• Federico Dimarco breaks the all-time Serie A assist record for a single campaign
• Inter Milan secure the Scudetto and Coppa Italia double
• Cristian Chivu becomes the second-fastest coach to win the league title
• Kenan Yildiz claims the Rising Star award despite Juventus struggles
• Transfer interest grows for award winners Marco Palestra and Nico Paz

Federico Dimarco has won the Serie A Player of the Season award. The Inter Milan left-back set a new record for assists in a single Italian league campaign during the 2025/26 season.

The defender’s creative play helped Inter secure both the league title and the Coppa Italia. The Nerazzurri completed a domestic double under their first-year manager Cristian Chivu.

Chivu also received honours at the ceremony. He won the Best Coach award after just 48 matches in charge. Serie A chief Luigi De Siervo praised the Romanian for his winning mentality. The team scored more than two goals per game on average under his leadership.

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez took home the Best Forward prize. The Argentine striker led the attack throughout their successful campaign.

Other winners included Juventus talent Kenan Yildiz. He won the Rising Star award despite a tough season for his club. AS Roma’s Mile Svilar earned the Best Goalkeeper title after an excellent year.

Cagliari defender Marco Palestra won Best Defender while on loan from Atalanta. His performances have attracted interest from Inter and other clubs ahead of the summer window.

Como midfielder Nico Paz received the Best Midfielder award. The Argentine’s displays have linked him with a move to Real Madrid. However, Como manager Cesc Fabregas insists the player will only leave for the Spanish giants.

Chivu’s rapid success places him second only to Jose Mourinho in the three-points era. He needed fewer matches than almost any other coach to lift the Scudetto.

This collection of awards confirms Inter’s control over Italian football this season. The club will now target success in European competitions.

• Inter Milan defeat Lazio 2-0 to lift the Coppa Italia trophy
• The victory completes a domestic double for the first time in 16 years
• Coach Cristian Chivu and captain Lautaro Martinez celebrate a historic campaign
• Serie A faces court action over scheduling of the final weekend’s matches
• AC Milan target a German striker while Juventus battle to keep their forward

Inter Milan have won the Coppa Italia after beating Lazio 2-0 in the final. This victory gives them their tenth Italian Cup title in the club’s history.

The team has now achieved a domestic double. They won the Serie A title earlier this season. This is the first time they have won both trophies together since Jose Mourinho managed the club 16 years ago.

Coach Cristian Chivu praised his players after the match. He said winning both competitions was difficult and not guaranteed. Captain Lautaro Martinez agreed. He gave Chivu a perfect rating of ten out of ten for the season.

Lazio made costly mistakes during the final. Defender Adam Marusic scored an own-goal to put Inter ahead. Later, Nuno Tavares made a defensive error that allowed Martinez to score the second goal.

The Italian football league faces problems with the schedule for week 37. Officials want to move the Rome derby between Roma and Lazio to Sunday afternoon. However, the local prefecture has said no to a midday kick-off time. The league has now asked the Regional Administrative Court to intervene. There is a risk that the match could take place without fans.

In transfer news, AC Milan want to sign German striker Niclas Fullkrug. He will leave Bayern Munich on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Juventus youngster Kenan Yildiz has asked teammate Dusan Vlahovic to stay at the club. However, Premier League side Newcastle United and Spanish club Atletico Madrid both want to sign the Serbian forward.

• Inter Milan beat Lazio 2-0 in Rome to win the Coppa Italia final
• An own goal by Adam Marusic and a finish from Lautaro Martinez secured the victory
• The win completes a domestic double after clinching the Serie A title two weeks ago
• Manager Christian Chivu has now won two major trophies this season
• Inter will lift the Scudetto trophy next Sunday after hosting Verona at San Siro

Inter Milan have won the 2025-26 Coppa Italia. They defeated Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Tuesday night. This triumph marks their 10th success in this competition.

The Nerazzurri took an early lead in the 14th minute. Lazio defender Adam Marusic scored an own goal. This mistake gave Inter the advantage in the first half.

Before the break, captain Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead. Denzel Dumfries won possession high up the pitch and found Martinez. The Argentine striker finished with a simple shot.

This victory completes a domestic double for Christian Chivu’s side. The club secured the Serie A championship just two weeks prior. They have now lifted two major trophies this campaign.

Next Sunday, Inter will host Verona at San Siro for their final home match. The team will celebrate their league success by lifting the Scudetto trophy after the game.

• Inter Milan secure their tenth Coppa Italia trophy with victory at the Stadio Olimpico
• The club completes a domestic Double for the first time since Jose Mourinho’s 2010 Treble
• Captain Lautaro Martinez scores and praises the squad’s recovery from last season’s disappointment
• Denzel Dumfries returns from serious ankle surgery to provide the crucial assist
• The Dutch defender wins the MVP award and jokes that Martinez was frustrated with his assist record

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has spoken about the challenge of winning both the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia this season. The Argentine striker explained that the team had to show great mental strength to bounce back after finishing the previous campaign without any trophies.

