message, but he didn’t reply…

#Conceicao contro #Sacchi: “Due mesi fa diceva che ero un allenatore importante, adesso mi massacra tutti i giorni. Gli ho scritto un messaggio, non mi ha risposto…”. #ACMilan pic.twitter.com/Gln8BhudCc

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) March 7, 2025

In another controversial incident, Conceicao's relationship with the Milan officials has seemingly deteriorated. The manager faced a backlash when his spokesperson claimed he felt unsupported by the club's management and criticized the team's structure.

However, Conceicao publicly denied these statements, affirming the club's support and his regular communication with the directors.

🎙️ O porta-voz de Sérgio Conceição tinha afirmaso que o técnico se sente sozinho e sem apoio da diretoria, criticando a estrutura do Milan e o comprometimento do elenco. Mas o treinador negou tudo, dizendo que o clube está com ele e que mantém contato diário com a diretoria.… pic.twitter.com/u4RfHKVGK8

— Andersinho Marques (@Andersinho_ITA) March 7, 2025

The upcoming weeks will be very crucial for Sergio Conceicao, as he will leave no stone unturned to end his tenure at Milan on a high, bringing Rossoneris close to the qualification zone for the continental competitions.

Real Madrid, the most successful club in European football history, never miss an opportunity to get the best players in the world. Los Blancos' current president Florentino Perez likely never misses out on his big targets. After setting an eye on English Full-Back Trent Alexander-Arnold, it looks like they will eventually get the defender from Liverpool.

The Trent transfer saga:

Real Madrid's interest in the English Full-Back has grown day by day. However, they still have a couple of Full-Back options in the form of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vasquez.

Including, they have an academy-grown option in the form of Raul Asencio. After Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from The Reds, it seems likely that some of their certain figures are submitting wishes for the transfer. More likely the names are Virgil Van-Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Reds are offering Contract extensions to the trio which is ending after the 2024/25 season. However, according to the reports, none of those players are showing any kind of interest in the contract extensions. Richard Hughes, the current sporting director of Liverpool FC is fully focused on signing the important trio of Van Dijk, Arnold, and Salah.

So, the reports via English and Spanish media look baseless, and some of their reports still look lost by Liverpool's managerial statements. Moreover, some of the reports are just claiming that the Trent to Real Madrid saga is just a rumour.

Why this move makes sense:

The end of the 24/25 season is near. Alexander Arnold's boyhood club is Liverpool and after being a graduate of the Red Academy graduate, he is more likely to have a secret willingness to join the Los Blancos. His playing style, and ability to orchestrate the attack this kind of playstyle would be a perfect piece of Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid lineup. 

In the absence of Dani Carvajal in Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid, they need an attacking full-back and a replacement for Dani. Carlo Ancelotti's Los Blancos does not get any time to replace the injured Dani Carvajal. Real Madrid needs a plan on the right side of the defence. 

Arnold's reaction to the transfer saga:

In the English Premier League match against West Ham, after scoring the 5th goal for the Reds he ran toward the corner flag in celebration and made a gesture about the transfer saga rumours between him and the Los Blancos.

Things move quickly in the footballing world. In the recent clash against Manchester United on 5th January 2025 at Anfield, the Reds just managed to get one point against the Red Devils. Arnold's game is not up to the mark and fails to fulfil Arne Slot's game plan. Seven days after the West Ham goal and the victory, Madrid offered 25 million euros for the English full-back to add him to the Los Blancos in this transfer window. But seems like the full-back is going to join Real Madrid as a free agent or more likely he will join the European giants in the next transfer window.

Football in 2024 includes creating milestones, late dramas, superb goals, and glorious comebacks. It was a year to remember for football fans around the world. But the excitement doesn't stop here, as there are more to come in 2025 in terms of the biggest and most popular football matches are concerned. So, hurry up! Mark down the key dates in your calendar.

Here are the key dates of the biggest and most popular matches in 2025, including fierce derbies and the games that could change the respective league table entirely or result in promotions in the coming months are as follows:

Biggest Football Matches in January 2025: 

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester United, a thrilling contest!!

