It’s about 2 weeks to the start of the 2021/22 Serie A season. The Italian clubs have been busy in the transfer market with all 20 clubs seeking to strengthen their squads. We will be taking a look at the potential contenders for the Serie A title, along with the new arrivals.
Juventus
Despite failing in their attempt to secure a 10th Serie A title and barely making the top four last season, Juventus will certainly be the recipient of bets of some fans for winning the league. Bolstered by the return of former boss, Massimiliano Allegri, Juve will certainly be hungry to return to the pinnacle of Italian football. Allegri won five consecutive league titles, four consecutive Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. With an experienced title winning coach in Allegri and one of the best players in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, the Serie A title can return to Turin.
Inter Milan
The Nerrazzurri thwarted Juventus’s quest to win a tenth consecutive Italian title and will begin the new campaign as defending champions for the first time since the 2010/11 season, where they finished as runners-up to local rivals, AC Milan. They will however be under the tutelage of former Lazio boss, Simone Inzaghi. Under his tutelage, Ciro Immobile became a very lethal forward and the same can be expected with Belgian star, Romelu Lukaku. Inter have sold some key players, but with a few additions and the tactical nous of their new coach, Inter may be able to successfully defend the scudetto.
AC Milan
Despite finishing second in the league, Milan fans were a bit disappointed with their league ranking at the end of the season. Milan did not lose a game in the league till January, but they didn’t have the required momentum to hold on to the top spot and were overthrown by city rivals Inter. Nevertheless, they still had a good season, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in seven years. With world-class players like Franck Kessie, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and newly signed experienced forward Olivier Giroud under the guidance of Italian tactician, Stefano Pioli, maybe they can go all the way to snatch the Serie A title from their neighbours.
AS Roma
Despite finishing seventh in the league in what was certainly a disappointing season for Roma fans, a new season always brings fresh expectations and hope in the hearts of fans. These expectations have certainly been bolstered with summer recruitments and the arrival of serial winner, Jose Mourinho. Mourinho’s ability to win trophies is undeniable and his trophy collection as a manager is certainly up there with the best of coaches having won league titles in England, Portugal, Spain and Italy. Roma have in Mourinho a coach who knows how to win trophies. With the right recruitment’s, Roma fans have started to dream that the Special One can give them a fairytale season.
Empoli
Empoli returns to the Serie A after a two-year absence. They secured promotion after emerging as champions of Serie B. The club is based in Empoli, Tuscana, Italy, and was founded in 1920. Empoli’s chairman is Fabrizio Corsi while the manager is Aurelio Andreazzoli. The club’s highest achievement is playing in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup playoffs. It has won the Serie B three times. The club dramatically got relegated from Serie A on the last day of the 2018/19 season but returned two years later by winning the Serie B.
Salernitana
Salernitana return to Serie A after a 22-years absence. It secured automatic promotion after finishing second in Serie B. Its nickname is I Granata and plays at the 26,000 capacity Stadio Arechi. The club’s chairman is Andrea Radrizzani, the manager is Fabrizio Castori. Due to bankruptcy, the club has changed its name several times. Salernitana has won the Serie B twice. As a result of its promotion to the top flight, the club need to be sold because its owners also own Lazio, and two clubs of the same owners cannot compete in the same league.
Venezia
Venezia returns to the Serie A after a 19-year absence. It gained promotion after defeating Cittadella in the promotion playoffs. Venezia’s highest achievement was winning the Coppa Italia in 1941. Its highest finish in the Serie A is 3rd, which was achieved in the 1941/42 season. The club has won the Serie B twice. Venezia got relegated from the Serie A in 2002 and due to bankruptcy, changed its name several times. It was saved by American investors who bought it and revamped it. The club finished 5th in the 2020/21 Serie B table, thereby qualifying for the promotion playoffs, which it won by defeating Cittadella in the final.
