The landscape of Italian football is undergoing a period of significant transformation. While Inter Milan celebrated their 21st Scudetto, securing the domestic title under Cristian Chivu, the broader narrative for Serie A and Italy's national team, the Azzurri, reflects a challenging environment. The year 2026 has been particularly sobering, marked by Italy's absence from a third consecutive World Cup and various Italian clubs struggling in European competitions, signaling a potential dip in the league's international stature.
Last season, the drama unfolded as traditional giants like AC Milan and Juventus faltered, failing to secure berths in the Champions League. Their European campaigns will instead lead them to the Europa League, an unusual position for clubs of their immense heritage. This outcome was partly due to the impressive rise of Como, led by Cesc Fabregas, who defied expectations to surpass these established powers. The upcoming season is anticipated to showcase a blend of continuity and novelty, with managers circulating within the league's ecosystem and new talents arriving, particularly from Paris Saint-Germain, tasked with revitalizing underperforming attacks. Additionally, there's a notable influx of English defenders joining Italian clubs.
AC Milan's managerial situation saw Ruben Amorim take the helm, a move that perhaps wasn't their initial preference, given other candidates considered. However, Milan has shown faith in Amorim by investing significantly in the transfer market, notably securing Goncalo Ramos for a club-record fee of €74 million. This acquisition aims to provide a definitive central attacking option, alleviating the burden on wingers like Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, and marking the most substantial transfer within Serie A this summer. Meanwhile, Juventus, under Luciano Spalletti, is also undergoing an offensive overhaul, with Randal Kolo Muani joining on a potentially lucrative deal and other young talents being integrated into the squad, replacing outgoing expensive acquisitions who didn't live up to expectations.
Inter, having boasted the previous season's leading scorer Lautaro Martinez and assist leader Federico Dimarco, is focusing on rejuvenating its squad. Coach Chivu is integrating younger players, including Aleksandar Stankovic, son of his former teammate, as part of a generational shift. Several experienced players, including Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian, Yann Sommer, and Stefan de Vrij, have departed. While the departure of Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid is a significant loss, Djed Spence, coming off a strong World Cup performance, is set to offer a different dynamic to Inter's wing-back position. The arrival of John Stones, reuniting him with Manuel Akanji, is expected to bolster Inter's defense, adapting to Chivu's 3-5-2 system.
Beyond the top contenders, clubs like Como and Roma are also making moves. Cesc Fabregas at Como has managed to retain the promising Nico Paz, although Real Madrid holds a buy-back option, adding complexity to Como's season as they balance domestic and European commitments. Roma, fueled by Donyell Malan's goals, will join the Champions League, while Atalanta, under Gian Piero Gasperini, has strengthened its attack with the signing of Santiago Castro. Napoli, now led by Massimiliano Allegri, acquired Rasmus Hojlund after a successful loan spell, but Allegri faces the challenge of working with a transfer budget constrained by his predecessor's significant spending.
The managerial merry-go-round continues in Serie A, with familiar faces finding new homes. Maurizio Sarri is now at Atalanta, and Ivan Juric has moved to promoted Monza, reflecting the league's tendency to recycle coaching talent. Former World Cup winners, such as Gennaro Gattuso at Lazio and Fabio Grosso at Fiorentina, are now managers, bringing their experience to the sidelines. While seven different clubs have reached the top four in the last three seasons, indicating competitive balance, Inter is widely considered the favorite for the Scudetto, with Juventus expected to be their closest challenger. Ultimately, while domestic competition remains compelling, Serie A's resurgence and self-perception will largely depend on its performance in European competitions.
