Serie A: 2024-25 Preview (Part Two)

Cue the operatic music, Serie A is back. Three new teams, too many new managers to think about and an almost infinite quantity of hopes and dreams to be fulfilled and shattered.

In part two, we’ll take a look at ten teams and their outlook on this season, their managerial situation plus key players and ones to watch. You can find part one here.

Lazio (7th)

Manager: Marco Baroni. Unexpectedly managed to keep a poor Verona side safe despite a January fire sale. Now in his first ‘big’ job. Not a glamorous hire, but one that could work.

Yet another team with a new manager. Life after Ciro Immobile begins without a real replacement, minus Castellanos. Have added promising wide players in Tchaouna and Noslin. Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson and Daichi Kamada moved on and were replaced only by the injury prone Gaetano Castrovilli from Fiorentina. Don’t expect them to improve on last season’s finish, but it’s certainly no time to panic.

Key player: Mattia Zaccagni. The main man now that Immobile and the aforementioned midfield crop have departed. His time to shine as this team’s best attacking threat.

One to watch: Gaetano Castrovilli. Easy to forget that he made the victorious Italy squad at Euro 2020. Plagued by injuries at Fiorentina before seeing his contract expire. A creative midfielder who could be a real bargain if he stays fit.

Lecce (14th)

Manager: Luca Gotti. Steadied the ship and kept his team up after taking over from D’Aversa. Likeable manager who saved his sporting director Pantaleo Corvino from a hotel fire days before signing a contract extension last month.

Another summer in Serie A. Not a bad one by their standards, losing only Marin Pongracic. Signing players most normal people have never heard of is the Lecce modus operandi, thanks to sporting director Pantaleo Corvino. At least one of this summer’s crop will leave for an eight figure sum in a year or two. Should fancy themselves to stay up again this year, though it won’t be without a fight.

Key player: Wladimiro Falcone. Underrated ‘keeper whose performances will again be crucial in making sure they stay up. 

One to watch: Patrick Dorgu. Very talented young Danish left-back who should feature a lot this season, which will see him on the radar of many European clubs.

Milan (2nd)

Manager: Paulo Fonseca. A new man in the dugout. Has previous in Italy, having coached Roma from 2019-21. No pressure.

They begin the season without Stefano Pioli in the dugout for the first time since 2019. Fonseca has a job on his hands trying to manage his fanbase’s expectations. He has been backed in the transfer market with the signings of Morata, Royal, Pavlovic and (soon) Fofana. It seems as though the fans will expect a title challenge and they may well get one, but it’s unlikely that they’ll go all the way.

Key player: Rafael Leao. Has to kick on and become a leading light in the league. Unplayable on his day and can combine incredibly with Theo Hernandez.

One to watch: Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Expect a big second season from RLC after a decent debut.

Monza (12th)

Manager: Alessandro Nesta. Hired after a decent season at Reggiana, keeping them mid-table in Serie B. Tough job to do any better than Palladino here given the lack of recruitment.

A truly intriguing managerial hire given they have just sold their two best players, goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and attacking midfielder Andrea Colpani. Neither have been properly replaced and they’ve also lost a few loanees. They should be fine, though one can see the Berlusconi family selling up amid rumoured American interest. They might have taken this club as far as it can go.

Key player: Matteo Pessina. Main man at his hometown club. Will be vital in the engine room of Nesta’s aggressive machine.

One to watch: Daniel Maldini. Is now his time? His surname must weigh heavily but this feels like the season that he breaks through as a decent Serie A attacking midfielder.

Napoli (10th)

Manager: Antonio Conte. The move that the neutrals wanted to see. Fascinated to see what he does with this team and if he can rejuvenate the club after a woeful year.

The worst title defence in Serie A history is behind them and all is well in Naples. Almost. They would have hoped to have sold Victor Osimhen for a bazillion euros by now. No such luck. Alessandro Buongiorno’s arrival from Torino might be the best signing of the transfer window and Conte will likely make use of spare parts like Walid Cheddira. Expect a resurgent Napoli this season. What that looks like is still unclear. Champions League football would be an amazing improvement.

Key player: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Who else? He’s that guy.

One to watch: Leonardo Spinazzola. A very cruel Achilles injury halted him in his greatest moment, leading Italy to Euro glory. A fresh start after two years as an extra at Roma. Still time for a third act.

