The False 9

Last Year's Finish: Promoted From Serie B

Predicted Finish: 20th

Odds To Win Serie A: 4500 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

The Lombardy side secured their spot in the Italian top flight after finishing second in Serie B last season, returning to Serie A for the first time since the 1995-96 season. Finishing only two points behind league winners Lecce, Cremonese will be hoping to overcome the odds and avoid immediately dropping back to the second division in the upcoming campaign, but things are looking tough.

Coach Fabio Pecchia, who guided them to promotion last season, unexpectedly resigned at the end of May, forcing Cremonese to bring in a replacement for their Serie A campaign. The Grigiorossi brought in Massimiliano Alvini, a coach with no experience in the top flight, to replace him.

The change in coaches and a fairly underwhelming transfer market campaign has left Cremonese’s chances of avoiding relegation low, but it’s too early to count out the Lombard club just yet, even if it doesn't look great. The Grigiorossi have retained their well-gelled front three of Luca Zanimacchia, Cristian Buonaiuto and Daniel Ciofani and the trio will most likely be their biggest source of goals.

Still a lack of Serie A experience and a new coach having to fight off a relegation battle doesn't bode well for the recently promoted squad.

Transfers:

Cremonese have made a number of low-cost signings this summer, adding players like Charles Pickel, Emanuel Aiwu and Giacomo Quagliata. They’ve also picked up Inter’s Ionut Radu and Hertha Berlin’s Santiago Ascacibar on loan, who are experienced Serie A players, but the wealthy of talent is spotty at best. Radu has never fully caught on anywhere and the Hertha Berlin product has been a mixed bag of goods so far throughout his career.

One To Watch:

David Okereke. Cremonese invested to pick up the 24-year-old Nigerian forward from Club Brugge after his decent year on loan with Venezia. Okereke scored seven goals and provided one assist in 32 appearances for the Arancioneroverdi last campaign, managing to impress despite the team’s struggles. Okereke will be hoping to play a leading role for Cremonese in the upcoming season and it’ll be vital for him to make the most of his chances, especially when against top opposition.

Outlook:

Last Year Finish: Promoted From Serie B

Predicted Finish: 19th

Odds To Win Serie A: 4500 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

After missing out on promotion in 2020-21, Lecce took Italy’s second division by storm last season, as Marco Baroni’s men earned their second Serie B title. It remains to be seen if I Salentini learned their lesson from three seasons ago, when they suffered a heart-breaking relegation on the final of day of the campaign, and despite a busy summer, the early signs are worrying.

Lecce already brought in 10 new players before the first round of fixtures, but at the same time lost Serie B’s top scorer in the last two seasons Massimo Coda, their first-choice goalkeeper Gabriel, as well as Mario Gargiulo, who was ever-present for Baroni’s side last season. Antonio Barreca’s loan spell from Monaco also came to an end over the summer.

Kristijan Bistrovic’s loan from CSKA Moscow seems like a strong move and Lecce should be an exciting side to watch, but at this stage there are more questions marks than guarantees for Marco Baroni. Can Falcone be a starter on a top level for a full season? Who is going to score the goals after Coda’s departure. Can any of the youngsters really make a difference in Serie A just yet?

It’s very likely that many neutral fans will be rooting for Lecce, due to the attacking style of football the club established in recent years. However, all of the above suggests a turbulent campaign that might see the Giallorossi fail to stay up for more than a single season yet again.

Transfers:

Leece has brought in some interesting players with Serie A experience, as Gianluca Frabotta, Lorenzo Colombo, Kristoffer Askildsen and charismatic goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone were all loaned from Juventus, Milan and Sampdoria respectively, all of which should add to the talent ranks at Leece, but it's not enough for them to be competitive week after week in a strong Serie A. Still, Lecce added a strong contingent of youngsters and built for the future with signings such as defensive midfielder Daniel Semak, who joined from Slavia Prague, right winger Lamec Branda from Maccabi Petah-Tikva and teenage striker Joel Persson from Roma’s primavera. They may not be long for Serie A, but this is a team that would outright dominant Serie B for years if promotion wasn't a consideration.

One To Watch:

Wladimir Falcone has big gloves to fill, as Gabriel was rock-solid between the sticks for Lecce last term. Marco Baroni’s men had the best defense in Serie B last season and with the Brazilian shot stopper now gone, there will be huge pressure on the former Sampdoria back-up goalkeeper. Falcone impressed in his 10 appearances for I Blucerchiati last term and was even picked as the Man of the Match on two occasions. However, with Lecce now missing an established goalscorer after Massimo Coda’s departure, the Giallorossi’s goalkeeper will have to be impeccable in goal if his side are about to secure salvation.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 17th

Predicted Finish: 18th

Odds To Win Serie A: 4500 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

When Davide Nicola took over Salernitana back in February, the Granata already seemed doomed to relegation right after their return to Serie A. The Campanians had lost 16 of their 21 games to that point, had registered only three wins and lacked any kind of game plan or self-belief that they could change their destiny.

Nicola changed all that and with a bit of luck Salernitana rewrote history, thanks to a huge Cagliari blunder in the final round. The Sardinians failed to beat the already-relegated Venezia, thus going to Serie B and ensuring Salernitana stayed up, becoming the team with the lowest points tally to do so.

While Salernitana finally showed signs of being capable of competing in Serie A towards the end of the campaign, it’s hard to see any significant improvement in the side coming into next season.

It seems that Nicola is set to trust Simy, who returns after an unsuccessful loan spell at Parma, and Bonazzoli, who now seems ready to become a regular. Frank Ribery will definitely be in the mix as well, but the legendary Frenchman turned 39 earlier this year and failed to provide a significant impact on the field last term.

