標籤: decline

Lazio were almost forced to sell Tatty Castellanos to West Ham in January. This deal helped them financially – as covered sports witnessBut it is now seen as a symbol of the failings of Italian football.

The Azzurri would miss another World Cup, creating a unique piece of history. No other World Cup-winning nation before Italy has failed to qualify for three editions of the tournament.

It is clear that a lot of things are wrong with sports in the country. Serie A has come a long way from the days when it was competing to be Europe’s top league, and Premier League clubs easily pick up players.

lazio channel Take a closer look at West Ham’s move for Castellanos, claiming it is an example of how English football has moved beyond Serie A.

Disbelief about Castellanos for West Ham

The outlet says that even though West Ham have placed their confidence in the Argentine, he has been playing in European competitions in Rome. Lazio is not a small club by any means and has played in the Champions League twice since 2020.

This is why the move to the Hammers is seen as a ‘deterioration’ for Castellanos. He believes the attacker deserves better than fighting relegation in London and is capable of playing in the higher reaches.

But due to the nature of Italian football, he proved a convenient signing for West Ham, who spent €30m for the player.

It is also noted that Castellanos’ value has likely increased since leaving Lazio. Even though the Hammers are struggling with the decline, playing in England has helped the Argentine.

Our Opinion: Gulf Clear

Financially, Italian football has been struggling for years. Serie A teams have fewer revenue sources than Premier League teams, as they earn much less from broadcasting deals. The income from stadium revenues is also very low, making it difficult for them to recoup potential capital gains from player sales.

West Ham’s signing of Castellanos is truly emblematic of the problem.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side signed a proven attacker at European level for an affordable fee. Despite being a so-called big club in Italy, Lazio has never paid this.

In fact, Lazio’s seven most expensive arrivals date back more than 20 years Transfer Market. They paid more than €50m for Hernan Crespo in 2020 and they haven’t even got half of that in recent years.

The fact that Castellanos has three goals in all competitions already says a lot about his qualities. Once again, Serie A cannot compete with the finances of the Premier League.

🇧🇷Matthias Martinelli | West Ham need to raise offer by €8m to succeed – Hammers’ first bid rejectedhttps://t.co/unMTxfDYhF #whufc #koi

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 31 March 2026

The impact of Tottenham Hotspur’s difficult season is now beginning to extend beyond north London, with Richarlison’s status for Brazil becoming a topic of discussion ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The striker has long been a reliable option for Carlo Ancelotti. Their relationship dates back to their time together at Everton, when the Italian became increasingly dependent on Richarlison as a key attacking figure.

This relationship carried over to the Brazil setup, where the Tottenham forward continued to receive opportunities even during an inconsistent period at club level.

Richarlison featured in Ancelotti’s first four call-ups. Despite not scoring he appeared in six matches, including two starts.

Even as his minutes fluctuated at Tottenham, the Brazilian coach continued to value his profile – physical presence, aerial ability and work rate – as something different within the team.

Tottenham struggling to lose weight

Tottenham’s season has been nothing short of turbulent. The club is suffering a poor run of results, struggling for consistency and getting uncomfortably close to the relegation zone.

The situation in Europe has not been very good. Spurs suffered a heavy 5–2 defeat to Atlético Madrid, effectively ending their Champions League hopes despite the formalities of the second leg still pending.

In that environment, Richardson is trying to rebuild momentum after another injury setback. The Brazilian missed several weeks between January and February due to a thigh problem.

Since returning under Igor Tudor, he has appeared in five matches. During that spell, he scored twice – including a decisive goal against Liverpool – and also added an assist. Although he has not changed Tottenham’s collective form, He has at least shown signs of personal acuity.

There is also increasing clarity regarding the future of his club. As we recently coveredTottenham and Richarlison have already agreed that he will leave at the end of the season.

The decision is said to have been taken after internal talks, with both sides considering June 2026 as the right time to move forward. There is no pressure involved, but rather a shared understanding about what will happen next in their careers.

Tottenham have also scheduled an assessment ahead of the summer window. The club are expected to demand around £21.5m (€25m) for the striker, with this figure likely to guide negotiations.

Ancelotti and Richardson: trust built over time

Richarlison’s importance to Brazil is not based on numbers alone. He was the team’s key striker at the 2022 World Cup, scoring three goals and establishing himself as a reference point in attack.

Since then, despite injuries and irregular club form, he has largely maintained Ancelotti’s support. The Italian has often shown a willingness to prioritize familiarity and tactical fit over pure club performance, particularly in transitional periods.

This context helps explain why their absence from the list of Brazil’s final international friendlies before the 2026 World Cup has been highlighted this week.

Brazil’s decision confirmed

As highlighted in this news bolavip In Brazil, for the first time under Ancelotti, Richarlison has been left out of the squad despite being fit and available.

The report suggests that his absence says more about the current situation at Tottenham than the player himself. With Spurs struggling badly, it appears the wider context has influenced the decision.

This marks a clear change. Prior to this, Richarlison had remained a part of the team even without strong club momentum. Now, with competition for the No. 9 role increasing and the World Cup approaching, the margin for error has become less.

what happens next

Richardson is now entering the decisive phase. With the World Cup around the corner, every performance takes on extra importance.

Tottenham’s clash may complicate his case, but the Brazilian is at least beginning to show signs of life after returning from injury. If he continues to contribute goals and assists, he may yet be forced back into Ancelotti’s plans.

However, for the first time, there is a clear indication that trust in the past alone may no longer be enough.

🇦🇷 Christian Romero | respect and affection for tottenham

🤍 Defender questioned over transfer – changes angle
💬 Explains the feelings for Spurs, but doesn’t rule out the summer being gone… 👇https://t.co/HvSTngEh6z #thfc #Happiness

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 19 March 2026

The Brooklyn Nets sent rookie forward Drake Powell to the G League in the first round on Friday amid a prolonged shooting decline. Powell, the No. 19 pick in the 2025 draft, was a bright spot for Brooklyn for a long time early this season.

The North Carolina product has continued to make a defensive impact at the NBA level using his seven-foot wingspan and elite athleticism. He has also been shown to encourage increasingly aggressive aggressive flashes. Powell averaged 6.4 points on 46.0 percent shooting from the field and 32.4 percent from three in 16.9 minutes per game in his first 30 appearances.

However, lately he has been struggling to find his rhythm offensively.

Nets send Drake Powell to G League, call up Ben Saraf amid extended slump

Powell is averaging 5.2 points on 35.4 percent shooting from the field and 20.9 percent from three in 19.1 minutes per game over his last 17 appearances. The Nets have used the G League to get extended reps from their NBA-record five rookie first-round picks throughout this season.

After struggling during the preseason and his first regular season NBA performance, the Nets sent Nolan Traoré to Long Island for a long time. After impressive performances in the G League, the French floor general re-joined Brooklyn and has since become the team’s full-time starting point guard.

With Powell in Long Island, rookie Ben Saraf could see extended minutes in the Nets’ rotation. Brooklyn called up Saraf on Friday after spending an extended period in the G League. Although he has struggled during his NBA appearances, the Israeli point guard has averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists on .423/.373/.759 shooting splits in 15 outings with Long Island.