A goal from left-back Luca Antonini and a brace from samba star Ronaldinho, who reminded Brazil coach Dunga what he will be missing at the World Cup in South Africa, turned the San Siro into a party on Saturday night.

Milan consolidated the third place they had already secured while Juve’s record number of defeats in a Serie A season rose to 15, with their 56 goals conceded also a new club record.

This match was remarkable for being between two teams that had already decided to replace their coaches at the end of the season, making it a swansong for Milan’s Leonardo and Juve’s Alberto Zaccheroni.

While Zaccheroni had only been signed in January on a deal until the end of the season, Leonardo was midway through a two-year contract but seems to have been forced out by Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, the Italy Prime Minister, with whom he has had some fall-outs.

But the fans showed exactly where their loyalties lay before kick-off, expressing their support for Leonardo and the players while venting their fury at Berlusconi.

Juventus started the game well enough as Vincenzo Iaqunita got away inside the box on four minutes but dragged his shot just wide of the far post.

Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon had to save with his feet from Ronaldinho before the hosts moved ahead on 14 minutes.

And it was a goal that showed just why Juve have been struggling so much this season.

Three times in midfield Juve came out second best in 50-50 challenegs resulting in Antonini finding himself with the ball in front of the back four.

He slipped it to his right to Clarence Seedorf and continued his run forward past Fabio Cannavaro, who had been dragged out of position, while the Dutch midfielder flicked the ball over the defence with Cannavaro’s centre-back partner Giorgio Chiellini closing him down.

The result was a huge gaping gap into which Antonini ran on and although Cannavaro got back to make a sliding challenge at the last moment, he succeeded only in deflecting the full-back’s shot beyond Buffon’s reach.

It was two on 28 minutes after more dodgy Juve play as Chritian Poulsen’s pass was cut out by Ronaldinho, who burst forward and although his pass was cut out by Fabio Grosso, the Juve left back dallied as Cannavaro watched and Ronaldinho stole back the ball before playing a one-two with Pato and then beating Buffon at his near post.

That finally got a reaction out of Juve and Alessandro Del Piero forced goalkeeper Dida to tip over his rising drive while Cannavaro headed a cross narrowly wide.

But more inept defending cost Juve midway through the second period as Gianluca Zambrotta’s right-wing cross found it’s way to Ronaldinho at the back post and Poulsen stood off him long enough for the Brazilian to pick his spot and curl the ball into the far corner past substitute goalkeeper Alex Manninger.

In the night’s other match Lazio beat Udinese 3-1 in the capital but Antonio Di Natale did manage his 29th goal of the season for the visitors to increase his lead in the golden boot competition.

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Champions Inter lead Sampdoria by two points having humbled Genoa 5-0 on Saturday while Juventus and Fiorentina, who drew 1-1 in Turin, are a further two points behind.

Sampdoria needed a win to join Inter on 19 points at the top but despite taking the lead through Giampaolo Pazzini, they were pegged back by a goal from Francesco Matuzalem.

Lazio started the game the brighter and Argentine forward Mauro Zarate fired just wide of the far post before Antonio Cassano almost gave Sampdoria the lead up the other end.

The visitors went in front on 40 minutes after some neat passing before Marco Padalino, who would later be sent off, crossed for Pazzini to head home.

But only two minutes later Brazilian Matuzalem broke from midfield and ran between Sampdoria’s centre-backs before latching onto Tommaso Rocchi’s lobbed through ball to shoot across Luca Castellazzi into the far corner.

Padalino received his marching orders 10 minutes in the the second period but Roberto Baronio was also dismissed for Lazio on 73 minutes.

Cassano almost snatched victory for Sampdoria six minutes from time as his long range effort beat Fernando Muslera but clipped the corner of post and crossbar.

But Sampdoria coach Luigi Del Nieri will have been furious that two penalty appeals in the last five minutes were turned down, the first when Muslera came out and punched Pazzini in the head after the striker beat him to the ball and the second when Mobido Diakite barged Reto Ziegler.

On Saturday, Inter made a statement of intent in their quest for a fifth straight scudetto crown with a stunning away victory.

Goals from Esteban Cambiasso, Mario Balotelli and a stunning volley from the halfway line from Dejan Stankovic had Inter in control at the break before Patrick Vieira and Maicon wrapped things up.

It was a win made even more impressive as first choice strike pair Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o both sat the match out with injuries.

Promoted Parma moved up to fifth after Bulgarian forward Valeri Bojinov scored the only goal of the game at home to Siena.

Walter Mazzarri’s first game in charge of Napoli ended in victory after Cristian Maggio struck in injury time to sink Bologna 2-1.

Catania and Atalanta recorded their first victories of the season, respectively 2-1 at home to Cagliari and 3-1 at Udinese.

Struggling AC Milan host AS Roma in Sunday’s late match with the seven-time European champions beginning the game in 14th place in Serie A.

They are only three points above the drop zone and have the second worst attack behind rock bottom Livorno.

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The Uruguay right back, on loan from Barcelona, smashed home a loose ball on the edge of the box midway through the second half.

David Trezeguet, starting up front in place of the rested Vincenzo Iaquinta and the injured Alessandro Del Piero, secured a battling victory late on when he tucked in from close range.