All this points to a very tough campaign ahead for the Granata, who are almost certain to be in the midst of the relegation battle once again. Nicola is a miracle-maker and worked his magic last term, but he’s never done that for two seasons in a row and it seems unfair from the club to expect him to do so.

Transfers:

Matteo Lovato was brought in on a permanent basis from Atalanta and can definitely help at the back, while left-back Domagoj Brdaric also came in from Lille. Luigi Sepe, Federico Bonazzoli, Emil Bohinen, Mamadou Coulibaly, Mikael, Grigoris Kastanos and Pawel Jaroszynski were brought back after their initial loan spells expired and while this was necessary, it didn’t leave much room for new arrivals. Not only that, but star midfielder Ederson was sold to Atalanta, while veterans Milan Djuric and Stefan Standberg also departed, leaving some big question marks in attack and up front.

One To Watch:

Federico Bonnazzoli. The 25-year-old, above, was his side’s top scorer with 10 goals last term and Salernitana clearly hope that he’ll be able to build on that number this time out. It’s obvious that Bonazzoli will be a key figure for Nicola’s side next season and the player seems ready for the challenge. The pertinent question becomes whether he has enough talent around him to stave off relegation. I believe that while incredibly talented, he does not and thus Salernitana will be back in Serie B.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 15th

Predicted Finish: 17th

Odds to Win Serie A: 1000 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

Sampdoria barely retained their place in Serie A last year and benefited from the collapse of other teams in the relegation zone. Arch-rivals Genoa dropped to the second tier and 'Doria were fortunate not to join them, so the bar is low for the 2022-23 championship.

Hampered by financial restrictions, it’s been a dismal transfer window for I Blucerchiati. Sampdoria have consistently shipped their most saleable assets elsewhere in the last three decades and this summer has been no different.

Key midfielder Antonio Candreva is on the brink of a switch to Salernitana, while Danish attacking midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard promised much but failed to deliver in an injury prone spell and has joined Brentford in an order to continue to party with all 53 other Danes on that team.

Energetic Norwegian midfielder Morten Thorsby departed for German club Union Berlin in a cut price deal, while error-prone Japanese defender Maya Yoshida (Schalke 04) and veteran Swedish midfielder Albin Ekdal (Spezia) also left.

Serbian playmaker Filip Đuričić returned after four seasons at Sassuolo but coach Marco Giampaolo will largely rely on the same group of veterans that floundered last season.

Staying in the league is the primary target for a club still in a phase of rebuilding., both on and off the pitch. Former player Marco Lanna took over as club president after Massimo Ferrero was arrested for a multitude of alleged corporate and financial crimes and resigned last December, and the backroom is still a shambles. To put it nicely, it's looking rough.

Transfers:

As stated, Sampdoria does Sampdoria things. As is their custom, they've sold the only bankable stars they have, even if calling them stars is a reach. Candreva is gone, and while he's not a superstar, he gave the team valuable leadership, effort and experience. Thorsby was a tidy midfield piece they've yet to replace, Ekdal was a midfield engine that they don't have an answer for, and if Damsgaard manages to find his form at Copenhagen Sou-... Brentford, then all of Sampdoria and its fanbase are going to weep.

One To Watch:

The former Sassuolo striker, above, looked a shadow of the player that starred for the Neroverdi in a frustrating first term at Samp. Although the 35-year-old delivered 11 goals and six assists in 2021-2022 ,Caputo often looked discouraged and demoralized as the Doria midfield consistently failed to supply him with good service. That said, Caputo must improve his strike rate if the Blucerchiati are to avoid another campaign stuck at the wrong end of the table.. With a lack of service however, it's going to be difficult to get the returns necessary to make it a sucessfull campagin.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 13th

Predicted Finish: 16th

Odds To Win Serie A: 750 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

Serie A can be a very tricky trail to navigate throughout a given campaign. If you are not careful, you can quickly find yourself in the cellar, scratching and clawing to stave off relegation come May. For Bologna, there should be concern with this potential reality, not because of the coach, but more so due to a disappointing summer window that has seen a slew of key performers sold.

Promising defender Arthur Theate emerged as a pillar in Siniša Mihajlović’s backline last season. A young, left-footed central defender with an elevated work-rate and sturdy possessor of the ball, the Belgian was sold to French outfit Rennes for a substantial sum. However, in its current form, there isn’t a player in the squad capable of filling his shoes.

The defense also saw another crucial exit with Aaron Hickey making the Premier League switch to Brentford. At 20, the Scottish left-back showed tremendous progression in quality last season, often found making strong runs up and down the flank and lending six goal contributions (five goals, one assist) over 36 appearance. Andrea Cambiaso should be able to fill that void to an extent on loan from Juventus, but that may hinge on how well he can integrate.

Then there is the midfield, which took a hit when Swedish international Mattias Svanberg sought the German route by joining Wolfsburg on a permanent deal.

Without question, Mihajlović’s attacking unit will have its work cut out to help neutralize the many deficiencies this current squad contains. Marko Arnautovic, Nicola Sansone, Riccardo Orsolini and Musa Barrow have goals and assists in them, but ultimately, a lot is being asked of Lukasz Skorupski to rescue a disjointed back-line. An already weak team got further depleted and the only thing that will keep them up is their ability to outscore their opponents. Tough times for Bologna.

Transfers:

Nothing of note came in besides Cambiaso, who while a talented lad who I'm sure means well, isn't at the level of an Aaron Hickey. Aaron Hickey is going to grow into potential one of the best wingbacks in football in a couple of years; capable of contributing to an attack, making marauding runs and crossing with the best of them. Andrea Cambiaso will be remembered as the guy who replaced him at Bologna.

And it's not just Hickey. Losing Theate is a massive blow because you haven't replaced him and left a huge hole in defense. Svanberg is going to look damning when theres no creativity or link-up play between your midfield and Arnatauvoic, Sansone, Orsolini and Barrow. They needed to do more and didn't.

