United States midfielder Weston McKennie scored for Juventus in a 2-0 win over Genoa Monday and was named man of the match.

McKennie netted 17 minutes after kickoff to add to a fourth-minute opener from Brazilian defender Bremer.

The American missed two chances to add to his tally and the woodwork also came to Genoa’s rescue when Jonathan David hit the post.

The goal was McKennie’s fifth of the season for Juventus, tying his career-best mark in Serie A when he netted five times.

Genoa defender Aaron Martin missed a golden opportunity to bring the visitors back into the game with 15 minutes remaining when Mattia Perin got down brilliantly to save his penalty kick and his rebound.

The result enabled Juventus to close the gap on fourth-placed Como to one point. Como were held to a 0-0 draw by Udinese.

Cesc Fabregas’ men were on top for most of the game, but could not find a way past Maduka Okoye in the Udinese goal.

The result brought Como’s five-game winning streak to an end in Serie A, but the point kept alive their hope of winning a Champions League place.

Substitute Matteo Politano scored late to give Napoli a 1-0 win over fellow title chaser AC Milan and close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan later Monday.

With Napoli starting the night in third place, one point behind AC Milan and 10 behind Inter, both clubs knew a win was needed to keep alive their title aspirations.

However, neither showed much urgency or guile in a game that featured few clear scoring chances.

Politano, who replaced Leonardo Spinazzola just five minutes earlier, eventually broke the deadlock with 11 minutes remaining when he fired home a low shot after the Milan defense failed to clear a cross from the left.

Milan poured forward in the final minutes, but could not get an equalizer and dropped to third.

U.S. attacker Christian Pulisic came on as a substitute in the second half, but he could not help Milan’s cause as his goalless 2026 continued.

Napoli ended the day seven points behind Inter with seven matches remaining, while AC Milan are two points further back.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

James Rodriguez‘s club have denied rumours the Colombia midfielder has a potentially fatal muscle-wasting condition.

The 34-year-old former Everton player was in hospital for three days after suffering with “severe dehydration” following his country’s friendly defeat to France in Maryland, United States on March 29.

Colombia’s football federation had revealed he had been in a US hospital for a problem “not related to musculoskeletal injuries” and not “linked to the development of his football activities.”

Rumours on social media claimed he was suffering from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition which causes muscles to disintegrate and can potentially lead to fatal kidney damage.

But his club side Minnesota United said in a statement on Monday night: “The club and our medical professionals can unequivocally state there has been no clinical or laboratory evidence of rhabdomyolysis.

“We respectfully ask members of the media and the public to refrain from further speculation regarding James’ health. Any additional updates will be communicated directly by the club through official channels.”

Rodriguez was substituted in the 63rd minute of the defeat to France, with the Colombian Football Federation saying in a statement on April 2 he had “presented with severe dehydration” the day after the match and was in hospital for 72 hours “for preventative and recovery monitoring.”

Minnesota have added that James had IV fluid therapy before being discharged and was back at the club’s training ground on Monday for “a supervised return-to-activity session”.

The club statement added: “His reintegration into full team training will follow the protocols established by the club’s medical department and will be guided entirely by his clinical progress.”

Rodriguez’s career has include stops at Porto, Monaco, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, while he had a one-year spell at Everton for the 2020-21 campaign.

Rodriguez, who has played at two World Cups for his country, joined Major League Soccer side Minnesota United on a short-term deal in February.

AS Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche is being tracked by Manchester United and Liverpool, while Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is pushing to complete a move to Barcelona. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Manchester United and Liverpool are stepping up interest in AS Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche ahead of the summer, reports TEAMtalk. Both teams reportedly sent scouts to watch the forward in action against Marseille in Ligue 1 this weekend. The 24-year-old has picked up seven goals and eight assists in all competitions this season, featuring on the right side of attack.

– Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni is pushing to complete a move to Barcelona quickly, according to Mundo Deportivo, as he looks to agree personal terms. Bastoni, 26, is Barcelona top target to improve their backline and the Italy international believes that the sooner negotiations start, the sooner a move can be completed. However, Sport reports that Bologna center back Jhon Lucumí could be a cheaper alternative as his transfer would cost €25 million as opposed to Bastoni’s €60 million.

– Ibrahima Konaté is increasingly likely to extend his stay at Liverpool, as he enters the final few months of his contract at Anfield. That’s according to L’Equipe, which claims the defender wants his future ironed out before this summer’s World Cup. The 26-year-old has interest from LaLiga, but appears to be leaning towards signing another deal with Liverpool, as they build a backline for the future with the €60 million arrival of Jérémy Jacquet already set.

– Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has no intention of leaving the club in the coming transfer window, says Florian Plettenberg. The 23-year-old has been linked with a potential exit, with the club reportedly open to offers of around €50 million to sign the midfielder. However, despite rumors over interest from PSG and Liverpool, Camavinga wants to stay with Real Madrid and his contract runs until 2029.

– Juventus have made enquiries over a move for Al Hilal striker Darwin Núñez, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The former Liverpool forward has endured a tough debut campaign in Saudi Arabia, after being unregistered from the SPL squad for the second half of the campaign. That has opened the way to a possible exit in the summer, with Juventus among those keen on landing the Uruguay international.

EXPERT TAKE

ESPN’s resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen gives us his insight on Maghnes Akliouche.

Akliouche’s form has been inconsistent since he first broke through in 2022, and that pattern has been repeated this season as he made only a modest impact during Monaco’s difficult early spell before flourishing in their excellent current run.

Seven goals and eight assists across all competitions, as well as 1.40 key passes (per 90), places him among the most productive creators in Ligue 1. Indeed, that last figure is particularly revealing as it says a lot about his main qualities.

Where most modern, young wingers tend to resort to take-ons and width as their main weapons, Akliouche comes across as something more akin to a classic playmaker. He will often take an extra touch to drift infield, scan the play, then select and pick the best passing option.

His passing range is extraordinary, with short dinks, brilliant switches, inch-perfect through-balls threading tight gaps and the technique behind each delivery is almost clinical in its execution. Furthermore, he often strikes the ball with very little backswing, generating contact that works equally well for a disguised layoff or a low well-placed attempt from the edge of the box. Those touches are as aesthetically pleasing as they are effective.

One area that requires work is his defensive input. While Akliouche will press when the situations demand it — and he tracks back reasonably diligently — asserting himself physically in duels remains an underdeveloped part of his game.

OTHER RUMORS

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Gab Marcotti reacts to Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Southampton in the FA Cup.

– Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte is set to leave in the summer, with Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, AC Milan and Galatasaray interested. (TEAMtalk)

– Barcelona are open to letting Ferran Torres leave this summer to help pursue other moves in the transfer market/ (Sport)

– Barcelona have informed Joao Cancelo‘s agent, Jorge Mendes, about their desire to keep the defender when his loan spell from Al Hilal comes to an end this summer. (Fabrizio Romano)

– Barcelona are not actively looking to move young left back Alejandro Balde on this summer, but could be open to an offer. (Fabrizio Romano)

– AS Roma have made contact over a move for midfielder Julian Brandt, who will be a free agent when he leaves Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. (Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Strasbourg winger Diego Moreira, who moved to the club on a permanent deal from Chelsea in 2024, is a target for Borussia Dortmund to strengthen their forward ranks (Sky Germany).

– Juventus are set to trigger the permanent signing option in Jeremie Boga‘s loan deal from OGC Nice. (Nicolo Schira)