The Nerazzurri claimed their tenth Coppa Italia crown at the Stadio Olimpico. This victory also marks the first time the club has achieved the domestic Double since Jose Mourinho guided them to a historic Treble in 2010.

The final was effectively decided during the opening forty-five minutes. Lazio defender Adam Marusic accidentally headed the ball into his own net following a corner from Federico Dimarco. Denzel Dumfries then dispossessed Nuno Tavares and supplied a simple pass for Martinez to convert.

“This means everything to us,” Martinez told Sport Mediaset. “People do not realise how hard we have worked. We ended last season with empty hands and our manager left, so to come back and finish this way is truly special. We have shown real intensity and quality throughout the year.”

The captain also paid tribute to coach Cristian Chivu, giving him a perfect rating. “We would give Chivu ten out of ten. He has supported us enormously during this period,” Martinez added.

The triumph represents a remarkable turnaround for a side that was distraught twelve months ago. Simone Inzaghi departed the club following their defeat in the Champions League final last season.

Dumfries had missed much of the current campaign recovering from a serious ankle operation. However, the Netherlands international made a decisive impact by setting up Martinez for the second goal.

“I am delighted to be back on the pitch,” Dumfries said. “It was a difficult time with the injury and surgery. I am pleased I could help the team tonight. I know Lauti was a bit cross with me because I have not given him enough assists this season,” he joked.

The Lega Serie A named Dumfries as the Most Valuable Player of the final match.

• Esposito highlights special bond with coach Chivu dating back to U14 youth days
• Young striker won Serie A title in debut season with six league goals and four assists
• Italy international praises captain Lautaro Martinez as key inspiration for squad
• 20-year-old recalls “movie-like” experience during Club World Cup debut in America

Pio Esposito has opened up about his remarkable first full season with Inter Milan. The 20-year-old forward has become a key figure for the Nerazzurri after helping the club win the Serie A title.

The Italy international found the net six times and provided four assists in 33 league matches. Across all competitions, he has contributed to 15 goals in 46 appearances.

Esposito credits head coach Cristian Chivu for his rapid progress. The pair first worked together when Esposito was just 14 years old.

“I have known him since my time with the U14s,” Esposito explained. “It was his first year as a coach. He played me straight away. We built a strong connection immediately.”

The striker revealed that Chivu trusted him with the captain’s armband in the Primavera side. This happened even though Esposito was younger than most teammates.

“He gave me the band against Cagliari. I scored three goals that day,” Esposito recalled. “We kept in touch over the years. It feels like fate that we are together again now. He has shown me total faith from the start.”

Esposito made his senior debut less than 12 months ago. He travelled with the squad to the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June 2025.

“I felt like I was in a film,” he said. “I stayed in the hotel with the team. I trained alongside heroes I used to watch on television every weekend.”

The young striker also praised club captain Lautaro Martinez. Esposito recently played alongside the Argentine during a comeback win against Pisa. Inter trailed by two goals but won the match.

“Lautaro’s statistics tell the whole story,” Esposito stated. “He never accepts less than 100 per cent in training. That attitude pushes us all to improve. He proved his quality straight away after returning from injury against Roma.”

• Barcelona are actively seeking a new striker to replace ageing forward Robert Lewandowski.
• Chelsea’s Joao Pedro and Inter’s Lautaro Martinez have emerged as costly alternatives to priority target Julian Alvarez.
• Both Pedro and Martinez would likely cost the Catalan club close to €100 million.

Barcelona are exploring options for a new centre-forward as Robert Lewandowski’s time as the club’s main striker appears to be ending. The Polish veteran seems unlikely to remain the first-choice option at Camp Nou next season.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has now entered the conversation as a potential signing. According to Cadena SER, the Catalan giants have placed the Brazilian on their shortlist should negotiations for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez fail to produce an agreement.

The 24-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Brighton last summer for €63.7 million. During his debut campaign with the Blues, he has found the net 19 times and created nine goals across 46 appearances. Managers appreciate his quick pace, tactical flexibility, and skill at combining with fellow attackers.

However, securing his signature would prove difficult. Pedro recently signed a seven-year contract with the London club, suggesting Chelsea would demand a substantial profit on their original investment.

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez serves as another alternative for the Blaugrana. The Argentine international, who plays alongside Alvarez for his country, has scored 20 goals in 36 matches this season. Barcelona have monitored the 28-year-old for several years.

Nevertheless, prising Martinez away from San Siro presents significant obstacles. He currently serves as club captain and remains tied to Inter until 2029. The Italian side would require a massive transfer fee, particularly if they also lose defender Alessandro Bastoni during the same window.

Football experts believe Barcelona must prepare offers approaching €100 million to land either Pedro or Martinez. Earlier interest in Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong and Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani has diminished, though Victor Osimhen continues to feature in discussions. Separately, the club are holding talks with Manchester United regarding a second loan spell for Marcus Rashford, though they hope to negotiate down his €30 million purchase option.