Parma (1st in Serie B)

Manager: Fabio Pecchia. Took Cremonese up in ‘22 before resigning. Done it again but this time he’s sticking around to take a crack at the top flight.

The nineties hipster dreamers are back. Deserved Serie B winners who look capable of making the step up to this level, though they would be helped by some defensive reinforcements and a capable goalscorer. They can stay up and probably will, but Serie A is a different beast. 

Key player: Dennis Man. Impressed at Euro 2024 for Romania and could have a big year if he hits the ground running. 

One to watch: Adrien Bernabé. Their most complete player. A midfielder equally capable of playing deep or behind a striker, he can really mix it. Should make a name for himself this season.

Roma (6th)

Manager: Daniele De Rossi. Proved some doubters wrong by reviving his beloved club’s season from January onwards. Now he must do it for a full season so Roma can retake their seat at the top table.

José Mourinho could not deliver Champions League football, can DDR? The club have backed him considerably, signing Dovbyk, Le Fée and Soulé. Rumours swirl that Paulo Dybala will be sacrificed due to his €16m annual salary, and Federico Chiesa could replace him. That’s a move we’d like to see…and one that could push Roma into the top four if all goes well.

Key player: Gianluca Mancini. Since it seems probable that Dybala will leave, Mancini’s role as leader becomes even more important. He and Ndicka will have to do the dirty work so Roma’s enhanced attack can do their thing.

One to watch: Tommaso Baldanzi. Not a starter but an attacking player with a very bright future. Hopefully gets consistent minutes to show his potential.

Torino (9th)

Manager: Paolo Vanoli. Did brilliantly with Venezia and rewarded with the most prestigious job of his career to date. A firebrand who will be desperate to prove he can take this team further than his predecessor ever could.

Three consecutive top-half finishes for the Granata. Vanoli takes over from Ivan Juric, who believes he has taken this team as far as he can. Most would tend to agree. The loss of captain Alessandro Buongiorno will hit hard, but they’ll be alright. Another mid-table/top-half finish would be fine. Perhaps a cup run might inspire them this year.

Key player: Duvan Zapata. Getting on at 33 but will be vital to their attacking plans. Reborn in Turin after a couple of lean, injury riddled years at Atalanta.

One to watch: Samuele Ricci. Keeping with the theme of promising young midfielders, here’s one that should become a leading man this year. Just look at how his manager developed Tanner Tessmann at Venezia.

Udinese (15th)

Manager: Kosta Runjaić. Not a household name, which is often how Udinese work when it comes to signing players, and now managers too.

Last season’s relegation battle was too close for comfort. The Pozzo family have been accused of ‘abandoning’ Watford, their other club, to concentrate on matters in Udine. Alexis Sanchez returns thirteen years after leaving the club for Barcelona and takes up the Talented Old Guy spot that Udinese always seem to leave room for. Survival is a must and they should be fine this year. We said that last year though, didn’t we?

Key player: Jaka Bijol. Had an excellent Euros for Slovenia. A modern defender with impressive physical presence, he should earn himself a move to a top side with his performances this season.

One to watch: Lorenzo Lucca. A Colossus of a striker. Had a decent first year in Serie A and is expected to kick on this year. Will be an Italy call-up coming his way if he does.

Venezia (Playoff winners - Serie B)

Manager: Eusebio Di Francesco. Has a job on his hands to avoid consecutive relegations. Should be competitive and could keep them up, but this is a brave move for Di Fra.

That team your mate likes with the fancy kits are back. Paolo Vanoli masterminded a pretty average side’s journey to Serie A, fuelled by a Finnish centre forward and American midfield engine. One of said midfielders is Tanner Tessmann, whose agent appears to have scuppered moves to Inter and then Fiorentina thanks to his own greed. Tessmann was excluded from Venezia’s squad list. That’s a situation which could change if he ends the summer on the lagoon. He’s a player they could do with if they are to avoid the pitfalls of their last Serie A campaign, when they finished last in 2021-22. 

Key player: Joel Pohjanpalo. Old school centre-forward who scored 42 times in two Serie B seasons. The key figure in this team’s promotion will be relied upon heavily again.

One to watch: Gianluca Busio. Improved massively since arriving with little experience in 2021. Hard not to enjoy watching a goalscoring midfielder. Remarkable to think he’s only 22 with three years’ experience in Italian football.

Don’t miss part one here! Let us know who you think is winning the scudetto, taking the Champions League spots, going down or sticking around on socials.