Serie A 2025/26 Season Preview

If Serie A were a TV series, last season’s ending would have its fans wondering how it could be topped. An unfancied Napoli side achieved glory thanks to the guidance of a mercurial, serial winner in Antonio Conte, with a pale Scotmsan spearheading the charge and becoming a Neapolitan hero.

It’s been a summer of change in Serie A, a time of upheaval with thirteen new managers across the division, the most fascinating of which is Gian Piero Gasperini taking over at Roma after nine years at Atalanta.

The new season is upon us and there’s plenty to preview, so let’s not mess about, eh?

Atalanta

Manager: Ivan Juric. Might have been a more impressive hire twelve months ago, having been sacked by Roma after eight matches and resigning at Southampton after being relegated. Still, Atalanta tend to get things right, on all fronts.

The first time since 2015 that Atalanta begin a campaign without Gasperini at the helm and have lost top scorers Mateo Retegui but get to welcome Gianluca Scamacca back after two serious injuries ruined his 2024/25 season.

They’d settle for Champions League qualification right now and it’s certainly achievable, but requires everything to fall into place. Juric is a Gasperini disciple, having played under him and began his coaching career as his assistant at Palermo and Genoa, so it’s feasible that the transition between coaches won’t bring about seismic changes.

Key player: Ederson. The main man in midfield across the past three seasons and will be crucial this season.

One to watch: Marco Palestra. Much talked about right wing-back from the academy. Should see more minutes after stepping up from Atalanta U23 last season.

Bologna

Manager: Vincenzo Italiano. The man who delivered silverware after 51 years. In his first season. After losing three finals with Fiorentina. 

Winning Coppa Italia obscured all else about this Bologna team’s season last time out, but a 9th place finish represents an acceptable return in what was a year of transition. They’ve got continuity with coaching and playing staff on their side this season, so they’ll expect to finish higher.

Much will depend on they fare in the Europa League, i.e. they could be stretched by trying to compete on three fronts. Added experience in Ciro Immobile to their attack and winger Federico Bernardeschi, giving them more depth for the season ahead. They should be in the mix in the top eight, once again.

Key player: Riccardo Orsolini. Coming off a career high fifteen league goals last year, he is the main man at right wing. Even more is required of him now that Ndoye is gone.

One to watch: Benja Dominguez. An already promising winger, he should see his minutes increase this year. Could be another gem.

Cagliari

Manager: Fabio Pisacane. Ex-Cagliari Primavera coach who takes over from Davide Nicola. Young, with no first team coaching experience. It’s a risk, but it’s also a bold, interesting move from the club.

They stayed up under survival expert Nicola and are looking to progress this year. There’s a delicate blend of young talent and experience in this side, including the very promising Elia Caprile in goal.

The aim, as always, is survival. Anything else will be considered a bonus. It feels like it’ll be tight at the bottom, but if Pisacane can get a tune out of this squad, they’re capable of a comfortable mid-table finish. If not, it could be a long, nervous season.

Key player: Roberto Piccoli. Had his breakout season last year with ten goals and the club have added some support in attack, so he could step up another level this year. If he doesn't leave for Fiorentina, that is.

One to watch: Sebastiano Esposito. The one-time wonderkid is now 23 and showed he’s adept at linking midfield and attack at Empoli last season, scoring eight goals and displaying vision when passing. Now’s the time for him to step up and become an established Serie A attacker.

Como

Manager: Cesc Fabregas. He could claim to be the hottest prospect in European coaching right now. His team plays with impressive verticality and he knows that his owners will always back him. The pressure is on for them to break into the top half, and then Europe.

A respectable debut season in Serie A after flexing their financial muscle, something which they’ve done again this summer. Only Juventus have spent more on transfer fees in Serie A as Como look to bolster their squad and sign plenty of promising midfielders/attackers. Plus, there’s Alvaro Morata, their new centre-forward brought in to fit Fabregas’ style and add some winning experience to the side.

They have to finish in the top ten this year for them to call this season a successful one. Could be a team to watch out for in Coppa Italia also, especially given how many sides are in Europe this year.

Key player: Nico Paz. Possibly the most exciting young player in Serie A right now. The future of Argentina’s midfield, Paz is the creator who’ll make things happen for Fabregas’ team.

One to watch: Nicolas Kühn. Winger signed from Celtic this summer. Dominant in Scotland, which doesn’t say all that much but showed flashes in Europe also.

Cremonese

Manager: Davide Nicola. The man you call when everyone predicts you to be relegated. Even a coach of his powers must be questioning if he has it in him.

Promoted via the Serie B play-offs after going 3-0 up away to Spezia in the final, only to concede twice in the last ten minutes and almost throw it away. They didn’t retain coach Giovanni Stroppa, whose last job in Serie A lasted six matches with Monza in 2022.

