It’s been a busy old summer in Italy, as the top clubs wheeled and dealt their way through to the upcoming season. And if any team is to wrestle the Serie A title from the Bianconeri then they know they had to strengthen.
They had to strengthen, not just to climb closer to the serial Scudetto winners but, in some cases to avoid drifting ever further behind. The Old Lady hasn’t stood still, as new head coach Maurizio Sarri has announced his return to Serie A with a statement of intent. He had a torrid time at Chelsea but still led the Blues to a top-four Premier League finish and a Europa League title last season.
So he left Stamford Bridge in a better state than he found it and will be determined to show that he remains a master in the dugout.
Transfer Hits and Misses
Sarri has had a productive first few weeks in Turin and has brought in a player he knew well from his time in England. Danilo has arrived in a deal worth around 37m Euros and he is the type of player who will fit into the champions set up with ease. A good defender, he also has a cultured right foot and a great shot on him.
But Matthijs de Ligt could be the signing of the summer after his 75m Euro move from Ajax. The 19-year-old was the most sought after defender in the game, with plenty of suitors after he forged a world-class international partnership with Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, and inspired a young Ajax team to a scintillating Champions League run.
But the most emotional move of the summer goes to a Bianconeri legend. Gigi Buffon has returned to Juve from PSG and the 41-year-old announced the ‘life is incredible’ as he put pen to paper to seal his return after a one-year absence. And former PSG midfield man Adrian Rabiot has joined him in his move to Turin.
New Inter Milan boss, Antonio Conte, has been busy too. After a summer of uncertainty for Romelu Lukaku, the former Manchester United striker arrived at Inter in a big-money deal from Old Trafford. Conte has been a long admirer of the bustling Belgian striker who will score goals wherever he goes, and he opened his Inter account with four in a pre-season friendly against Virtus Bergamo.
And at the other end of the pitch, Conte has pulled off a masterstroke, bringing in Uruguayan defender Diego Godin.
Atalanta has a Champions League campaign to look forward to and they have strengthened at both ends of the pitch, buying former Liverpool centre back Martin Skrtel from Fenerbahce, and they have also picked up Sevilla striker Luis Muriel in a 13m deal.
Midfielder Nahitan Nandez has moved from Boca Juniors to Cagliari in a 16m Euro deal and Radja Nainggolan has arrived from Inter Milan on loan after being told by the Nerazzurri that he didn’t feature in Conte’s plans.
But one deal that didn’t go through was a move for Inter’s wantaway striker Mauro Icardi after a swap deal with Edin Dzeko fell through as the Roma man opted to stay put on an extended three-year deal. Roma has lost defender Kostas Manolas in a 32m Euro switch to Napoli while Juve reserve Leonardo Spinazzola has gone to Roma to replace Manolas. The cash strapped club has failed to lure Toby Alderweireld from Spurs to play alongside Spinazsola.
Milan’s biggest move was to sign Rafael Leao from Lille for 27m Euros.
Biggest Winners
Inter Milan
Away from Juventus, I think the Nerazzurri have made the biggest progress with their two marquee signings of Romelu Lukaku and Diego Godin. For too long, Inter have relied on the goals of Mauro Icardi; and now they have a more reliable source in the shape of Romelu Lukaku. The former Chelsea striker still has plenty to prove and has started in superb style.
Keep an eye on the Serie A 2019 betting odds here at SBOBET as these two players bed in, Conte’s team is already alongside Napoli as the biggest threat to Juve and that’s a big jump already.
Biggest Losers
AC Milan and Roma
When the early season Serie A 2019 results begin to roll in there will be a lot of pressure on these two giant clubs who both missed out on a top-four place last season. While Juventus has seriously strengthened, Napoli has protected its quality and Inter has made bold moves, both Milan and Roma have pretty much stood still.
Patrick Cutrone has left the club for Wolves, which is a loss, and while Leao could turn out to be a good move for the Rossoneri I don’t think their fans have too much else to get excited about. At least one of these teams will miss out on the top four again, if not both.
What’s next?
Milan’s Franck Kessie could be on his way to Wolves to join Cutrone after he made the move to the Black Country, but Paulo Dybala is still waiting for a transfer from Juventus.
He may be in Sarri’s plans but I suspect the Argentine could be on the move sooner rather than later.
Surely Mauro Icardi will find a new home before too long, he won’t want to sit around and watch Lukaku bang the goals in!
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