As we approach the start of a new season, who will be the runners and riders in this latest edition of the Serie A?
This season could be a three-horse race between Inter, Juventus and Napoli.
This series of reports will take a deep dive into each of the club’s title credentials this coming season.
Inter
2023/24s run-away leaders are heavy favorites with the bookmakers to retain their crown. Last season, Simone Inzaghi’s men conceded just 22 goals in 38 games. The bedrock for success was their imperious defense. Inzaghi employed a consistent back 5 often swapping the wingbacks shortly after the hour mark to freshen things up in the wide areas.
However, there is room for improvement within the squad with ageing stars such as Francesco Acerbi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the autumn of their careers, a succession plan must be defined if Inzaghi wants to create a dynasty in Milan.
If Inter aren’t busy in the transfer market and think the answers to this succession plan may already lie within their wider squad then it is likely that Yann Bisseck and Davide Frattesi are being lined up to have a much greater involvement than last season. Although Frattesi may have to bide his time after Inter swiftly captured the signature of the experienced Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinksi on a free transfer, an astute signing by the title holders.
Within the last few weeks transfer target Allesandro Buongiorno has signed for Antonio Conte’s Napoli and Inter have now subsequently turned their attention to former Napoli Scudetto-winning defender Kim Min-Jae who has struggled since his move to Bayern Munich last summer.
In the forward areas, Inter were free-scoring at times with Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram forming an excellent strike partnership. The only critique of their forward line last season was the depth beyond the starting duo, with the two backup forwards Marko Arnautovic and Alexis Sanchez both in their mid-30s and well past their best.
This has somewhat been addressed by 31-year-old Iranian forward Mehdi Taremi who has recently been added to the squad. The addition of a younger hungry forward should also be considered. Genoa’s Albert Gudmundsson appears to have been identified as exactly this. The Icelandic forward scored 14 in the league last year as Genoa made a successful return to Italy’s top flight after a brief hiatus.
With other title contenders changing managers during the close season, Inter has opted for continuity awarding Inzaghi with a deal running until 2026. This continuity along with the big changes for their rivals may allow Inter to hit the ground running while the likes of Juventus and Napoli may take some time to get to grips with their new coaches’ way of working.
Overall, expect Inter to go on to retain the Scudetto. However, don’t expect it to be as easy as last season. Thiago Motta’s Juve and in particular Conte’s Napoli will run Inter close and force them to work for the silverware.