One To Watch:

The last three seasons have seen the Gambian attacker emerge as a very steady producer of goals and assists. Barrow’s output over this period is as follows: nine goals, four assists in 1,545 minutes (2019-20); eight goals, eight assists in 2,921 minutes (2020-21); and six goals and six assists in 2,134 minutes (2021-22). At 23, the former Atalanta youngster is refining his overall game while also showing end product in the final third. He is poised for his best season yet and one which could warrant a significant move come next summer.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 16th

Predicted Finish: 15th

Odds To Win Serie A: 3500 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

Despite being among the favorites to get relegated last term, Spezia avoided the drop for a second year in a row, as the Ligurians now prepare for their third straight season in Italy’s top flight.

Yet, Spezia decided to part ways with Thiago Motta, who left in June and Luca Gotti, who had just had a positive season at Udinese, took over. Bizarrely, one of Gotti’s first actions was to take away the captain’s armband form Giulio Maggiore, who now seems set to leave the club after six seasons in Liguria. Because why wouldn't you get rid of a fan favorite and loyal servant as your first act. That's normal, right?

This was a clear sign of the changing times. Gotti picked Emmanuel Gyasi as the team’s new captain, despite reports that last season the Ghanaian had physical confrontations with Maggiore, creating a locker-room crisis before a ball was kicked. Again, because Gotti is making nothing but good decisions and endearing himself to the fanbase.

As if that wasn’t enough, Ivan Provedel, who played a huge role between the sticks for last term, was allowed to leave and replaced by Dragowski from Fiorentina who has history of being lazy, not training hard and quitting on his teammates. Because again, Gotti loves chaos or some shit.

Rej Manaj, who netted five times last term was another important figure that left Liguria, after his loan from Barcelona expired. Daniel Maldini came from Milan as a replacement and while Paolo’s son has the potential, he is yet to feature regularly in Serie A. Kevin Agudelo has been brought on, as has Albin Ekdal, but at 32 it’s hard to expect wonders from the Swedish midfielder.

Transfers:

There's somewhat good news here. Provedel is gone and so is Eddie Salcedo. Maggliore is going to force his way or kill Gyasi in the process. That said? You added Agudelo who is a solid piece on the flanks and can take the load off your new captain while adding Maldini, who while raw, still showcases a bunch of potential. This is a young, raw team without leadership and a whooole load of drama, but maybe they pull a rabbit out of their hat for a 3rd straight year.

One To Watch:

It's Gyasi, but it's not for anything good. The 28-year-old who scored six goals last season, is expected to be Spezia’s new captain and while his technical quality can’t be put into doubt, there are some question marks over his ability to set an example and lead. Gyasi failed to provide a single assist last term – a stat highlighting his, at times, centered style, and if the Ghanaian is about to lead his side to yet another salvation, he’ll need to be more of a team player. He can't do it alone, and the hope is he realizes that, but the betting money is that he won't and Spezia will stay up (barely) in spite of him.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 14th

Predicted Finish: 14th

Odds To Win Serie A: 14th

Prospects:

There was a point about midway through last season when something was truly stirring in Tuscany. The boys from the Carlo Castellani had been a revelation and were an outside shot for Europe with some stylish football and impressive results. But a long winless run ensued and – although they survived easily enough – left questions about which version of the team was the real one.

Coach Aurelio Andreazzoli has been a casualty of that depressing sequence and is replaced by Paolo Zanetti – a man who knows a bit about relegation fights having most recently managed Venezia. He appears to have a better squad at his disposal at Empoli but the loss of last season’s top scorer, Andrea Pinamonti is a blow. Mattia Destro could be the answer – or so they hope – but he has blown hot and cold throughout his career.

Loan deals (both current and those that have turned permanent) could represent their best chance of staying afloat again but it is always a risk to rely on the kindness of others. Their newly-promoted rivals look a little more ambitious this season than last so they face a stern task. Dodging the drop will be particularly hard if they don’t make another flying start this year, but they should be able to stay up.

Transfers:

As stated, to avoid relegation, Empoli is going to need to hope and pray that some new signings gel quickly and start firing almost upon arrival. Sam Lammers has made the leap from Atalanta, Sebastian Luperto shores up the defense with a move from Napoli, the aforementioned Mattia Destro is going to be looked upon to lead the line, and perhaps most importantly, Gugilielmo Vicario is being counted upon to set and deputize his defense while keeping guard between the sticks as Empoli's top choice goalkeeper after his loan from Caligari has been made permanent.

One To Watch:

Every Serie A relegation fight starts with a solid base and the much-scouted goalkeeper, is sure to be a busy boy again this term. He attracted a wide range of suitors in the summer but – at the time of writing – he remained between the posts in Empoli, which can only be to their advantage. Vicario is likely to face plenty more chances to enhance his reputation in the weeks to come but clean sheets will be essential in keeping his team afloat.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 10th

Predicted Finish: 13th

Odds To Win Serie A: 750 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

There were good and bad times for Torino manager, Ivan Juric last season as he started to transmit his in-your-face football to his new employers. It looked like a platform to build upon for a team which for all intents and purposes, should be in the top half of the table based on its history and support, but has found to be a struggle of late. However, the summer has been a tough one for anyone who holds the Granata dear.

A bust-up between the coach and club director Davide Vagnati hinted that all was not well and the loss of Bremer to Juventus has been a bitter pill as the Andrea Belotti era also came to an end. President Urbano Cairo has said they need to show faith in youth – which is admirable – but often comes at a cost when it comes to short-term results. The alarm bells have certainly been ringing among long-suffering supporters that this season is going to be a long and arduous one.

Torino definitely have the feel of a club at a crossroads and it could go either way for them in the months to come. If their new recruits click, it could still be a decent season with a competitive squad but you do get the feeling that tempers are a bit frayed and it could all implode at the first sign of adversity.

