Serie A calls to join La Liga in postponing games
After La Liga postponed two games this weekend due to players returning late from international duty in South America, Serie A clubs are calling for the same treatment.
The World Cup qualifiers in South America are compressed due to a backlog and FIFA had originally refused to extend the break.
However, La Liga won their appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, so Barcelona’s match with Sevilla and Villarreal against Deportivo Alaves will be postponed.
Serie A calls are growing for similar treatment, especially with Juventus and Napoli due to face off on Saturday.
It comes as the Corriere della Sera reports a charter flight will leave Buenos Aires late Thursday night carrying 17 international players to Madrid.
From there, a smaller group will then take another flight to Milan, where they are expected to arrive on Friday at circa 20.00 local time.
That is in some cases under 24 hours from the games their clubs are going to play in Serie A on Saturday, including Juventus and Napoli, plus Atalanta-Fiorentina, while Inter and Sampdoria play on Sunday morning.
Juve have five players currently on international duty in South America, namely Paulo Dybala, Juan Cuadrado, Danilo, Alex Sandro and Rodrigo Bentancur.
Meanwhile, they at least have Weston McKennie back in training today, because he was excluded from the United States team for breaking COVID protocols.