Last summer, Italian football took a major blow with an unprecedented exodus that deprived Serie A from some of its best stars, including Romelu Lukaku, Cristian Romero, Gianluigi Donnarumma and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.
Luckily for Calcio, this summer has been significantly more generous than its predecessor as, despite a few departures (Koulibaly, Insigne, Kessié), the majority of top clubs have been able to maintain their main core, while bolstering their ranks with exciting new arrivals.
So let’s take a look at some of the most exciting stars that we should keep an eye on week in week out, including new signees, returning heroes and established players looking to consolidate their legacies.
Charles De Ketelaere (Milan)
Following a summer-long transfer saga, Milan were finally able to secure the signature of Charles De Ketelaere who might just be the next great prodigy of Belgian football.
However, the 21-year-old didn’t come cheap, so despite his young age, he’ll have some major expectations laid upon his shoulders, and it would be interesting to see if he’ll be able to cope with the pressure and deliver the goods at the San Siro.
The former Club Brugge star is expected to add some flair and creativity in the hole while playing as an attacking midfielder, a position that has recently became problematic for the reigning champions in spite of their victorious previous campaign.
Angel Di Maria (Juventus)
While the Rossoneri are hoping to sort their creativity issue with the addition of a young starlet, the Old Lady’s answer for this dilemma is a veteran who has seen it all.
Angel Di Maria is one of the most decorated stars of his generation, and watching him ply his trade in Serie A for the first time will be a major pleasure not just for Juventus fans, but the rest of the Italian pool.
At the age of 34, the Argentine might be slightly past his peak, but then again, better late than never.
Paulo Dybala (Roma)
The transfer gods may give with one hand, but they take with the other. So while Juventus gained a top Argentine star in the form of Di Maria, they lost another when Paulo Dybala left the club after failing to reach an agreement over a contract extension.
Fortunately for Serie A, La Joya isn’t going anywhere, as Roma managed to pick him up before giving the world one of the greatest unveiling ever witnessed.
The 28-year-old has arguably been the most exciting Serie A star overall during the past decade, and prolonging his time in Italian football is a huge relief for all of us.
Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus)
After taking Serie B by storm last season, the 21-year-old will now have the chance to showcase his prowess with the big boys.
Apparently, Massimiliano Allegri has been convinced, and Fagioli could even start Juve’s first match of the season against Sassuolo amid the injury crisis in the middle of the park.
So keep an eye on this one, as he might just be the next big thing in Italian football.
Robin Gosens (Inter)
Despite having joined Inter in the middle of last season, Robin Gosens still feels like a new signing for Simone Inzaghi’s team.
The German is coming off a disappointing campaign that saw him missing a big chunk of the action due to injuries, and even when he recovered, usurping the formidable Ivan Perisic was out of the question at that stage of the campaign.
But with the Croatian veteran now gone and Gosens healthy once again, it’s now time for the latter to regain the form that cemented him as the most menacing wingbacks in the league during his days at Alatanta.
Luka Jovic (Fiorentina)
Since joining Real Madrid in 2019, the promising career of Luka Jovic has gone off the rails. The Serbian proved to be one of the most clinical strikers in Germany during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt. But dethroning Karim Benzema or even sharing his space is simply an impossible quest.
Therefore, the 24-year-old has now landed in Florence in the hopes of resurrecting his career and reclaiming his spot as one of the best up-and-coming strikers in the world.
So will he be able to follow the footsteps marked by his compatriot Dusan Vlahovic in Florence?
Romelu Lukaku (Inter)
When Inter won the Scudetto title with Antonio Conte at the helm, Romelu Lukaku was simply unstoppable. The Belgian giant used to run at defenses with a terrifying pace and an unmatched physical strength, causing havoc in his wake.
At the age of 29, the former Everton man should theoretically be at the peak of his powers, despite his recent woes at Chelsea.
So if Inzaghi manages to restore the ravaging version of the bomber – the one that Thomas Tuchel failed to unlock – then the Beneamata can definitely be labelled as the title favorites.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)
While the majority of the list is made up of the new signees, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has been serving at Lazio since 2015. At this point, there’s little left to unravel when it comes to the Serbian’s abilities.
Yet, the midfielder continues to grow from strength to strength with every new campaign. So even though we all know what to expect from “The Sergeant”, watching one of the finest midfielders in Europe gracing the pitch remains a great privilege.
Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma)
After missing out on the vast majority of the previous campaign due an ACL injury sustained at Euro 2020, Leonardo Spinazzola almost feels likes a new signing for José Mourinho who will be delighted to have the Azzurri hero back at his disposal.
While the Special One will be relying on a host of new stars as he aims to challenge the traditional forces of Serie A, the impactful fullback could be the one who makes all the difference at the end of the day.
Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)
Following the departures of Kalidou Koulibaly, Lorenzo Insigne and Dires Mertens, Napoli’s squad looks alarmingly short on stars.
Therefore, the Partenopei absolutely need to a fresh name that uplifts the supporters’ spirits, and Giacomo Raspadori could be the right man for the job.
The young striker is quick, versatile and clinical in front of goal, hence, he has all the makings of a bona fide star. Even if stays put at Sassuolo or ends up joining another Serie A club, the 22-year-old remains one to watch.
Sandro Tonali (Milan)
While his first season at Milan was slightly underwhelming, Sandro Tonali more than made up for it during his second campaign with the Diavolo, becoming one of the club’s pillars on its path towards a long-awaited Scudetto triumph.
The midfielder is only 22, and monitoring his growth will be a pleasure for us Calcio fanatics, as we could be witnessing a young man blossoming into one of the most complete midfielders of his generation.
Mister X
As always, the transfer session isn’t over until its doors are officially shut on deadline day. So between now and then, great many things could ensue, including the arrival of plethora of new stars who can bolster the ranks of the Serie A clubs.
So whether it’s Filip Kostic who’s reportedly close to joining Juventus, or a new defender who signs for Milan, or perhaps another surprising addition to Mourinho’s court, keep an eye on the Cult of Calcio‘s daily transfer news to find out who will be the next big star in Calcio.
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