European Cups
Record revenues from the Champions League
Views: 535
Bayer Leverkusen, engaged in this fifth round of the Champions League against Salzburg, was forced to call up 4 players directly from the under 18 team. Among them, Andrea Natali.
Among the names of the young players called up by the Under 18 team for the Champions League match, the name of the Italian Andrea Natali stands out.
Discovering Young Natali
Andrea Natali, born in 2008 and playing as a defender, developed his football skills in Friuli under the close observation of his father Cesare, a former player of Fiorentina, Bologna, Cagliari, and Udinese who has been a scout since 2017.
After a period at Udinese, he received a call from Milan. However, he only spent one season there before moving to Spain at the age of 13 to play for Periquitos at Espanyol. The following season, the young Italian talent moved a few kilometers changing sides but not cities, joining the renowned Masia of Barcelona. Simultaneously, he began his journey with the Italian youth national team, which led him to win the European Under-17 Championship last June, firmly establishing Cesare’s son as one of the most promising young prospects in the world.
Transition to Leverkusen
The decision to leave one of the most renowned youth programs in the world like the blaugrana may seem reckless or even wrong, but it is not. Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning German champion, is a rapidly rising club known for being open-minded when it comes to young talents. Take, for example, Florian Wirtz, one of the most promising players in the world, who, after playing for the under-19 team, has now become a regular starter under Xabi Alonso.
Another valid reason justifying Natali’s choice is the opportunity to play in the Bundesliga. In fact, the German league is second only to Ligue 1 in terms of the lowest average age among the top European leagues. Furthermore, it would allow the youngster to develop in a league that pays close attention to the growth of young talents, offering the opportunity to compete in a physically and tactically advanced style of football.
Natali’s Near Record
If Andrea were to take the field wearing the red and black jersey of Leverkusen, he would become the second Italian ever to do so. The last one was Giulio Donati, who made a total of 124 appearances in 3 seasons in the Bundesliga, playing for the aforementioned Leverkusen and Mainz.
For now, the young Italian is gaining experience in the Youth League and in the Nachwuchsliga (the German Under-19 league) where he is allowed to play regularly. In the 7 matches he has played, he has already managed to provide an assist.
(by Alessandro Nardi)
European Cups
Club World Cup, agreement with broadcaster: free matches for all
Views: 572
A breakthrough has come for the Club World Cup. FIFA has announced an agreement for the free broadcast of all matches.
DAZN has been selected as the official broadcaster of the 2025 Club World Cup, the new tournament organized by FIFA featuring 32 of the world’s best clubs, including Inter and Juventus. The historic agreement, as described by FIFA, will allow fans to watch all 63 tournament matches for free via live streaming on the platform.
Club World Cup, a tournament accessible to all fans
FIFA President Gianni Infantino celebrated the agreement emphasizing the goal of making the tournament accessible globally:
“Thanks to this agreement, billions of football fans worldwide will be able to watch the most accessible club football tournament ever – for FREE. This partnership reflects FIFA’s commitment to make football more inclusive, aiming to engage fans from all over the world.
Shay Segev, CEO of DAZN, described the agreement as a turning point for the platform:
“This groundbreaking agreement with FIFA is a milestone in DAZN’s journey to become the premier entertainment platform chosen by sports fans worldwide.”
Tournament Format and Venues
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will kick off on June 15, 2025, with the opening match at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The tournament will take place in 12 venues across the United States and will culminate in the final at the MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on July 13, 2025. For the first time, 32 teams will compete for the title of FIFA Club World Cup Champions, making the tournament a global event.
DAZN and FIFA: A Collaboration Looking to the Future
The agreement marks the beginning of a broader collaboration between DAZN and FIFA. The platform will integrate FIFA+, the service offering a library of exclusive content, historic matches, and iconic football moments, to further enhance the user experience.
Infantino described the tournament as “inclusive and merit-based, an event that will represent the pinnacle of global club football, capturing the imagination of players and fans worldwide.”
Segev added that “DAZN, with its global reach and advanced technology, is ready to offer fans a unique experience, combining innovation and a passion for football.”
Club World Cup, a Draw Not to Be Missed
The road to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will begin with the group stage draw, which will take place in Miami on December 5, 2024. DAZN will broadcast the event live, giving fans the opportunity to discover the opponents of the participating teams.
Thanks to this partnership, DAZN solidifies its position as a leader in digital sports entertainment and a global partner of FIFA, combining technology and passion to bring football into the homes of fans worldwide.