Juve’s third win from three came at a cost, though, with new playmaker Diego, who scored twice in the 3-1 win over AS Roma on their previous visit to the capital last month, going off before the break with a leg injury.

Lazio felt hard done by on the stroke of halftime when Stefano Mauri’s scrambled goal was ruled out for a foul but Juve could have won by more had Amauri managed to connect with debutant Fabio Grosso’s cross.

AC Milan were earlier held to a dull 0-0 draw at promoted Livorno.

Leonardo’s side, hammered 4-0 by Inter Milan in the derby before the international break, gave a first start to former Real Madrid striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar with Marco Borriello injured but they could not break down an organised defence.

Milan, who won their opening encounter at Siena, lacked creativity early on with Andrea Pirlo spending the first half on the bench after recent exertions for Italy.

He came on for the again ineffective Ronaldinho early in the second period and soon hit the bar with a free kick but it was the closest the visitors came. Huntelaar was also replaced by Filippo Inzaghi.

Livorno, who had two players with their names spelt incorrectly on the back of their shirt, threatened sporadically and could easily have won.

Stuttering Milan must now prepare for their return to the Champions League in the clash at Marseille on Tuesday, when Juve host fellow French side Bordeaux.

Former Juve coach Claudio Ranieri takes charge of Roma for the first time at Siena on Sunday while champions Inter host Parma.

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But rivals Juventus got off to a winning start as Vincenzo Iaquinta scored the only goal in a 1-0 home success against Chievo.

Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o scored his first goal for Inter since joining from Barcelona in a swap deal that saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic head to Spain, but Vitaly Kutuzov’s equaliser earned the plucky Serie A newboys a deserved share of the spoils.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho picked new signings Eto’o and Diego Milito up front together but they could not fire the champions to victory.

“We have the quality to do well, we played a great game but we didn’t have the luck needed to score a second goal and make the game safe,” moaned the Portuguese boss.

“Unfortunately, we lack a bit of fluidity, we haven’t had long to work together.

“We’re not a team that makes excuses and I don’t want to justify the loss of two points but it’s a fact that we’ve changed a lot and we’re lacking fluidity.”

Inter were creating little in the early stages and survived a scare at the other end when France captain Patrick Vieira’s clumsy challenge brought down Riccardo Allegretti right on the edge of the box.

Allegretti curled the free-kick over the wall but Julio Cesar was quickly across his line to make the save.

Vieira then played a sublime ball over the top of the defence for Milito, who couldn’t keep his volley down.

Mourinho was clearly unhappy with what he saw and switched things around before the half hour was even up, bringing on Mario Balotelli for Sulley Muntari and changing the formation to 4-3-3 from a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond.

However, the coach then revealed that the switch was probably more due to Ramadan than tactical.

“Muntari had some problems related to Ramadan, perhaps with this heat it’s not good for him to be doing this (fasting),” said Mourinho about Sulley’s substitution.

Ghanaian Sulley is Muslim and during Ramadan, Muslims are expected to fast—abstaining from food and drink—during daylight hours.

“Ramadan has not arrived at the ideal moment for a player to play a football match,” said Mourinho.

Another new signing Thiago Motta shot inches wide from just outside the area but Inter centre-backs Lucio and Marco Materazzi got in each other’s way to allow Kutuzov a run clean through on goal, only for the Belarus international to tread on the ball and lose momentum.

Mourinho changed things again at the break, bringing winger Ricardo Quaresma on for his defensive midfielder Vieira and reverting to a 4-4-2 with wide men.

The move was soon to pay dividends, although in controversial fashion as Milito slumped to the ground in the box from what seemed to be minimal contact.

The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Eto’o easily opened his account in Italian football.

He should have had a second on 67 minutes when Milito teed him up inside the box but with only goalkeeper Jean-Francois Gillet to beat the former Barcelona man dragged his shot hopelessly wide.

They were made to pay for that on 74 minutes following a defensive blunder from Lucio, who charged out of position to try to make an interception, only to leave a gaping hole for Kutuzov to shoot past Cesar.

It should have been worse for the champions as substitute Emmauel Rivas fired over the bar deep into stoppage time with only Cesar to beat.

In Turin, Iaquinta gave Juve an 11th minute lead when he rose highest to brilliantly head home a free-kick from debutant Diego.

Iaquinta almost scored a second with a close range header from an Amauri cross but Stefano Sorrentino made an instinctive save with his legs.

Amauri came closest in the second half to adding a second but his shot came back off the post.

In other games Parma were denied a winning return to Serie A as an Antonio Di Natale brace earned Udinese a 2-2 draw.

Giuseppe Biava scored seven minutes from time to give Genoa a 3-2 victory over AS Roma.

On Saturday, AC Milan won 2-1 at Siena thanks to a brace from Brazilian Pato.

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Mesalles emerged from two hours of talks with Inter representatives to tell the waiting press that a deal had been agreed, which was later confirmed by Inter’s transfer specialist Marco Branca.

“The only problem is his loyalty bonus with Barcelona,” said Mesalles.