Transfers:

Not much to write home about here. They're putting all their eggs into the Aleksei Miranchuk basket, and I couldn't tell you if that's good or bad because Miranchuk is that effin' inconsistent. Samuele Ricci is a nice little piece in the midfield and has long been tabbed as a future standout. Pietro Pellegri might finally live up to his lofty potential, but chances are he may be just be a bust 4 years on from when he was expected to be Haaland-level good. The big blow is Bremer being sold to Juventus. It hurts the backline and leaves a gaping hole in the defense.

One To Watch:

Welp. In Miracnhuk they trust, I guess. It is a lot of pressure to put on a new acquisition but the man brought in from Atalanta, above, will be expected to carry a lot of this side’s attacking intent on his shoulders. He never quite managed the impact they hoped for in Bergamo but there were flashes of what he could bring and he should now be fully acclimatized to Serie A after a couple of years of wishy-washy production. If he can add a splash of class to the output of his teammates he could prove a strong signing. Don't get it twisted though, they are one Aleksei Miranchuk knee or ankle injury away from getting relegated.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 11th

Predicted Finish: 12th

Odds To Win Serie A: 500 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

It has been fantastic to watch Sassuolo over the years as, like Atalanta, they seem to have the ability to regenerate with young talent and constantly defy the critics. The Neroverdi have been hard to beat and good to watch, but it seems like the luck has run out and the well has run dry. This season could be a tough one, as Sassuolo have lost some key players and could lose more before September. Thus far, only one player has been brought in.

Agustin Alvarez is the 21-year old Uruguayan who has come in to replace the out-going and hugely talented Gianluca Scammaca, who moved to the Premier League with West Ham and made his debut on Sunday against Manchester City. Scamacca was sold for a reported £35.5m, but the money hasn’t been put back into the squad as yet.

Sassuolo has also lost Jens Odgaard, Filip Djuricic and Vlad Chiriches and while they may not be major talents, their absence makes the squad lighter and weaker. One of the team’s other major talents, Giacomo Raspadori, looks like he may well have played his last game for Sassuolo and is in deep negotiations to settle a move to Napoli. Losing Scamacca was a blow – if Raspadori goes too, Sassuolo may struggle to recover.

Transfers:

Sassuolo has been hurt by the transfer market and may continue to get pillaged by it. Gone are Odgaard, Djuricic and Chiriches, but the main blow to the squad has been the departure of Gianluca Scamacca who along with being their talisman, is probably in line to be the striker of the Italian National Team for the next ten years. Giacomo Raspadori, an incredible talent and Italy international in his own right, is also set to leave in the coming weeks, leaving Domenico Berardi all alone to shoulder the loud and the weight of Sassuolo's campaign. Yikes.

One To Watch:

Has there ever been someone more destined to sabotage his own career more than Domenico Berardi? Berardi was exceptional last term as he managed 15 goals and 14 assists in league play. The attacking midfielder has often been praised for his ability but criticized for him inconsistency and a perceived lack of ambition, content with mid-table finishes and being a big fish in a small pond albeit having the talent to contribute on a larger stage. Berardi seems uninterested in moves to bigger clubs and although some have indeed tried to tempt him, he remains at the Neroverdi, ever present, just watching his career disintegrate into a mountain of mid-table finishes and shoulder shrugs of mediocrity. He's the new age Quagliarella. The streets won't forget, but damn could he have been something. Still, the 28-year-old is a huge asset for Sassuolo and may be the difference maker again as they adapt to changing circumstances.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 12th

Predicted Finish: 11th

Odds of Winning Serie A: 750 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

In recent years, Udinese fans have become increasingly frustrated with their owners, the Pozzo family, feeling they put more of their focus and resources into EPL side, Watford. Truth is, they probably do. Hilariously enough, following Watford's relegation from the Premier League, the Friulani are again their highest-profile club, but are still ultimately a scouting and selling side content with mid-table safety. The days of Udinese qualifying for Europe seem to be gone, as there’s a distinct lack of stability at the club's management level.

Last season coach Luca Gotti was fired in December and replaced by his assistant Gabriele Cioffi, who in turn has now moved on to Verona. In comes Andrea Sottil, a former defender who is still beloved in these parts, but in his first ever Serie A management role.

As ever, the big names have been sold at huge profits, like Nahuel Molina’s move to Atletico Madrid, while few expect Gerard Deulofeu or Destiny Udogie to hang around for long. At the very least, Udinese did receive some good news when Nehuen Perez made his loan move permanent and Roberto Pereyra should be more of a key figure after shaking off his injury woes, but the target remains Serie A survival and little else

Transfers:

Not much, but what has been done isn't exactly great. Nahuel Molina is going to Atletico, Stryger Larson to Trabzonspor, and Coulibably (not that one) left to Salernitana. Left-back Destiny Udogie made the leap from Hellas, but he won't be long for this club that treats talent as a commodity. He'll be gone by next year, and they'll get considerably more than the $18.7 million they paid for him. Most importantly, Gerard Deulofeu is a constant source of transfer conjecture and rumor and he isn't long for the side; best suited for a mid-table EPL or La Liga side if we are being honest.

One To Watch:

Deulofeu. The Spaniard has found a new lease of life in Udine and had seemed for much of the summer close to a Napoli move. It hasn't panned out for one reason or another, but Deulofeu is pretty much gone by January. For Udinese? That would suck. You can understate how much of a loss it would be as the 28-year-old scored 13 goals in 34 Serie A appearances last season, and is one of the few truly exciting figures in the squad who can create something out of nothing and get the fans on their feet. Either as a centre-forward or in a supporting role for Beto, Deulofeu is the creative spark, the talisman and the only person on the team currently worth spending money to buy a ticket to watch. For that reason, the notoriously money-hungry Pozzo family will probably sell him below-value and preach to their fans that they were doing it to "re-invest in the squad" while continuing to finish 11th or 12th. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Outlook:

Last Season's Finish: 9th

Predicted Finish: 9th

Odds To Win Serie A: 500 to 1 via Oddschecker

Prospects:

When it comes to Serie A, there are few mid-table clubs who understand and play to their identity better than Verona.