European Cups
Club World Cup: Inter and Juventus discover the draw
Views: 444
On December 5th, the draw for the groups of the new Club World Cup will take place, scheduled for the summer of 2025. Here are all the seedings.
FIFA has revealed the hierarchy that will form the basis for the draw scheduled for Thursday in Miami. Inter and Juventus can consider themselves lucky enough, here are their respective seeding.
Club World Cup, here are all the seedings
The global football governing body has unveiled the 4 seedings that will determine the groups for the first phase of the competition. With the qualification of Botafogo, thanks to their victory in the Copa Libertadores, the field of 32 qualified teams has been completed.
Now it’s time for the draw and on December 5th, the ceremony will take place in Florida.
Below are the seedings:
Seeding 1: Manchester City (ENG), Real Madrid C. F. (ESP), FC Bayern München (GER), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), CR Flamengo (BRA), SE Palmeiras (BRA), CA River Plate (ARG), Fluminense FC (BRA)
Seeding 2: Chelsea FC (ENG), Borussia Dortmund (GER), FC Internazionale Milano (ITA), FC Porto (POR), Atlético de Madrid (ESP), SL Benfica (POR), Juventus FC (ITA), FC Salzburg (AUT)
Seeding 3: Al Hilal (KSA), Ulsan HD (KOR), Al Ahly FC (EGY), Wydad AC (MAR), CF Monterrey (MEX), Club León (MEX), CA Boca Juniors (ARG), Botafogo (BRA)
Seeding 4: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN), Al Ain FC (UAE), Espérance Sportive de Tunisie (TUN), Mamelodi Sundowns FC (RSA), CF Pachuca (MEX), Seattle Sounders FC (USA), Auckland City FC (NZL), Inter Miami CF (USA)
In the draw, Inter will face a South American giant while Juventus will draw a top European team from the 1st seeding.
European Cups
Bayern Munich-Bayer Leverkusen, probable lineups and where to watch it
Views: 1,280
Club World Cup 2025, Botafogo completes the lineup of the 32 participants. Here is the list of all the teams that will compete in this historic edition.
The countdown to the Club World Cup 2025 has officially begun. The prestigious tournament, which will take place from June 15 to July 5, will see the participation of 32 teams for the first time, ready to compete for the title of best club in the world.
The last team to qualify was Botafogo, fresh winner of the Copa Libertadores thanks to a 3-1 victory over Atletico Mineiro in the final in Buenos Aires. With the success of the Brazilians, the list of participants is complete, offering a mix of teams from every continent, ready to battle it out next summer.
Among the Italian teams, there will be Inter and Juventus, representing Serie A in a tournament that promises to be spectacular. The draw to determine the groups will take place next Thursday, igniting the anticipation to know the first matchups of an event that promises emotions and high-level challenges.
Club World Cup 2025 will be the first in its new expanded format, making it a true world championship of football clubs. With European giants like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich, alongside South American powerhouses and other emerging teams, the tournament will offer a global view of elite football.
Club World Cup, admitted teams
EUROPEAN
– Manchester City (winner Champions League 2023)
– Real Madrid (winner Champions League 2022)
– Chelsea (winner Champions League 2021)
– Bayern Munich
– Paris Saint Germain
– Inter
– Porto
– Benfica
– Borussia Dortmund
– Juventus
– Atletico Madrid
– Salzburg
SOUTH AMERICAN
-Palmeiras (BRA) – winner Libertadores 2021
– Flamengo (BRA) – winner Libertadores 2022
– Fluminense FC (BRA) – winner Libertadores 2023
– Botafogo (BRA) – winner Libertadores 2024
– River Plate (Arg)
– Boca Juniors (Arg)
AFRICA
– Al Ahly SC (EGY) – winner Champions 2020/21 and 2022-23
– Wydad AC (MAR) – winner Champions 2021/22
– Espérance Sportive de Tunis (TUN)
– Mamelodi Sundowns (SAF)
ASIA
– Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia) – winner Champions 2021
– Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) – winner Champions 2022
– Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) – winner Champions 2023/24
– Ulsan (KOR)
NORTH-CENTRAL AMERICA
– CF Monterrey (MEX) – winner Champions 2021
– Seattle Sounders FC (USA) – winner Champions 2022
– Club León (MEX) – winner Champions 2023
– Pachuca – winner Champions 2024
– Inter Miami (USA) – Invite as representative of the host country
OCEANIA
– Auckland City FC (NZL)
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