It wasn’t long after Napoli’s Serie A triumph in May that questions arose about their manager’s future. Antonio Conte had voiced concerns about transfer decisions for months, and even in victory, his relationship with owner Aurelio De Laurentiis seemed strained. Recent history loomed large, with Luciano Spalletti’s departure after the 2023 Scudetto win, citing a clash with De Laurentiis. However, Conte, a man of his own volition, has defied expectations. As the Serie A season approaches, he represents a rare constant in a league defined by change. Twelve out of twenty clubs have changed managers, a slight decrease from the fourteen changes last summer, but still a significant upheaval, affecting six of the top eight finishers.
Does stability guarantee success? If so, Napoli enters the season as a clear favorite. They’ve retained all their key players and added Kevin De Bruyne, a statement signing reflecting their heightened ambitions for a third title in four years. Integrating De Bruyne will require tactical adjustments to their familiar 4-3-3 formation, but his presence promises to add a new dimension to their attack, which at times relied too heavily on Scott McTominay last season. De Bruyne isn’t the only addition. Napoli has also strengthened their defense with center-back Sam Beukema from Bologna and added Dutch international Noa Lang to their wing options. While Romelu Lukaku will miss the start of the season due to a hamstring injury, it presents an opportunity for the towering 6ft 7in striker Lorenzo Lucca, acquired from Udinese, to prove his worth.
The most likely challengers to Napoli’s crown are Inter Milan, despite their disappointing end to the previous season. After contending for four trophies, they finished empty-handed, suffering a heavy defeat in the Champions League final. Crucially, they’ve retained all their key players from a squad considered among the most talented in Italy and bolstered their ranks with promising young talent. Ange-Yoan Bonny, a versatile forward, brings a combination of size and pace, while midfielder Petar Sucic is already a seasoned Croatia international at just 21. The signing of Luis Henrique from Ligue 1 adds a touch of irony, considering the team’s Champions League final defeat against a team managed by Luis Enrique, also from Ligue 1.
The major question mark surrounding Inter is the appointment of Cristian Chivu as manager. Hired quickly after Simone Inzaghi’s departure for Al-Hilal, Chivu had little time to integrate before the Club World Cup, where Inter were eliminated in the first knockout round by Fluminense. Chivu arrives with a strong connection to the club, having won three league titles as a player, including the historic 2010 treble. However, his managerial experience is limited to a brief stint at Parma. Can the Romanian restore confidence and direction to a demoralized squad? For now, it’s a leap of faith.
Other potential contenders include Atalanta, who finished third last season. However, their long-serving manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has departed for Roma, marking the end of their most successful era. His replacement, Ivan Juric, previously worked under Gasperini as a player and assistant, potentially ensuring a degree of tactical continuity. However, he inherits a team that has sold top scorer Mateo Retegui and may also lose Ademola Lookman, who together accounted for over half of the team’s 78 league goals last season.
Gasperini’s move to Roma is an intriguing prospect. Can he replicate the attacking style that transformed Atalanta into Europa League winners and Champions League regulars? Despite financial fair play restrictions, Roma has been active in the transfer market. The most interesting signing may be Brazilian right-back Wesley from Flamengo. Loan deals for Evan Ferguson and Leon Bailey from Premier League clubs, both seeking a fresh start, also add intrigue.
Juventus, alongside Napoli, is one of the few top-eight sides to retain their manager, although the delayed confirmation of Igor Tudor hardly inspired confidence. Despite a quiet transfer window, there’s reason to believe they could surprise. With a young squad gaining experience and Bremer, arguably the league’s best center-back, returning from injury, Juventus could be a dark horse. Tudor has stated that he won’t settle for merely a top-four finish.
AC Milan sees the return of Massimiliano Allegri, 14 years after leading them to the Serie A title. The veteran Luka Modric has also joined, adding further experience. While key players like Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernández have departed, and Rafael Leão sustained an injury in a recent cup match, there were encouraging signs in that game. The absence of European football could be an advantage for Milan.
Could a smaller club challenge the established order? Como demonstrated their ambition by rejecting Inter’s approach for their manager, Cesc Fàbregas. They’ve invested heavily in the transfer window, spending €100 million and acquiring young talents such as Jesús Rodríguez from Real Betis and Martin Baturina from Dinamo Zagreb.
Bologna faces the challenge of replacing key players like Beukema and Dan Ndoye, similar to how they adapted after losing Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee last year. Fiorentina, who showed promise last season, may face disruption following the resignation of manager Raffaele Palladino, replaced by the returning Stefano Pioli. Lazio has also brought back a familiar face in Maurizio Sarri, but a transfer embargo has limited their ability to reshape the squad.
Among the promoted teams, Fabio Grosso’s Sassuolo appear best equipped to avoid relegation, with proven attacking talents like Armand Laurienté and Domenico Berardi. Andrea Pinamonti also returns after a successful loan spell at Genoa. Pisa, promoted with a fast-breaking style, are adapting to a more possession-based approach under new manager Alberto Gilardino. Cremonese has hired Davide Nicola, a specialist in survival.
Verona may be drawn into a relegation battle after another transfer window of selling their most promising young players, including center-backs Diego Coppola and Daniele Ghilardi. Parma has also seen key players depart, including Bonny, Simon Sohm, and Dennis Man. Lecce hopes the loan signing of 17-year-old Francesco Camarda from Milan will address their league-worst scoring record from last season. Cagliari has promoted academy coach Fabio Pisacane, a former Guardian footballer of the year, to his first senior management role.
A group of familiar teams will aim to climb from mid-table. Kosta Runjaic impressed in his debut season with Udinese but has lost key players like Lucca, Jaka Bijol, and Florian Thauvin. Torino hired Marco Baroni, who finished seventh with Lazio, and strengthened their attack, but midfield balance remains a concern. Genoa, under Patrick Vieira, showed improvement but has undergone significant squad changes.
This season feels as uncertain as ever. No team has successfully defended the Scudetto in the last five years. Now, Napoli, a club with only two previous league titles, has another opportunity to break that trend and establish themselves as a dominant force in Serie A.