Their squad is mostly Serie B level but they’ve added experience in Federico Baschirotto and Emil Audero, while also bringing in potential stars like Warren Bondo and Filippo Terracciano on loan. They face an uphill battle, one that will probably lead to relegation.

Key player: Jari Vandeputte. The Belgian winger was a wizard across two seasons at Catanzaro and proved the difference maker in Cremonese’s attack last year. 27 assists in Serie B since 2023/24, now he’s getting a shot at Serie A.

One to watch: Tommaso Barbieri. Ex-Juventus wing-back with two seasons in Serie B under his belt, he’s constantly improving and looks ready to take the next step.

Fiorentina

Manager: Stefano Pioli. Returns to the club he captained and managed after a year in Saudi Arabia. Was sacked when 10th in Serie A with seven matches remaining in 2018/19, and Fiorentina finished 16th. A chance at redemption after his time at Milan ended poorly.

Fiorentina qualified for the Europa Conference League for the fourth year running by finishing 6th last season. A repeat finish might be considered acceptable this year, but they will likely have their eye on some silverware.

Bologna won Coppa Italia last year, so there's a reason they can’t do the same. If Pioli can get this talented squad playing good football, they will be competitive on multiple fronts.

Key player: Moise Kean. A prime candidate for Serie A top scorer this year after hitting nineteen last time. He’s mature and will probably have his eye on next year’s World Cup, especially with Mateo Retegui in Saudi.

One to watch: Jacopo Fazzini. Moves to Fiorentina from rivals Empoli and could become a top Serie A midfielder. Also worth keeping an eye on Niccolò Fortini, teenage wing-back who had an excellent season at Juve Stabia last year.

Genoa

Manager: Patrick Vieira. Took over after Genoa’s poor start last season and guided them to safety. It will be interesting to see what he does to adapt/improve the team.

They looked destined for relegation after ten matches last year, but recovered well and were comfortably safe. They should feel the same comfort about this season, but cannot afford to be complacent.

As always, they lost key players and replaced them with cheaper options. Still have money to spend after selling Koni De Winter, so could strengthen before the window closes.

Key player: Morten Frendrup. Probably the next player to get a ‘big move’, the combative midfielder has been ever-present for the past three years. Will be key to their fortunes this year.

One to watch: Valentin Carboni. Tore his ACL at Marseille last year, missed almost the entire season. Seems primed for a breakthrough as one of Genoa’s prime creators in attacking midfield.

Hellas Verona

Manager: Paolo Zanetti. The club considered sacking him after last season’s flirtation with Serie B, but they decided to continue. For now. A slow start and he’ll be gone.

Forty years on from their famous scudetto win, this could be a tough campaign for Hellas Verona. They’ve looked like prime contenders for relegation in each of the past three seasons and not much has changed this year.

They’re by no means favourites to go down, but it won’t be easy. 

Key player: Lorenzo Montipò. As they continue to sell every outfielder worth anything — see Jackson Tchatchoua — then ‘keeper Montipò remains the one constant, and therefore the man tasked with stopping the many shots they’ll face this season.

One to watch: Antoine Bernede. A progressive passing midfielder who has just arrived from Lausanne, he has the attributes to make it in Serie A, and could be an underrated signing.

Inter

Manager: Cristian Chivu. A huge step up for him, returning to his old playing club and taking over from Simone Inzaghi. There will be pressure on him to win the title in what should be a very competitive race.    

The post-Inzaghi era begins and nobody is really sure what to expect. Inter could pick up where they left off and challenge for the title, or it could all go terribly wrong. Regaining the scudetto will be of paramount importance this year, but if they don’t, what then? 

Inter should be there or thereabouts, but so much remains up in the air. Perhaps the dynamic duo upstairs of Beppe Marotta and Piero Ausilio have one more trick up their sleeve before the end of the month, one which might just swing the race in their favour.

Key player: Nicolò Barella. He is the beating heart of Inter, a tireless midfielder with remarkable quality and enough bite to complement his bark. Will be crucial to their scudetto hopes. 

One to watch: Francesco Pio Esposito. Likely to be Lautaro Martinez’s backup this year, but could get considerable minutes. A prolific goalscorer in Serie B, he’s widely considered the next true Italian number nine.

Juventus

Manager: Igor Tudor. I don’t think he’ll mind me saying this, but it’s a surprise to see him still in the job. Most would have expected Juve to hire a high profile coach — perhaps Antonio Conte — but they’ve stuck with Tudor. Again, for now.

Juve fans sat down this time last year and plotted their route to the scudetto. Injuries, subpar recruitment and a poor fit in head coach Thiago Motta conspired to create a season that saw Tudor’s team qualify for the Champions League on the final day.

They are a hard team to call this year but a top four finish feels like a reasonable prediction. Anything less and fans will be calling for everyone’s heads, from the board on down.

