A break, but not quite: Alaba to Udinese, Neto back at Juve

Last night there was no club football: the last match across the six competitions we follow remains Sunday 20 September, and nothing is scheduled today either. The stage belongs to the national teams in the Nations League. Calciomercato.com published the official line-ups for Netherlands-Germany, played at 20:45 at the Johan Cruijff Arena, while in Italy the talk is of Italy-Belgium: according to the same outlet Mancini has tried a 4-3-3 with Kean and Pio up front, with Romano starting and Barella and Tonali in midfield. These are pre-match indications, not official line-ups. From Portugal comes an admission that makes headlines: Cristiano Ronaldo said he had thought about leaving the national team but decided to stay (Calciomercato.com).

The break has opened the door to free agents, and two deals are done. David Alaba is officially an Udinese player: the Friuli club announced the signing as a move "for an ever more ambitious team" (ANSA Calcio), on a one-year contract according to Calciomercato.com; Corriere dello Sport published the statement and the length of the deal. Juventus, left without Grabara after his cruciate ligament rupture, bring Neto back to Turin: Gianluca Di Marzio reports the return as done on a one-year contract, after Sky Sport and Corriere dello Sport had described the talks as close to completion. As for Grabara, ANSA reports the goalkeeper had surgery in Konin and the operation was successful. Di Marzio also reports that Papu Gomez has extended his contract with Padova.

The rest of the morning news is a mix of injuries, finances and disciplinary rulings. Napoli have Scott McTominay back: the Scot has returned after surgery and completed an individual gym session, with no rush over his return to the pitch (NapoliCalcioNews.it). Inter approved their 2025-26 accounts with revenue of 518 million and a second consecutive profit (Corriere dello Sport), which La Gazzetta dello Sport puts at 22.7 million; the same Gazzetta, however, describes a Serie A in which almost half the clubs are under financial strain or fragile. In Serie C, according to Calciomercato.com, Juve Stabia received a further two-point deduction for failing to meet financial solidity requirements. And from England ANSA reports that a cash-strapped Manchester United are selling off the Old Trafford turf.

The coming days bring friendlies and waiting. Juventus will stay sharp with a test against Cremonese on 2 October at the Continassa, and on the same day Alvini's Frosinone will play Benevento (ANSA Calcio). Serie A resumes on Saturday 10 October: Genoa-Fiorentina at 15:00, Inter-Parma at 18:00 and Napoli-Frosinone at 20:45, a game for which tickets are already on sale (NapoliCalcioNews.it); on Sunday 11 at 12:30 leaders Roma visit Como. Abroad things restart a day earlier, on Friday 9 October, with Dortmund-Werder Bremen at 20:30, Lens-Lyon at 20:45 and Malaga-Espanyol at 21:00 (Italian times). Serie C, meanwhile, does not stop (Diretta).

The table is still Sunday night's and will stay frozen for two more weeks: Roma, Inter and Lazio on 13 points, with Roma ahead on goal difference (14 scored, 3 conceded), then Cagliari on 12, Milan on 11 and a group on 10 with Frosinone, Juventus and Como. Napoli are ninth on 7, while at the bottom Venezia are still on zero, Genoa on 1 and Bologna on 2. Anyone looking to pass the time can vote for Serie A's August-September Player of the Month: Calciomercato.com has published the list of nominees.