Nottingham Forest are looking sharp! And they are definitely aiming to beat Liverpool fc at home on 14th January, to remain active in the title challenge race. Elsewhere, in Champions League top European Clubs will battle for the ultimate European glory. Manchester City and PSG are odds to be relegated, and Atletico Madrid could overtake Bayer Leverkusen and confirm their place in the next round.

Read Also | Liverpool vs Manchester United Highlights | An improved United take a point away from Liverpool in a record night for Salah

UEFA Europa League could also provide shocks as Rangers might surpass struggling Man United and confirm their berth for the next round if they manage to beat Red Devils, and Galatasaray could find themselves below Ajax in the table if Ajax manages to beat them.

From the Cup's point of view, Arsenal will face Manchester United in an F.A. Cup encounter and again the Gunners will go face to face with mighty New Castle United at the Carabao Cup Semi-final 1st leg on 8th January, and Tottenham will go head-to-head against Liverpool on 9th January. On 15th January, Tottenham will face Arsenal, in a high-voltage North-London Derby.

Key Dates of the Biggest Football Matches in January 2025

Biggest Football Matches in February 2025:

A Month of Fierce Rivalries!!

Top Derbies that are included in February are Marseille vs. Lyon, AC Milan vs. Inter Milan, Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid, Paris St. Germain vs. Monaco and Juventus vs. Inter Milan. Atletico has the chance to surpass Real Madrid and could find themselves at the top of the La Liga table.

In Carabao Cup, Newcastle will face Arsenal at home and Tottenham will be going Anfield to face one of their toughest matches of the season against Liverpool.

Key Dates of the Biggest Football Matches in February 2025

Biggest Football Matches in March 2025:

Teams can turn the League Table in their favour! Last UEFA Nations League for Ronaldo and Modric??

Inter could overtake Napoli, Dortmund could surpass Leipzig and move into the Champions League spot; Barcelona could overtake Atletico Madrid and move into 2nd spot; Inter has the chance to surpass Atlanta and could find themselves at the top of Serie A. Chelsea will face Arsenal on 15th March at Emirates Stadium, popularly known as " The London Derby".

Some of the biggest international matches scheduled for March are the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals between European Football Super Giants. This could be possibly the last Nations League for Ronaldo and Modric. 

Key Dates of the Biggest Football Matches in March 2025

Biggest Football Matches in April 2025:

A month of Fierce and Local Derbies!!!

Manchester City has a chance to avenge home defeat at Old Trafford against their arch-rival in Manchester Derby. Other local derbies include Merseyside Derby, Bavarian Derby, London Derby, Der Klassiker, Derby della Capitale, West London Derby, Derby Rhone-Alpine and Derby Breton.

Key Dates of the Biggest Football Matches in April 2025

Biggest Football Matches in May 2025:

Arsenal Vs. Liverpool- "League Decider"! EL Clasico!! Champions League Final!!!

The match between Liverpool Vs. Arsenal on 10th May has already been considered a " League Decider" by several pundits. "El Clasico", is also scheduled on 11th May, which is going to be played at Bernabeu, as Real Madrid are aiming to avenge their home defeat against Barcelona. The month will be ending with the UEFA Champions League Final.

Key Dates of the Biggest Football Matches in May 2025

Biggest Football Matches in June 2025:

A month dedicated to the FIFA Club World Cup!

Top Clubs from all over the world will battle for the greatest glory of World Club Football. Legendary European Club Teams like Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Porto, Benfica and Top South American Club Teams like Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense and Major Asian Club Team like Al-Hilal and many more will battle for the ultimate glory.

Key Dates of the Biggest Football Matches in June 2025

So, that concludes the key dates of the Biggest Matches in 2025. Go ahead! Mark the dates on your calendar so that you don't miss any of the thrilling games from the list mentioned above. And let me know what your favourite club or International Team is in the comment box. For more updates and accurate pieces of information, kindly follow Sportz Point!

Read Also | West Ham vs Manchester City English Premier League 2024-25 Highlights | Erling Haaland scores his eight EPL hat-trick as Man City goes top of the table following a 3-1 victory over the Hammers

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