Finishing ninth in two of the last three campaigns in the Italian top-flight, the Bentegodi outfit has often found ways to manufacture productivity from unknown sources, earn results where few believe they are capable, and play a brand of football that is conducive to sustainability throughout 38 rounds. It ain't always pretty, but it's damn effective. Led by Gabriele Cioffi, Verona approach the upcoming season with the majority of their top players on the payroll – including Giovanni Simeone, Antonin Barak, and Ivan Ilic.

Simeone, the Argentine striker and son of the famed Atletico Madrid manager, posted his best statistical season in 2021-22, bagging 17 goals and five assists over a nearly full slate of matches. Though he blew hot and cold, Simeone’s threat as a goalscorer alone helped open up the game a bit for others to have a say in the offensive initiative, especially Barak.

That said, Verona’s attack took a big hit with the departure of journeyman forward Gianluca Caprari who could have arguably been their steadiest player last season, and the defense looks thinner with Nicolo Casale having moved to Lazio. Thomas Henry coming over from Venezia is an addition that does not leap off the page but does afford Cioffi a bit of a different profile to hopefully shake things up in the front line should he need to diversify a bit and give teams a different look.

Regardless, Verona has shown they can play respectable and results-based football through the sum of their parts, so expect Cioffi to keep his club well clear of danger, and be in the thick of a battle for European contention themselves.

Transfers:

Not much to discuss here other than the aforementioned. Nicolo Casale leaving to Lazio leaves a bit of a hole in the defense, Caprari has been replaced by Thomas Henry, and Mattia Zaccagni leaves to Lazio, which depending on how high you are on Zaccagni is either a big blow to this club, or inconsequential. If Simeone is sold however, as he is rumored to be speaking with Napoli and close to finalizing a deal? All bets are off. This season could go off-tilt in a hurry.

One To Watch:

Antonin Barak became a relatively known commodity during his time at Udinese as a rising young talent but has since sharpened his game overall to the extent where he is one of the league’s more underrated stars. A versatile midfield player capable of taking matches by the scruff, the 27-year-old Barak compiled 15 goal contributions over 2,300 minutes of action last season, and truly benefited from the space and the range that playing with someone like Simeone afforded him. This time around, expect the Czech international to undertake a more heavy assignment from Cioffi and assert himself by any means necessary as an advanced playmaker with his running mate, Ivan Illic by his side.

Outlook:

The truth of it is that Simeone is probably getting sold. He's far too good to be playing on a team like Verona, and will probably make the jump to higher competition or a higher profile club in the near future. That said, this team should still be able to survive without him. Although Thomas Henry doesn't give you what Simeone does, he is a capable striker with experience, has good link-up and hold-up play, and is able to get double-digit goals himself. Barak remains a focal point and with the keys to the car firmly in his hands, should be counted on to take control of games and set the tempo.

Last Year's Finish: 8th

Predicted Finish: 7th

Odds To Win Serie A: 22 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

Is it the end of an era or the beginning of a new one for Atalanta?

When finishing eighth in Serie A is considered a failure, it’s an indication of the club’s incredible progress under Gasperini. Indeed, Atalanta’s meteoric rise from provincial powerhouse to the top four and Europe in the last six seasons has been thrilling to watch, and Atalanta has proven itself to be a team of constant entertainment, often in spite of themselves. You'll see 4-3 games, and sometimes they'll be on the positive side of it, and sometimes they'll lose a heartbreaker, but you can't say they don't go for it.

Gasperini’s attacking tactics have been rightly praised but does he have the players to match his ambition this term? The addition of speedy English winger Ademola Lookman and attacking midfielder Éderson will add further flair to a team packed full of talented internationals, but where's the defense? At times it was seriously lacking and cause for concern. Notably, it’s on the flanks that La Dea has to improve; Robin Gosens has not been adequately replaced and Hans Hateboer faded after sustaining an injury early last season.

A fully fit Duván Zapata is also crucial to Atalanta’s success. The formidable Colombian forward spent large chunks of the previous season out injured and is a fundamental part of the way the team plays. Malinovsky and Koopmeiners proved themselves to be key cogs of the machine last year, and the hope is that they continue to grow into their roles and make the team theirs. Still, this is a team that really should be contending or fighting for a European spot if everything breaks well.

Transfers:

Atalanta actually added a ton of depth, just not in the places they needed that depth to begin with, which is incredibly frustrating. Rather than shore up the flanks, Atalanta added the incredibly talented Jeremie Borga from Sassuolo, another lightning-fast attacker in the vein of those who have come before him, ready to make the provincial powerhouse his stepping stone. Ederson has signed on from Salernitana to join a packed midfield and fight for minutes, Mehral Demiral is back from loan and becomes the only defensive "reinforcement the team has signed, and in case you wanted even more attackers, they added Ademola Lookman, who is guaranteed to score a long-range banger you'll see on the front page of Reddit at least once this year. All good additions and fabulous talents, but you still have a gaping Robin Gosens-sized hole on the left flank and your response to the problem has been a shrug and a nervous chuckle. Not good, folks.

