Italian football enters the new season searching for answers after a torrid run on the continental stage. Bosnia and Herzegovina's qualification exploits meant the Azzurri missed a third consecutive World Cup, while Bodo/Glimt's stunning elimination of Inter from the Champions League underlined just how far Serie A has fallen from Europe's top table. Reigning champions Napoli finished a lowly 30th in the Champions League table, and Atalanta, Italy's only representative in the last 16, were thrashed 10-2 on aggregate by Bayern Munich.
Despite the gloom, domestic drama is guaranteed. Two of Italy's most storied clubs, AC Milan and Juventus, collapsed from strong positions last term to miss out on Champions League football, instead being overtaken by Cesc Fabregas's surprise package Como and relegated to Europa League duty. Inter, by contrast, cantered to a 21st Scudetto under new boss Cristian Chivu in his debut campaign, matching predecessor Simone Inzaghi's title haul even as their European form disappointed.
This season's title race looks set to feature familiar faces in new roles alongside one intriguing outsider. Milan have handed the reins to Ruben Amorim, whose difficult tenure at Manchester United makes his San Siro switch a chance at redemption rather than an obvious reward. Amorim is expected to deploy his trademark 3-4-3 system, though how the veteran Luka Modric fits into a central midfield pairing remains uncertain. Milan backed their new coach with a club-record €74m purchase of Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain, a move that should finally free wingers Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic from makeshift striking duties.
Across town, Juventus have reunited with Randal Kolo Muani, signed for a potential €50m, tasking him with leading an attack that also features Kenan Yildiz and new arrival Kerim Alajbegovic, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen for €32m. Manager Luciano Spalletti, who inherited a struggling squad after Igor Tudor's sacking, is remodeling his forward options as Dusan Vlahovic departs following a disappointing spell.
Inter head into the campaign as strong favourites, retaining last season's top scorer Lautaro Martinez and assist leader Federico Dimarco while continuing to refresh an ageing squad. Four experienced players—Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian, Yann Sommer and Stefan de Vrij—have departed, with Denzel Dumfries's move to Real Madrid seen as a particularly notable loss. Djed Spence arrives as his replacement at wing-back, while the signing of John Stones reunites him with Manuel Akanji in a defence suited to Chivu's 3-5-2 setup.
Como, under Fabregas, have retained prized playmaker Nico Paz despite Real Madrid holding a buy-back option, and will now balance European football with domestic ambitions. Roma also secured Champions League qualification and have strengthened further under Gian Piero Gasperini, who saw off a power struggle with Claudio Ranieri, adding Santiago Castro from Bologna for €35m and Portuguese talent Rodrigo Mora.
Napoli, meanwhile, finalized the signing of Rasmus Hojlund after a successful loan spell, though new manager Massimiliano Allegri inherits much of the spending committed by predecessor Antonio Conte. Romelu Lukaku has left for Fenerbahce, leaving Allegri to work with holdovers like Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne as he chases a seventh Scudetto.
The managerial carousel continues elsewhere, with Maurizio Sarri taking charge at Atalanta, Ivan Juric moving to promoted Monza, and 2006 World Cup winners Gennaro Gattuso and Fabio Grosso landing at Lazio and Fiorentina respectively. With seven different clubs having finished in the top four across the last three seasons, competition beyond the Scudetto race promises to be fierce—even if Inter's status as favourites suggests the battle for fourth could prove more competitive than the title chase itself.
Based on reporting from The Independent.