Expect northern Italian dominance to continue, as Serie A kicks off its 125th season on Saturday. Inter, Juventus and Milan should be fighting it out for the scudetto – since 2001, the three teams have won all but two titles – with Napoli and Roma representing the south’s hopes. Inter captured last season’s championship in Cristian Chivu’s first season as manager, finishing 11 points ahead of Napoli.
Serie A, though, is not what it used to be. With 12 Champions League titles, Italy ranks third on the list, behind Spain and England. No Italian club, however, has captured the Champions League since Inter in 2010, the Nerazzurri falling short in the finals in 2023 and 2025.
Some blame the league’s decline on ageing stadiums, lack of player development, improved outside competition and diluted internal competition caused by too many teams at the top level. Serie A expanded to 20 teams in 2004, and proposals to return to 18 have been rejected. Al Jazeera Sport looks through the key talking points ahead of the new Serie A season.
Inter have refreshed the defence with right-back Djed Spence and centre-back John Stones, from Tottenham and Manchester City respectively, while Aleksandar Stankovic has been brought back to the club from Club Brugge. The Serbian looks set to be joined in midfield by Curtis Jones from Liverpool. Inter are, however, in jeopardy of losing Argentinian striker Lautaro Martinez, team captain and Serie A leading scorer last season with 17 goals, who may be a target for Barcelona.
Their rivals Milan, fifth last season, and Juventus, sixth place, have taken ambitious steps to chase down Inter. Milan brought in Portuguese manager Ruben Amorim, who bombed out of Manchester United in January. The Diavoli Rossi brought in Goncalo Ramos on a 74 million euro ($84.5m) transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, and brought in Diego Moreira from Strasbourg, likely to replace Rafael Leao.
Juventus, record Serie A winners with 36 championships, are hoping Luciano Spalletti can contend for the scudetto, last captured in 2019-20. The Bianconeri gave up on Dusan Vlahovic after three years, acquiring French forward Randall Kolo Muani. Bolstering the defence will be Colombian centre-back Jhon Lucumi, plus goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan from Tottenham.
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