Key player: Bremer. Their season all but collapsed when he went down with an injury early last season. The best defender in Serie A when fit.

One to watch: Teun Koopmeiners. His big money move from Atalanta hasn’t gone to plan, as yet. Perhaps a second season will settle him and we’ll get the best out of a fantastic all-action midfielder.

Lazio

Manager: Maurizio Sarri. A return that not many saw coming, not least because of the manner in which he left things when resigning from Lazio previously. An intriguing move for both parties.

A side at risk of becoming ‘stuck’ in between the Champions League spots and mid-table, Lazio are an interesting case. Under-investment has been a theme of the past few seasons, so much so that it still feels like a luxury to see two first team strikers in the squad.

They should be a top eight side once again, but the competition is getting stronger, and it feels like they’re standing still. Again, Lazio have the Europa League to play in. Cup glory? Why not try, eh?

Key player: Nicolo Rovella. A midfielder coming into his own at 23, one who should really thrive in Sarri’s system.

One to watch: Nuno Tavares. Hardly under the radar, but the full-back looked imperious at times last season. Could become one of Europe’s top full-backs if he keeps this up.

Lecce

Manager: Eusebio Di Francesco. If I were a team that avoided relegation on the final day, I’m not sure I’d hire a man relegated on the final day two years running. But that’s probably harsh on Di Fra. Sorry, Di Fra.

They picked up seven points in their final three matches to stay up by the skin of their teeth last season. If they need to repeat those heroics this year, then they might not be so lucky.

Lecce’s true Moneyball approach means that they are somewhat hard to judge before the season begins in earnest, so let’s not write them off just yet. The next Patrick Dorgu, Morten Hjulmand etc. may have arrived this summer, and they could be fine.

Key player: Wladimiro Falcone. If they are to stay up again this season, then his performances between the sticks will be crucial. An underrated shot stopper, he could be one more heroic campaign away from a move to the top.

One to watch: Francesco Camarda. The boy wonder arrives on loan from Milan. Since we assume that Lecce are to lose Nikola Krstovic, it could be his time to shine.

Milan

Manager: Max Allegri. Don’t call it a comeback. Well, it is. Eleven years after being sacked by the club, he’s back with the Diavolo in need more than ever, having finished 8th last year. If he can bring them back to European football, that’d be a good start.

2024/25 was an unmitigated disaster for Milan, a season that ended with fan protests and another sacked manager. They have no European football this year, so perhaps it’s time for Allegri to work his magic and build a solid side capable of picking up enough results to get back in the big time.

Their summer of upheaval saw Theo Hernandez leave for Spain, while Tijjani Reijnders and Malick Thiaw left for big money to England. If Allegri can get a tune out of Rafael Leao and other key players, they could be right up there.

Key player: Rafael Leao. Has the talent to be a top ten footballer in the world, but sometimes lacks the application. Expect him to be moved from the wing to a more central role but, crucially, also to be given an arm around the shoulder by Allegri. He needs to be loved, not scolded like his last two coaches did.

One to watch: Samuele Ricci. The replacement for Reijnders, he’s an accomplished midfielder who looks ready for a big club. He’ll have Luka Modric to tutor him over the next twelve months too.

Napoli

Manager: Antonio Conte. Scudetto winning coach sticks around for a second season, to the surprise of some. Has to fancy a title defence.

The champions will be expected to put up a much better defence of their title than in 2023/24, when they finished 10th. That they’ve managed to retain Conte and strengthen their squad suggests they will do.

They’ll have to contend with playing more football — Champions League — something which Conte has often struggled with. A deeper squad should help. If they get the balance right, there’s no reason they can’t win consecutive titles, but the competition should be fierce.

Key player: Scott McTominay and Kevin De Bruyne. It’s cheating to pick two, but it will be fascinating to see both combine in midfield after being adversaries on opposite sides of Manchester previously. The latter could take this team up a level, while the former needs to justify his Ballon d’Or nomination.

One to watch: Lorenzo Lucca. Hulking centre-forward at 6ft 7ins, he has matured in his two years at Udinese and could be the heir to Lukaku. Will have one eye on next year’s World Cup squad, should Italy make it.

Parma

Manager: Carlos Cuesta. The youngest manager in Serie A history at 29. He worked with Fabio Pecchia, who he has replaced at Parma, in 2019 at Juventus U23. His first real job after years working under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

The bottom three were a little too close for comfort at the end of last season for Parma. They cannot afford a repeat of that this year and it will be interesting to see how Cuesta fares in his first job.

They could do with adding a little more firepower and finding a replacement for Giovanni Leoni, who’s off to Liverpool. Parma should be OK this year, but they’ll be lucky to avoid another relegation battle.