Eto’o is due to arrive in Milan on either on Monday or Tuesday to put pen to paper.

Mesalles spent three days negotiating with Inter before a deal was reached which will see Eto’o switch from Barcelona while Inter’s Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic joins the Spanish champions.

As well as Eto’o, the Catalans would pay the Italians 50 million euros and allow Belarusian winger Alexander Hleb to go on a season-loan to Inter.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, Eto’o will sign a five-year deal worth between €10-10.5 million a year.

The 28-year-old Eto’o, who joined the Catalan side in 2004, has a year left in his contract with Barcelona.

He was the club’s top scorer in the Spanish league last season, with 30 goals.

Meanwhile, Barcelona striker Thierry Henry said on Thursday he was looking forward to playing alongside Ibrahimovic.

“Technically he can keep whatever ball you throw at him,” Henry said. “And what I like about him is his character. For some people it is a bit too much but I don’t mind. To be a player like that you have to have it.”

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola had already admitted that it would be better if Eto’o left.

“I fully understand that people ask why. He is a wonderful player. Everyone knows there are no ‘football’ reasons. So why? It is a question of feeling,” Guardiola said earlier this week.

“I feel that it is the best for the team, for the club, but I don’t dare say that it is best for Samuel. I am very grateful to Samuel, not for this year but for the five years he has spent here.

“The coach’s job is not to change the personality of players but it is my job to decide who to work with. It’s my responsibility and I think we need to change something.”

Eto’o scored one of the goals in the 2-0 Champions League final win over Manchester United in May.

He was also the leading scorer in the Spanish League with 30 goals.

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Ronaldinho will begin his second season in Italy with memories of a disappointing first campaign fresh in his mind but with Kaka having moved on to Real Madrid, he knows there will be added responsability on him this time around.

Having begun well during his first season at Milan, Ronaldinho fell out of favour with former coach Carlo Ancelotti over the second half of the campaign as the now-Chelsea boss preferred an attacking triumvirate comprising Kaka, Pato and Filippo Inzaghi.

But with Kaka gone and Brazil compatriot Leonardo the new coach, Ronaldinho believes his time has come to shine once again and try to reproduce the form he showed at Barcelona when earning world player of the year awards in 2004 and 2005.

“I’ve naturally become the leader of this group, day after day,” he told the Saturday edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, insisting though that he does not feel any added responsibility.

“I feel something much more important: faith, from my team-mates, the club, the atmosphere.

“Responsibility is just a consequence and that’s a pleasure and not a concern in any way.

“Last year I started well and then things took a down turn because I got injured and Ancelotti stopped playing me.

“This time I want to have a great season, from the first game to the last.

“Aims develop, a bit like Milan. Last year our aim was to qualify for the Champions League, now we want to win it.”

And as the 28-year-old tries to recapture his Barcelona form, he insists he has a good chance as he is also nearing his Barcelona weight, an issue that has been a source of criticism against the former Paris St Germain player these last two seasons due to an expanding waist-line.

“I feel good, I’m very committed, I’m motivated. I’ve lost a few kilos and I’m close to my fight-weight at Barcelona,” he said.

“And with respects to last season I’m more adapted to life in Italy, the language, the way of life, friendships. I feel happy here.”

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The 26-year-old Lopez, who must still pass a medical before the move can be finalised, has spent four years with Porto after coming to prominence in his homeland with Racing Club.

Lyon, who failed to lift an eighth straight league title last season and must go through the Champions League qualifying round, are in transition and Lopez is their first summer signing.

They have just sold Brazil midfielder Juninho, France striker Karim Benzema – sold to Real Madrid for €35 million and Ivory Coast star Kader Keita, who has joined Turkish outfit Galatasaray.

Yet in an astonishing twist, Real advisor Zinedine Zidane was reported as claiming that the Brazilian “has already signed” for the Spanish club.

A report in The Mirror claims that Real Madrid are thinking twice about the transfer after Leite demanded a £10 million signing-on bonus, £10m agent’s commission – and a transfer plus £1m signing bonus for Kaka’s brother, Diago, pushing the total value of the deal to over £90m.

Diago, a 23-year-old defender currently on loan from Milan with Standard Liege, is a reported transfer target for Roy Hodgson’s Fulham, leading the tabloid to speculate that Chelsea’s interest in the deal could be rekindled: should both players move to the Premier League then they would be neighbours on the King’s Road.

Late on Thursday night, however, that possibility seemed to be dwindling after El Mundo Deportivo claimed that Zidane – recently appointed an advisor to Real president Florentino Perez – told a press conference in Rome that Kaka “has already signed” for the Spanish giants.

While attending the testimonial match for Vicent Candela, Zidane reportedly confirmed that Kaka has already inked a deal with, adding that “I’d be happy if he took my number five (shirt), it wouldn’t make me jealous.”

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“I say it for the last time, I don’t want to leave Milan. In this period I prefer to stay quiet because I don’t want to be misinterpreted,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“To the millions of Rossoneri (AC Milan) fans I say my decision has been made. I have said I want to stay. Now please leave me in peace.”


Kaka almost joined Manchester City in January for a world record fee in excess of €100 million.

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