One To Watch:

Teun Koopmeiners. The Dutch international is ready to play a bigger role for Atalanta after a superb breakthrough season at the Gewiss Stadium. The left-footed maestro with the panoramic passing range adjusted easily into Gasperini’s team and scored four times in an impressive first term in Italian football. Ostensibly a defensive midfielder he will also be given license to move further forward in Atalanta’s fluid system, something he excelled at when he played in the Eredivisie with AZ. He's an above-average defender in both quality and quantity, and his ball retention is excellent. If there is one part of his game that suffers, Koopmeiners really can't dribble. He's not going to go on marauding runs and dribble through four defenders. He will however pinpoint a pass from 30 yards across across field and lay it on your boot. With Duvan and Borga ready to roll, this is going to be awesome and will make for some beautiful football. He stood out as others failed to step up in 2021-22 and having had time to fully incorporate himself in Gasperini's plans, should make even more progress in the forthcoming campaign.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 7th

Predicted Finish: 8th

Odds To Win Serie A: 80 to 1 via Oddschecker

Prospects:

They have been waiting a while in Florence for a team that lived up to the hopes of the city’s football fans but they finally got it in 2021-22. Although they were gloriously inconsistent, the side from the Stadio Artemio Franchi staggered back into Europe and played some thrilling football at times. Even the loss of Dusan Vlahovic to Juventus midway through the season did not cause the collapse many predicted, with La Viola managing to garner the longed-for European spot in spite of the traitorous Serbian.

Now they face the harder task of delivering on that promise with another season at the top end of the table and, if possible, a decent run in the Conference League. There was consternation that a deal could not be agreed to keep Lucas Torreira but that has partly been made up for by the arrivals of the likes of Dodo and Luka Jovic. All in all, There is a feeling of greater depth to the squad than last year, but the looming uncertainty of having to play across multiple fronts this year for the first time in a number of years looms large for the Viola.

A team that likes to play expansive and attractive football, they were prone to significant blackouts and will need to cut those out if they want to make progress, both domestically and in Europe. They have kept their coach, which was seen by many as key, and he has shown outstanding ability in improving the players at his disposal. If he can do so once more, it could be fun times in the Renaissance city at last. Still, this is a different beast, and playing twice a week multiple times a year is going to expose this team, both in the league and across Europe. I don't think they have the legs to salvage a Euorpean spot, but they're getting there and consistency is growing in Florence.

Transfers:

It's been a year of some incredible turnover at Fiorentina, and you don't really know if its good or not. Gone are Chiesa, Vlahovic, Pulgar and Dragowski and in their stead are Gollini, Mandragora, Jovic, Dodo and Arturo Cabral. It's hard to say that's not a push. Jovic remains a talented individual, but which Jovic are you going to get? Is he going to be the Jovic that scored goals at Frankfurt or the disappointment from Madrid? Gollini has long been unable to solidify a starting spot and become the "man" for a club in Europe, and Mandragora is coming off an injury-plagued season with doubts about his ability to stay healthy beginning to fester. The losses here are significant, and with European football incoming, the weight of the world lying solely on the shoulders of Nico Gonzalez, seems a bit too much too soon. Gonzalez is a world-beating talent, but Jonathan Ikone is far too inconsistent and Arturo Cabral far too mercurial to provide him the help in attack necessary to keep this team in Europe with a proper domestic campaign. At some point, Italiano's team is going to falter if further reinforcements aren't made.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: Promoted from Serie B

Predicted Finish: 10th (Berlusconi Tax)

Odds To Win Serie A: 100 to 1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

Monza makes their debut in Serie A, although it’s difficult to call them minnows even in their first foray onto the main stage. This team is bankrolled by former AC Milan chief and horny Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and their CEO is Adriano Galliani, the pair who took Milan from near-bankruptcy in the 1980s to the top of the world before selling up 30 years later. They are back in the top flight and just as ambitious as ever, targeting at least mid-table in their first campaign, if not Europa League spots. Scary enough, they'll probably finish mid-table, and if things get weird, could even end up in the Europa Conference League. Calcio is weird and downright hilarious sometimes.

Coach Giovanni Stroppa remains – another former Milan face – but the squad is unrecognizable after 17 (!?!) signings this summer. Many of them are loans with an obligation to buy if Monza avoids relegation; including Italy internationals Matteo Pessina of Atalanta, Verona’s Gianluca Caprari, and Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno, while Stefano Sensi is on loan from Inter, joined by his free agent ex-Nerazzurri teammate Andrea Ranocchia. If all these obligations to buy are activated, Monza is going to face a huge wage bill next summer. They are ALL-IN when it comes to being successful, and if they don't finish in the top half or better, with European nights being ideal due to the extra cash influx ? Oh boy, things are going to suck for Monza. Admittedly, part of me is rooting for the crazy, horny bastard. "Make Serie A Fun Again."

Realistically, the worry before that point is the same as it was for sides such as Venezia, who tried revamping their squad after promotion, and then paid the price by not gelling in time. Big risk, big reward. To steal a phrase? " Fuck around and find out."

Transfers:

The whole team. Legitimately. Pessina from Atalanta, Caprari from Verona, Cragno, Sensi, Ranocchia, and god knows who else they are trying to bring in during the final days of the transfer window. Berlusconi is trying to win now and he is throwing all he can behind this team in some weird old-man quest to get back to the top of the mountain. They aren't done either. Arsenal defender Pablo Mari is finalizing a deal and Napoli striker Andrea Petagna is also finalizing a deal to join the club, with Napoli looking to unload him in order to bring in Cholito Simeone. This team is going to be the most watchable dumpster fire ever.

One To Watch:

Nobody was more excited when Monza got promoted than Pessina, because the Atalanta star is from Monza and returned right back to where his career began in 2015. He had a breakthrough season in 2019-20, followed by a star-making turn at EURO 2020, but lost his way along with the rest of Atalanta last term. It’s the ideal opportunity for the creative midfielder to find himself again and be the hometown hero with the captain’s armband, boasting probably more Serie A experience than any of his teammates. He's incredibly talented, technically gifted, with an eye for making the lethal pass to break-up a defense, has proper off-the-ball movement and on-the-field vision that had him on the lips and minds of many a European football club after that vaunted EURO 2020 performance.