Key player: Adrián Bernabé. Every bit the ex-Man City and Barcelona youth midfielder, he has become crucial to this team. His strength is his flexibility, capable of playing almost any central midfield role. If he has another good Serie A season, they’ll probably cash in on him for big money next year.

One to watch: Alessandro Circati. Born in Parma, raised in Australia. A big, physical defender who started the first six matches last season before tearing his ACL. He might step into the void left by Leoni, and the 21-year-old could be a breakout star if he can pick up where he left off.

Pisa

Manager: Alberto Gilardino. Hired after Pippo Inzaghi left for the riches of Palermo. Possibly an upgrade given his recent Serie A experience and Inzaghi’s struggles at this level. Has a real task on his hands keeping this squad in Serie A.

Achieved automatic promotion with an unfancied squad and playing an interesting brand of physical football that focused on territory and set pieces. Playing with little possession should prepare them well for this season.

They’ve added Serie A experience in Juan Cuadrado, Michel Aebischer and M’Bala Nzola, which should help bridge the gap between divisions. The odds aren’t in their favour, but expect them to put up a good fight.

Key player: Simone Canestrelli. Possibly the best centre-back in Serie B last year, this will be a big year for him. His contributions from set pieces, at both ends, will play a key role in how this season goes.

One to watch: Matteo Tramoni. A mercurial attacker with a worrying injury record. Was the most exciting/impactful player in Serie B when fit. It will be interesting to see if he can make the jump to Serie A.

Roma

Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini. Moves on after nine years at Atalanta. The most intriguing move of the summer. If backed, he could take Roma back into the Champions League.

Were unlucky not to finish in the top four last season during a remarkable run under Claudio Ranieri. Now that he’s retired, it’s time for Gasperini to take over and set about taking Roma back into the upper echelons of the game.

He’s still looking for a bit more support in the market, which could come before the end of the window, but there’s still plenty of talent in the side. Top four has to be the aim. It’s achievable, but it won’t be easy.

Key player: Gianluca Mancini. The leader of this side, he will be expected to set the example in this new Roma. Should shine in a Gasperini team, having worked with him at Atalanta.

One to watch: Evan Ferguson. Gasperini is the forward whisperer and Ferguson arrives at Roma needing to find his form again. If it works out, that €40m buy option will be exercised next summer.

Sassuolo

Manager: Fabio Grosso. Was the most sensible appointment in Serie B last season. Took them up with ease, as expected. If they can adapt back into Serie A, it could be a good season.

They surprised nobody by winning Serie B at a canter, scoring a ridiculous amount of goals in the process. This season will be a totally different challenge but the squad they came up with has enough in it that a few additions should see them safe.

If they can keep Domenico Berardi fit and get more out of young players like Cristian Volpato, they will be fine.

Key player: Domenico Berardi. Who else? Mr. Sassuolo, who returned from a serious Achilles injury and was carefully managed last season. Managed twenty goal involvements in just over 2000 minutes.

One to watch: Tarik Muharemović. Arrived from Juventus last summer and grew into his role at centre-back as the season went on. At 22, he’s got a bright future ahead.

Torino

Manager: Marco Baroni. Something of a coup after his year at Lazio. Lower expectations may suit him, as seen at Verona.

Torino are trapped in an eternal cycle of finishing mid-table and selling their best player every summer. President Urbano Cairo might be more unpopular than anyone who plays for rivals Juventus, such is his lack of ambition.

They’ve hired a solid coach in Baroni and made their usual cheap signings, a few of which they’ll hope can do the business. The gap to the top eight clubs plus Como is widening, so it might be another mid-table finish for the Granata.

Key player: Cesare Casadei. His career benefitted hugely by returning to Italy rather than rotting in Chelsea’s reserves. Expect him to take on a much more central role in things this year, being the main man in midfield.

One to watch: Gvidas Gineitis. Lithuanian midfielder who broke into the side last season. Should see more minutes this year.

Udinese

Manager: Kosta Runjaic. A relative unknown this time last year, he carefully guided Udinese to a comfortable 12th place finish, an improvement after they just about survived the previous season. 

There is little to suggest they’re at major risk of relegation this year, even after selling Lorenzo Lucca and Jaka Bijol this summer. Once again, the buy low, sell high model means that they continue to replace their star players with more ‘obscure’ ones. It hasn’t failed them yet.

Key player: Oumar Solet. Picked up as a free agent in January, the former French wonderkid defender excelled in the second half of last season. Will probably be on the radar of some big clubs this time next year.

One to watch: Lennon Miller. Picked up the 18-year-old from Motherwell this summer in what could prove to be quite the coup. A highly rated midfielder, Miller already has 76 senior matches under his belt and should hit the ground running once he’s taken time to settle. Watch out for Nicolo Bertola too, the defender arrived on a free from Spezia as a replacement for Bijol. Fond of a goal and has a high ceiling at only 22.