Bologna boss Thiago Motta has been named Coach of the Month in Serie A, setting a new record and fuelling talk he could take over at Inter next season, but is also dealing with a Marko Arnautovic issue.
The Brazil-born Italy international took over from sacked Sinisa Mihajlovic in mid-September and, after a tricky start, has hit a period of form.
The Rossoblu have won four of their last six Serie A games, including surprise victories over Fiorentina and Inter.
Thiago Motta becomes the first ever coach to win the award at two different clubs, as he also had it in January 2021 at the helm of Spezia.
There have already been reports that Thiago Motta could return to Inter, this time as a coach rather than a player, to take over from Simone Inzaghi next term.
Meanwhile, it is not all positive at Bologna, because Arnautovic has recovered from injury and was still left on the bench for the 1-0 defeat to Torino on Monday evening.
Thiago Motta said he preferred Joshua Zirkzee for that game and there are increasing concerns of a bitter split between coach and veteran centre-forward.
Austria international Arnautovic is likely to request a summer exit, according to the Corriere di Bologna.
Despite rarely featuring in 2023, he remains Bologna’s top scorer this season with eight goals.