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 6th

Predicted Finish: 2nd

Odds To Win Serie A: 8 to 1 via Oddschecker

Prospects:

Goodness, what a change a year can make. The Giallorossi finished the season as Europa Conference League champions in what was their first European final in 31 years. Although they finished just a point higher than in the previous season under Paulo Fonseca, José Mourinho has given Roma a much-needed identity built on winning. It's a complete culture change, with players buying into the philosophy of the man-in-charge and with Mourinho once again smiling for the first time in what feels like years. It's the perfect marriage of city, team, manager, and culture when it comes to Roma and it feels like everything is peaking at the right time. Fiercely loyal to a fault, Roma fans have embraced Mourinho, ignored his flaws, and gravitated toward his philosophy and mentality with players doing the same. And while we've seen some players lose out because of that, others like Pellegrini and Tammy Abraham have thrived, with Abraham especially becoming the most lethal striker in Serie A.

Mourinho has always had a reputation for managing the best squads in club football and giving his squads an identity built around winning titles and while they won the Europa Conference League last year and secured a title, you can feel it's different this time around. This isn't the Mourinho who stays three years and bolts. This isn't volatile Mourinho who is cutting pressers and using quotes like "that's three for me, two for them, so respect." This time, it's evident that Mourinho took on a project and is building a project he truly believes in and he is taking his time to perfect it. He has brought in statement pieces all over the pitch. Dybala, Gini in the midfield, Mike Svilar to be a backup goalie, and possibly Andrea Belotti to add striker depth. This is a serious project and something being built for the present and the future.

Roma is dangerous, but while they can win now, this is a team built to last. In a crazy way, this is Mourinho's legacy stop, as weird as that sounds. A man who has won everywhere in the world and won the Champions League multiple times over has chosen Roma to be the definitive mark of his legacy on football. Sometimes, football makes romantics out of us all.

Transfers:

Tiago Pinto, Roma's Director of Football made himself into a God to Roma fans this transfer window. If not God-like, then at the very least? God-adjacent. Numerous big-name signings have been brought in by Pinto, without letting any star players go, which has been the case in the past.

After numerous reports of Paulo Dybala being expected to join Inter Milan, the Argentine decided to make the switch to the Italian capital after becoming impatient with the Nerazzurri management. The 28-year-old arrives on a free transfer from Juventus and will be eager to prove himself after struggling to find consistency in recent seasons. If he finds his form again, which you can argue he never lost- but people are FICKLE- then this is a monumental signing for Roma.

Young, technically gifted, with creativity and a nose for goal, Dybala was let down by Juve's management and their inability to get proper strike partners who weren't already 34 years old+ (Ronaldo), finally getting hurt after carrying that team for years. Yet, people act like Dybala wasn't consistently leading the team in goal contributions, consistently providing 10+ goals when healthy, and consistently getting you 10+ assists. There was an unfair narrative built around Dybala being cooked even though he had no help, and people feasted on the narrative, tabloids especially, publicizing the "fall from grace" of a talented player while never acknowledging that he was never given a proper team around him that ever played to his strengths. And for the record? No, giving him a washed Ronaldo is not giving him a squad. Stop that narrative right now, because it's horseshit regurgitated by CR7 fanboys who don't want to admit the man is a washed 37-year-old who has been an albatross at the last two places he's called his footballing home (Juventus & Manchester United)

Back to the point, Pinto added some much-needed depth by bringing in Lille right-back Zeki Celik for €7 million and signing Manchester United free agent Nemanja Matić, who has worked with Mourinho previously at Chelsea and Old Trafford. Goalkeeping duo Pau López and Robin Olsen have both been sold and replaced by promising Benfica goalkeeper Mile Svilar, Cengiz Ünder and Alessandro Florenzi made their loan moves to Marseille and AC Milan permanent while Henrikh Mkhitaryan left on a free transfer to join Inter. And as mentioned, Georginio Wijnaldum has joined from Paris Saint Germain on a loan-to-buy deal and Andrea Belotti will sign a three-year deal after leaving Torino this summer to add additional depth. When Gini and Belotti are depth moves? Pinto did great.

One To Watch:

Dybala will get the headline this year, but Tammy Abraham arrived from Stamford Bridge for £34m last season and has become Roma’s most important player within the space of a season. The 24-year-old striker amassed 27 goals and five assists across 53 matches last season and finished joint-third in the Serie A scoring race with 17 goals. To put it lightly, he was a man amongst boys and he DOMINATED games by himself. He was lethal, playing an integral part in Roma’s Conference League campaign, and has since been linked with a potential move back to the Premier League before being labeled untouchable by man in Roma's inner circle.

Scarily enough, you can argue that Abraham has never played with an outright 10 behind him or a proper striker partner. Usually left alone to lead the line, it's incredible to think that a strike partnership with Belotti or the idea of Dybala feeding him is currently on the table. Abraham will score 30 this year before it's all said and done.

Outlook:

This team is rising at the right time and all the pieces are coming together. They've added necessary pieces to strengthen the team, and young players have gained more experience and statement signings with notable talent have joined the team. The only thing that could hurt Roma is the number of competitions they find themselves in, but this team has the experience and the capability to withstand it.

Last Year's Finish: 5th

Predicted Finish: 6th

Odds to Win Serie A: 50 to 1 via Oddschecker

Prospects:

Last year was a transitional voyage for Lazio. The winds of change blew through the streets of Rome on both sides of the Tiber, and Maurizio Sarri had the tough job of adapting a 3-5-2 counter-attacking focused team into one that played comfortably on the ball in a 4-3-3 formation. The first half of the season saw a mixture of exciting, electric displays and inconsistent, lethargic performances. As the second half of the campaign progressed, Lazio finally started to consistently display the signs of a Sarri side, in both a positive and negative sense, although a poor January transfer window hampered their chances of a top-four finish.

