Work in progress for those who have to chase Inter

With Inter set to be the first to leave the San Siro platform, kicking off a league season that is still far from being figured out or predictable, the other teams will have to hurry to get their act together whilst the season is still in full swing to avoid finding themselves in trouble within a few months. The big clubs chasing the Nerazzurri, the reigning Italian champions, still have doubts to resolve and gaps to fill – an inevitable consequence of a transfer window that tends to save the decisive moves for the end of August. And there won’t even be the usual early-September break to clear their heads; we’ll go straight through to the end of the month, with the first small assessment to be made when we discover how Mancini’s second spell in charge is shaping up. Five real tests, with crucial points at stake, and a group of at least five teams – seven, if we include the high-flying outsiders Atalanta and Fiorentina – grappling with what will matter most in this early stage: the ability to react to the unexpected.

As we know, the transfer market doesn’t always deliver what you’ve asked for, but rather what you’ve been able to secure: Napoli, Roma, Como, Milan and Juventus – in strict order of last year’s league table – will have to take on the powerhouse managed by Cristian Chivu by quickly integrating the new signings from the summer and those set to arrive in the coming hours. The Azzurri are practically the same squad as last year, with Conte gone and Allegri now on the bench: De Laurentiis’s hope is that what happened to Juventus over ten years ago might be repeated, though the impression is that the Tuscan manager’s star has dimmed somewhat compared to the past. He’ll have to revitalise De Bruyne without upsetting the likes of Anguissa and McTominay, bring Neres back to form and make the most of Alisson Santos. Above all, he’ll have to find the right balance in a defence that has once again lost Buongiorno. Barring any last-minute signings, Allegri will therefore have to make do with what’s already in the cupboard: it’s almost never an advantage when the chef changes, but who knows.

Roma are the side who can build on at least a year of established work with their manager, with Gian Piero Gasperini having risen to the role of figurehead: Ranieri and Massara are no longer there, and the manager is now flanked by his trusted right-hand man Tony D’Amico, formerly his strategic partner during the second half of his spell at Atalanta. This is therefore Gasp’s Roma, now more than ever. The welcome given to Rodrigo Mora is one befitting a major occasion; Molina on the right seems tailor-made for this system; Castro could give Malen a bit of a breather – the latter was almost top scorer a year ago despite playing only half a season and is keen to shake off the after-effects of a World Cup to forget. Roma might still make further signings, especially if someone were to leave (Soulé?), so keep a close eye on the Giallorossi, who may well struggle with the double burden of domestic and European fixtures given their return to the Champions League, but who epitomise the very concept of a team. It’s all too easy to draw parallels between the Giallorossi and Como: diametrically opposed tactical philosophies, and even a certain penchant for verbal sparring, but Fàbregas is just as much the ‘boss’ of the Larians as Gasperini has become in the shadow of the Colosseum. The owners have no qualms about opening their wallets; the Nico Paz deal is confirmation that this club has no intention whatsoever of looking back. Should Kean also arrive, it would be a five-star transfer window, given the additions of Chalobah, Couto, Kaiki (who have bolstered what, by the numbers, was the best defence in the league) and Liberali. The plan is crystal clear: to keep growing, year after year, this time with the added bonus of competing in the Champions League as absolute newcomers.

Milan and Juventus, on the other hand, have responded differently to the disappointment of failing to secure a place in Europe’s top competitions. The Rossoneri have opted for a revolution, the full extent of which is not yet clear: Amorim may be seeking a further shake-up to bring the squad into line with his vision, and the signing of Diego Moreira – a ‘high-profile’ move reminiscent of the Diavolo of yesteryear – risks being merely the first step in a domino effect that could significantly transform the team once again within ten days. With one huge question mark still hanging over the situation: what will become of Rafa Leão? Milan could become the wild card of the transfer market, particularly when it comes to outgoing players, because players such as Tomori and Fofana, as well as the Portuguese forward, may find a new home elsewhere in Italy – and who knows, perhaps Juventus is on the horizon, as part of a partnership that has already seen Kalulu follow the same path in the past. The Bianconeri’s owners have opted for a gentle shake-up: Spalletti has kept his job, but the management team has been bolstered by the arrival of two proven figures in Giovanni Carnevali and Frederic Massara, effectively shelving the Comolli project without too much fuss. Kolo Muani fits the profile of the ‘number nine’ so eagerly sought after by the Tuscan manager; Vicario will have to banish his own demons and those left behind by Di Gregorio between the posts; Alajbegovic can provide that extra touch of flair in the attacking third; whilst Lucumì is set to take a step up in terms of consistency and concentration following his seasons at Bologna.

Inter, from their ivory tower, are watching. They’ve brought in Spence to replace Dumfries, and it won’t be a straightforward change: Chivu got used to playing without the Dutchman last year, but that presence in the opposition’s penalty areas shouldn’t be overlooked, and at the moment the Englishman seems more at ease on the wing than making runs into the final third. But Stones, signed on a free transfer, is a definite quality addition to a defence that needed bolstering following the departures of veterans de Vrij and Acerbi, and the return of Pavard from his loan spell has also strengthened the backline. Curtis Jones in midfield, alongside Stankovic, provides Chivu with a further burst of energy: Inter’s foray into the Premier League, however, is more of an indication for Europe than for Italy. To return to glory in the Champions League, too, we need that kind of intensity, that electricity so far removed from our more measured pace. Having complained about last year’s pessimistic predictions, this time Chivu is the favourite. Let’s hope he doesn’t take it amiss.