Sarri knew it wouldn’t be easy when he arrived in Rome last summer. He was taking over a team that had been so wedded to a 3-5-2 system that players like Manuel Lazzari were significantly stronger as a right wing-back, instead of a true right back. Despite the initial struggles, his emphasis on quiet hard work seemed to pay off and the team now clearly bare his mark. The incredibly disappointing January transfer window is clearly a cause for concern for the former Napoli and Chelsea coach, however, and so work in the summer could prove decisive in regards to his long-term future in the Italian capital, but thus far it's been noticeably quiet, and another cause for concern.

Transfers:

Gone are Lucas Leiva, Thomas Strakosha, Joaquin Correa (officially), Vedat Muriqi, and Luiz Felipe. In their places are.... Alessio Romagnoli, Luis Maximiano and Nicolas Casale? Not exactly inspiring the most confidence. It's been quiet for Lazio, some would say too quiet. They haven't really made an effort to reinforce the squad and get coverage for necessary gaps in squad depth and talent, while further compounding their problem by receiving increasing interest in players like Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. SMS is supposedly "working on a renewal", but he has been the subject of transfer rumors yearly and just might go this year. Luis Alberto is also angling on a way out and looks set to join Sevilla. Bad times if you're Lazio.

One To Watch:

Milinkovic-Savic truly proved himself as one of Europe’s best midfielders this campaign, shining in Sarri’s 4-3-3 system. He scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists in 36 Serie A appearances, regularly proving the difference maker across the season. Even in matches where the Serbian midfielder didn’t contribute to a goal, his concrete work in the center of the pitch was consistently one of the brightest parts of Lazio’s performances, with his technical skill and tenacity shining through even on the worst of days.

Heavily linked with a move to a top club this summer, the loss of Milinkovic-Savic would be a painful blow for the Lazio faithful. Will he go? Probably not because it's the same story every year. Does he need to go for the sake of his own career? Probably. And most Lazio fans know it too., as much as it pains them to say. Business-wise, selling SMS would give this team the funds for a needed refresh, but do you sell and blow everything up or do you try to stand firm and hope for the best?

Outlook:

Last Year's Finish: 4th

Predicted Finish: 5th

Odds To Win Serie A: 2-1 via OddsChecker

Prospects:

Last Year, Massimiliano Allegri made his truly long-awaited return to Turin last season following his departure in 2019. Allegri had led Juve to five consecutive Serie A titles in five years from 2014 to 2019 but he was unable to deliver success from the jump last term as his side finished in fourth, and often looked worse. In fact, Juve recorded their highest number of defeats (8) since the 2010/11 season when they lost ten matches under Luigi Delneri and finished in seventh position.

Dusan Vlahovic made his move in January to join Allegri from Fiorentina, but failed to set the world on fire. The Serbian was unable to recapture the same form as he did with the Viola, scoring seven goals in 15 Serie A matches for Juve. Albeit not a disappointing record, it was not as impressive as it was in the first half of the season when he scored 17 goals in 21 league appearances for Fiorentina. The Bianconeri will be hoping he can kick on this season and help lead Juve to a Scudetto, as his goalscoring prowess will be key for European qualification.

Yet, a host of injury issues plague Juve’s squad ahead of the season with the likes of Paul Pogba, Weston McKennie, Mattia De Sciglio and Federico Chiesa all expected to miss the first match of the season, if not considerable time. This team isn't as deep as it used to be and its rivals have strengthened or surpassed them completely. Gone are the days when teams were scared of the "Vecchia Signora". Now the lady is just old, and possibly decrepit, in need of a revitalization project to put some spark back into the squad.

Transfers:

Juventus have undergone a host of changes this summer including the departure of club legend and icon Giorgio Chiellini after 17 seasons in Turin. His leadership and presence will be sorely missed as he commanded the back line. Matthijs De Ligt has also left the club to join Bayern Munich after he was originally touted to become the successor to Chiellini but his three years in Turin have failed to live up to expectations, with De Light leaving to join a side ready to compete for European glory. Brazilian defender Gleison Bremer has joined the Old Lady from Torino, with Juve acting swiftly to replace De Ligt, despite Bremer being destined to sign for Inter. The Bianconeri’s financial advantage was key and they were able to topple the Nerazzurri’s offer, but Juve are perhaps still a little limited at the back and lacking depth.

Paulo Dybala has also left the club after his contract expired this summer and has joined Serie A rivals Roma. The Juve faithful were saddened by the Argentine’s departure and were hoping he was going to remain in Turin. However, his departure will make way for the arrival of fellow Argentine Angel Di Maria who has joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer. The signing of Di Maria adds experience, quality and a winning mentality – qualities Allegri is searching for as he aims for a return to the top.

Lastly, Paul Pogba finalized his headline return to Juventus last month but the Frenchman will miss the start of the season due to a knee injury. He will be searching for a return to form after a disappointing time at Manchester United and he will hope to become one of the top global stars once again, but questions abound. The mercurial star is in need of seriously rehabbing his image, but does he have the desire and the drive to put his head down, play and engender goodwill again? A preseason injury certainly didn't help his cause.

One To Watch:

Vlahovic. The pressure mounts for the young Serbian. After a controversial move from Fiorentina, the hope was that he would set the world ablaze. He didn't and you're left wondering if the money spent was truly worth it or whether it was the result of poor service leading to poor performance and results. Dusan is too talented for it not to be the latter, but he will be dogged by questions and doubts if he doesn't come out firing this season. Vlahovic is key to their season and their aspirations, so a good start is crucial, especially with the laundry list of players out for considerable amounts of time due to injury.

Outlook: